Metra Upgrades SouthWest Service Line, Adds Weekday Trains

CHICAGO – Service upgrades are coming to Metra’s SouthWest Service Line schedule, increasing the number of weekly trains from the current 12 to 30 as part of a major service redesign pilot. The upgrades will kick in on Jan. 16.

“As we have done on other lines, we are adjusting the schedule on the SouthWest Service to meet increasing demand and to meet the need for more flexibility from My Metra riders,” Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said in a news release.

The SouthWest Service Line starts and ends at Union Station in downtown Chicago, serving Manhattan, Laraway Road, Orland Park, Palos Park, Palos Heights, Worth, Chicago Ridge, Oak Lawn, Ashburn and Wrightwood communities and neighborhoods.

The new schedule can be viewed at Metra Alternate Schedules. All customers are advised to review the new schedule to determine if their current trains are affected or if new trains better meet their needs. Metra will monitor customer feedback and operations and make future schedule adjustments as necessary.

Highlights of the service redesign include:

• Increasing the number of trains on weekdays to 30 trains from 12.
• Introducing an express train in each direction
• Providing for consistent headways
• Adding later evening departures from Chicago Union Station
• Providing better service to outlying stations than pre-COVID schedules
• Syncing off-peak times better with other lines for transfer opportunities at Union Station

The SouthWest Service Line still does not operate on weekends.