In the News

WBBM Radio, April 2, 2007

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Metra is trying to help out both CTA riders trying to avoid North Side “L” construction and reverse commuters with a beefed-up schedule of trains on its Union Pacific North Line.

WBBM's Bob Roberts reports.

“It's perfect. I've been waiting for this for a long time, actually,” said Alex Centeno, a laborer who says he needs to get to his job at 6 a.m. and now has a Metra option. “With gas prices going up and I start early at work, it fits perfect.”

The commuter rail agency is adding six trains a day to the UP North Line schedule, including one extra-early round trip it has dubbed “the Sunrise Express.”

The line is the one that most closely parallels North Side CTA “L” service, with stops in the city at Rogers Park, 7000 N. Ravenswood Av.; Ravenswood, 4800 N. Ravenswood Av.; and Clybourn, 2001 N. Ashland Av.

There are also stops at Main Street, Davis Street and Central Street in Evanston and in downtown Wilmette.

Metra now begins its day with a 4:20 a.m. departure from Waukegan, with stops in Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka, and all stops from Wilmette to Ogilvie Transportation Center, arriving at 5:23 a.m.

The outbound Sunrise Express leaves Ogilvie at 5:40 a.m. and makes all stops to Wilmette, arriving at 6:11. From there it stops at Braeside, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Great Lakes, North Chicago and Waukegan, arriving at 6:48 a.m.

Forty-five people took the early inbound train. On the outbound run, about 95 were on board when the train left Wilmette.

Govind Ravindran (GOH'-vind RAHV'-in-drahn) works on the trading desk of a major LaSalle Street brokerage. He boarded inbound at Wilmette not because he has to, but because it makes his schedule more convenient.

“I'd like to take it so I can work out in the morning,” he said. “This is the greatest thing. Now I'm going to exercise all the time.”

Those going in the opposite direction also said it gives them a chance to get a head start on the day - and the competition.

“It gives me a leg up on the competition. It gives my company a leg up, too, to have more people there early in the morning,” said Daniel Otto, who is a logistics trader in Waukegan. “Taking the train has always made the most sense to me and now that I can take it earlier in the morning I can get more work done.”

Highland Park High School teacher Colleen Curry said she can use the extra preparation time.

“I'm an early-morning person. I have the most energy in the morning, so I like to get to school earlier than anyone else is there so I can get a lot of work done,” Curry said.

Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano said the trains will add about 1,500 seats on the UP North Line each day. CTA bus service connects with each of the stations.

A Metra scheduler who rode inaugural “Sunrise Express” said that the commuter rail agency has “packed in all the trains we can” in the hope that it can assist riders.

State Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Highwood) worked with Metra officials to get the early train, and said that employees at such firms as Abbott Laboratories, Uline, Hewitt Associates, Great Lakes Naval Training Center and Lake Forest Hospital will benefit.

Garrett said the new service is being financed through a combination of federal, state and local grants.