About Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Regional Transportation Authority of Northeastern Illinois, operating service on 11 lines radiating from downtown Chicago. The system, which inherited service from a patchwork of private railroads in 1984, carries roughly a quarter-million riders on a typical pre-pandemic weekday and remains the second-busiest commuter rail system in the United States by passenger miles.
Operator Profile
- Headquarters
- Chicago, IL
- Founded
- 1984
- Routes catalogued
- 1
- Stations served
- 8
- States served
- 2
Capital plan and modernization
Recent capital programs include systemwide positive train control completion, locomotive rebuild and SD70MACH conversions, and station accessibility upgrades.
Routes operated by Metra
The table below lists all Metra services catalogued in the RailRover index. Each entry links to a full route page with the stations it calls at.
States served
Metra service touches 2 states in the RailRover index. Each state hub aggregates every operator's service through that state on a single page.
Booking and ticketing
RailRover does not sell tickets. To book travel on Metra, visit the carrier's official booking site or app directly. Many of the same trip-planning principles that apply to Amtrak — advance purchase saves significantly, multi-ride passes are heavily discounted on commuter services, group sales unlock 60% off Saver coach for parties of 8 or more — apply across operators. For a deeper walkthrough, see the RailRover guide to buying tickets and saving on fares, the field guide to onboard Wi-Fi and power outlets, and the baggage rules reference.