Metra

Also known as METX

Metra is a public transit service agency and the primary commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area. It serves the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and other railroads. Metra operates 243 stations on 11 rail lines.

Key facts

Public transit.name: Metra
Public transit.image: Metra Logo.svg
Public transit.image2: Next Stop- Downers Grove (Metra train departs Halsted Street July 2025).jpg
Public transit.caption2: A Metra train departing Halsted Street station in July 2025
Public transit.owner: Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)
Public transit.locale: Chicago metropolitan area, United States
Public transit.transit_type: Commuter rail
Public transit.lines: 11
Public transit.stations: 242 year-round, 1 seasonal, 1 under construction
Public transit.daily_ridership: ()
Public transit.annual_ridership: ()
Public transit.chief_executive: James M. Derwinski
Public transit.began_operation: 1984
Public transit.operator: Metra, BNSF Railway
Public transit.marks: METX
Public transit.headquarters: 547 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60661

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official name: Metra
Official website: metra.com
Image: 20110530 Metra.JPG
Length: 784.9
Motto: The way to really fly.

Show 6 more facts

inception: 1984-00-00
Commons category: Metra
reporting mark: METX
date of official opening: 1984-00-00
social media followers: 28770
native label: Metra

Sources (6)

via Wikidata · CC0

~49 min read

Article

37 sections

Contents

History
Early Chicago commuter rail
Formation of the RTA
Metra branding
Growth and expansion
Corruption
Underfunding
Operations
Stations
Routes
Proposed routes
Pre-Metra routes
Ridership
Annual ridership
Ridership Graph
Connections
Positive train control
Fare system and ticketing
Tickets
Reduced fare programs
Safety and security
Law enforcement
Rail safety
Incidents
Rolling stock
Current locomotives
Retired locomotives
Coaches
Former coaches
Private club coaches
Multiple units
Retired
Notes
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Metra is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area. In 2025, the system had a ridership of approximately 38 million, or about per weekday as of . The estimated busiest day for Metra ridership occurred on November 4, 2016—the day of the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series victory rally, with a record 460,000+ passengers.