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Is Metra planning on extending the electric line?

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Is Metra planning on extending the electric line?
Posted by zkr123 on Thursday, August 7, 2014 7:21 PM
(Screwed up last post) is there any talk of extension of the electric line not including the cross rail project.
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, August 8, 2014 10:01 AM

More than a few years ago, the IC extended the suburban main line from Richton Park to University Park.  Any extension beyond that point is unlikely as that is currently near the edge of the metropolitan area.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Buslist on Friday, August 8, 2014 9:30 PM
When I worked on the Illinois Division of the IC IN '69 I did find fairly detailed plans to extend the commute trackage to Monee, and much more sketche plans for KKK. Who knows where those files ever ended up. The kicker here is the proposed 3rd airport that might spur things along.
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Posted by ndbprr on Sunday, August 24, 2014 7:17 PM
I think it will probably hinge on the building of the Peotone airport some day. That would be the logical end point. That said Illinois and the feds are broke so I don't expect it in my lifetime.
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, August 25, 2014 6:42 AM

I don't think that Peotone as the site of the third Chicago airport is going to happen anytime in the foreseeable future.  The airlines aren't pushing for it despite capacity issues at O'Hare and Midway.  Its location would not be very convenient and nobody seems to be pushing for it beyond some mayors and businessmen in the south suburban area.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by zkr123 on Saturday, September 27, 2014 3:59 PM
What about extending wires to one of the parallel non electric line's?
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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, September 29, 2014 3:34 PM

why?

the most logical suburban electrificion would Kenosha, and that isn't parallel and would reduce flexibility in assignment of cars and locomotives.  But it has the most traffic and the greatest need in terms of reduction of noise. 

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Posted by Buslist on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 8:01 AM
Actually the BNSF line has by far the most traffic with almost twice as many passengers per day and 25% more trains than the UP North line. Even then the North line is second among the UP lines in terms of daily passenger count, although highest in the # of trains ( suggesting the NW line trains are on average longer and would benefit more from EMU type operation). As implied electrification of the UP lines short of all 3 would be a disaster in terms vehicle maintenance, flexibility and operations at the downtown terminal. What ever route is chosen either a new generation of EMUs would be required to permit low level boarding or lots of raised platform construction would be required. Moreover electrification of the UP West line or the BNSF would require catenary height to clear double stacks, multi levels and any high/wide freight traffic that the host railroad might want to handle on the 2 busiest freight lines west from the city. And I can just hear the NIMBYs yelling about the unsightly catenary structures.
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Posted by efftenxrfe on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 7:08 PM

 this is wonderful brain-fun...

Peotone....how to pronounce it ?.....and how do the locals?....

Could be pee tone, or  pee tun, or  po tone or po tun...

Could be the last syllable is tone-ee or tun-ee, with the same options previousely offered for the first syllable.

Could be the first syllable is poh, or  poh-ee. followed by the above options for the last syllable?

Among those options, my hammer may have hit the nail.

Thanks for correcting or verifying, or informing me.

Maybe others are guessing?

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Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, October 2, 2014 7:04 AM

Obvioiusly ridership counts have change drastically since my days in the Chicago area, 1952, and 1967-1970. I guess the "Gold Coast" populaton has remained pretty stable while western suburbs have dranmataically increased in population.  This makes snece, because the North Shore was almost one continuous suberb, while the western suburbs did have lots of open land between them.

The main reason for not electirying even one route is lack of flexibility.  Also, "if it aint broke don't fix it."

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Posted by Buslist on Thursday, October 2, 2014 11:52 PM

efftenxrfe

 this is wonderful brain-fun...

Peotone....how to pronounce it ?.....and how do the locals?....

Could be pee tone, or  pee tun, or  po tone or po tun...

Could be the last syllable is tone-ee or tun-ee, with the same options previousely offered for the first syllable.

Could be the first syllable is poh, or  poh-ee. followed by the above options for the last syllable?

Among those options, my hammer may have hit the nail.

Thanks for correcting or verifying, or informing me.

Maybe others are guessing?

 

 

pee a tone

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Posted by Buslist on Thursday, October 2, 2014 11:54 PM

daveklepper

Obvioiusly ridership counts have change drastically since my days in the Chicago area, 1952, and 1967-1970. I guess the "Gold Coast" populaton has remained pretty stable while wessterh suburbs have dranmataically increased in population.  This makess snece, because the North Shore was almost one continuous suberb, while the western suburbs did have lots of open land between them.

The main reason for not electirying even one route is lack of flexibility.  Also, "if it aint broke don't fix it."

 

 

yup a quick Google on METRA's ridership statistics would have replaced 1970 observations. Espically after a 40 year gap???

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Posted by gardendance on Friday, October 3, 2014 8:29 AM

Buslist
What ever route is chosen either a new generation of EMUs would be required to permit low level boarding or lots of raised platform construction would be required.

That should be new North American generation. As with so many other rail related items, Europe has had many low level boarding EMU's for decades.

Patrick Boylan

Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message

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Posted by Buslist on Friday, October 3, 2014 11:20 AM

gardendance

 

 
Buslist
What ever route is chosen either a new generation of EMUs would be required to permit low level boarding or lots of raised platform construction would be required.

 

That should be new North American generation. As with so many other rail related items, Europe has had many low level boarding EMU's for decades.

 

 

as does the South Shore which operates on METRA for a bit and SEPTA and NJT . What I meant was a new generation of METRA MUs as the current fleet has ground access for emergencies only.

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Posted by daveklepper on Saturday, October 4, 2014 5:21 PM

I undertand the South Shore has multi-level cars with low-platform and high-platform capability, and MJT is planning such new mu cars.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, October 6, 2014 6:58 AM

South Shore's equipment has always been equipped with doors with traps over the steps.  While there are several stations on South Shore beyond the IC stations that have floor-level platforms, there are several stops that have ground-level platforms.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by RICHARD DEARMOND on Monday, October 6, 2014 5:12 PM
I support project that is pro-electric.
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Posted by bo-Jack on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 2:56 PM
PEE-uh-tone - three syllables. Nice town, my grandmother lived there. I hope the third airport never happens. It would destroy the town as we know it.
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Posted by JON HOLLAND on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 9:09 PM

efftenxrfe

 this is wonderful brain-fun...

Peotone....how to pronounce it ?.....and how do the locals?....

Could be pee tone, or  pee tun, or  po tone or po tun...

Could be the last syllable is tone-ee or tun-ee, with the same options previousely offered for the first syllable.

Could be the first syllable is poh, or  poh-ee. followed by the above options for the last syllable?

Among those options, my hammer may have hit the nail.

Thanks for correcting or verifying, or informing me.

Maybe others are guessing?

 

Its pee tone, used to drive a delivery van that way back in the 70s.

 

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