Ridership Data
Metra oversees all commuter rail operations in northeastern Illinois region, with responsibility for day-to-day operations, fare and service levels, capital improvements and planning. The Metra system is comprised of 11 seperate lines radiating out from Chicago's Loop, and serves more than 100 communities at 242 rail stations.
On-Time Performance Reports
- January 2023
- February 2023
- March 2023
- April 2023
- May 2023
- June 2023
- July 2023
- August 2023
- September 2023
- October 2023
- November 2023
- December 2023
- January 2022
- February 2022
- March 2022
- April 2022
- May 2022
- June 2022
- July 2022
- August 2022
- September 2022
- October 2022
- November 2022
- December 2022
- January 2021
- February 2021
- March 2021
- April 2021
- May 2021
- June 2021
- July 2021
- August 2021
- September 2021
- October 2021
- November 2021 (revised)
- December 2021
- January 2020
- February 2020
- March 2020
- April 2020
- May 2020
- June 2020
- July 2020
- August 2020
- September 2020
- October 2020
- November 2020
- December 2020
- January 2019
- February 2019
- March 2019
- April 2019
- May 2019
- June 2019
- July 2019
- August 2019
- September 2019
- October 2019
- November 2019
- December 2019
- January 2018
- February 2018
- March 2018
- April 2018
- May 2018
- June 2018
- July 2018
- August 2018
- September 2018
- October 2018
- November 2018
- December 2018
- January 2017
- February 2017
- March 2017
- April 2017
- May 2017
- June 2017
- July 2017
- August 2017
- September 2017
- October 2017
- November 2017
- December 2017
For Metra and other commuter railroads, developing train schedules is not an exact science. We don’t always get it right. That’s why we periodically adjust schedules to better reflect actual operating conditions. In the months ahead, we expect to use real-time data that is now available to us to help design the best schedules possible. However, there will always be variations that can cause trains to be delayed.
That’s because Metra’s schedules are designed to be most successful in “best case,” normal operating conditions. In other words, if Metra picked up the exact same number of people every day, from the same exact location, and they all used the exact same doors, in the same weather, with the same equipment, etc., then it would be easy to stay on schedule and hit every stop within a minute of the schedule. To not design schedules based on these conditions would result in increased idling time in between stations and longer overall train trips on days when conditions are normal.
Unfortunately, every day, there are scores of unpredictable variations from those perfect conditions that can have small but cascading impacts on Metra’s schedule. These variations can occur for a host of reasons – from the need to deploy a wheelchair lift, to an unusual number of riders at one or more stops to a medical emergency. Other factors that impact schedules include rain and snow, which can easily slow boarding, freight interference issues and mechanical problems. The list goes on.
Like other commuter railroads, Metra considers a train to have operated on time if it reaches its final destination within five minutes and 59 seconds of its scheduled arrival. That standard filters out some of the delays that are beyond a railroad’s control, so the resulting rate is a truer reflection of the railroad’s efforts to control the delays that are controllable. The goal is to use this information to ultimately improve service. And, we believe this approach provides us with relevant information to measure how we are doing and where we need to improve.
But that doesn’t mean that we don’t strive to keep on schedule at all of our stations and stops. We understand that delays at intermediate stops can be just as important to our customers as our ability deliver a train to its final destination on time.
Our goal is to work as hard as we can to provide safe, reliable and comfortable service, while providing honest and accurate information to our customers about the status of their trains.
That is one of the reasons Metra has made significant investments in technology aimed at helping our customers access the real-time data they need to make informed travel decisions. Today, our customers have a variety of ways to learn if their train is on time.
Our email alerts allow customers to select a window during which they want to receive real-time information about operational issues. The Ventra app features transit trackers for all three agencies, providing real-time information about Metra trains, CTA buses and trains and Pace buses. Our customers can follow each of Metra’s 11 rail lines on Twitter and get up-to-the-minute status updates on their train schedule. And, of course, customers can call Passenger Services at 312-322-6777 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with questions about their train schedule.
The Monthly On-Time Performance Report provides an analysis of train delays as reported for all Metra commuter rail lines. On-time is defined for this analysis as those regularly scheduled trains arriving at their last station stop less than six minutes behind schedule. Trains that are six minutes or more behind schedule, including annulled trains (trains that do not complete their scheduled runs), are regarded as late. “Extra” trains (trains that are added to handle special events but not shown in the regularly published timetables) are excluded from on-time performance calculations unless shown in the special-event schedules that include all intermediate station stop times and are distributed publicly via Metra’s website or on paper flyers. Cancelled (not annulled) trains and non-revenue trains are also excluded from on-time performance calculations.