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. Background context on the carrier's history is also catalogued in the North American Rail Atlas & Route Encyclopedia.
Operator Profile
- Headquarters
- Chicago, IL
- Founded
- 1984
- Routes catalogued
- 1
- Stations served
- 8
- Total route miles
- 495 mi
- States served
- 2
Fleet
Metra's fleet centers on Highliner electric multiple-units on the Electric District and stainless-steel bilevel gallery cars hauled by EMD F40PH-3 and MP36PH-3S diesel locomotives across the diesel-pulled lines. Equipment assignments rotate as new orders are delivered and existing rolling stock is retired or rebuilt; consult individual route pages for current information.
Capital plan and modernization
Recent capital programs include systemwide positive train control completion, locomotive rebuild and SD70MACH conversions, and station accessibility upgrades. Quarterly capital-plan progress is tracked in the Passenger Rail Advocacy & Reform Quarterly.
Routes operated by Metra
The table below lists all Metra services catalogued in the RailRover index, sorted by distance. Each entry links to a full route page with stations, fares, and timetable references.
| Route | Type | Endpoints | Distance | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metra Commuter Rail | Commuter Rail | Chicago ↔ Summit | 495 mi | Network of 11 lines, weekday peak and reverse-peak |
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. Independent fare-watch newsletters such as the Commuter Rail Operators Reform Brief publish current promotional fare summaries.
Further reading on Metra
- Riding Metra: a first-timer's system tour
- Equipment census and locomotive roster of Metra