Metra Eliminates Saturday Service For SouthWest Line

MANHATTAN, IL — Metra has temporarily eliminated its Saturday service on its SouthWest service line to Manhattan starting May 9. Most other Metra lines will be changing to Sunday schedules for both Saturday and Sunday.

According to a release from Metra, SouthWest customers may be able to use the Rock Island line as an alternative.

The changes are being made in response to extremely low ridership due to the coronavirus pandemic and the stay-at-home order, Metra said.

All trains will have enough cars for customers to be able to practice social distancing, and Metra is prepared to add trains when ridership begins to return to normal.

You can find the new Rock Island schedule here.

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Metra has already changed its weekday schedule to a reduced number of trains for the SouthWest line.

The company also said riders should wear a face covering while riding the train.

According to a release, during its April board meeting, Metra outlined a preliminary estimate that it will lose about $535.5 million in fares and sales tax revenue in 2020 and 2021 due to this crisis. Metra is expecting about $480 million in federal relief aid

All trains will have enough cars for customers to be able to practice social distancing, and Metra will be prepared to add trains when ridership begins to return to normal, the company said.

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