Sat 7/26 was a near perfect summer day in the Chicago area - @ 80 degrees, low humidty and plenty of sun. With gas prices exceeding $4 a gallon and Metra still offering the weekend pass at a relatively cheap $5 a lot of people are choosing Metra. I boarded train #1314 - a 12 car local (!) - at Rt 59 (busiest suburban stop on Metra) at 12:28pm towards the rear. There was a large crowd waiting for the train and the ticket window was even open for business. I'm guessing at least 300 boarded at Rt 59. Another 250 at Naperville before the crowds thinned a little for Lisle and Belmont. Downers Grove (Main St), Hinsdale and Western Springs had large crowds boarding as well. Even though this was a 12 car local, seats were hard to find after Hinsdale. I don't think I've ever seen people standing on a 12 car Saturday afternoon local! That is until the train made its' stop at Hollywood (zoo stop). A lot of families were taking advantage of the nice weather to head out to the zoo.
The most amazing thing might have been that the train pulled into Union Station only 2 minutes late. That says something about the newer MP36 shoving on the rear. The MP36 didn't seen to have any issues getting that long Metra train up to, or near, track speed in a hurry.
CC
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