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  "path": "/transportation/2026/05/27/metra-train-rock-island-joliet",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-27T18:15:40.602Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>Metra is adding several daily train runs to its Rock Island District line starting June 1, the first step in schedule adjustments required by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority law that goes into effect the same day.</p><p>The commuter rail agency is adding four late-day daily train trips on weekdays and 18 more weekend train trips. The Rock Island line is also phasing out \"flag stops,\" which require a customer to wave down a train for it to stop at a station, in favor of standard stops. Some stops have been dropped from the schedule due to low ridership.</p><p>The idea, Metra CEO Jim Derwinski said in a board meeting last week, is to move toward \"regional rail service.\" Regional rail service means more frequent all-day trains, a shift away from the agency's 9-to-5 commuter schedule. The NITA law requires Metra implement regional rail service pilots on the Rock Island and Metra Electric lines.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-3b0000\" name=\"image-3b0000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/121108d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2276x1277+0+70/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2F52%2Fe9abb13549329505bff5f4927e83%2Fscreenshot-2026-05-27-at-12-52-56-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3839f44/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2276x1277+0+70/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2F52%2Fe9abb13549329505bff5f4927e83%2Fscreenshot-2026-05-27-at-12-52-56-pm.png 2x\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1cc02d0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2276x1277+0+70/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2F52%2Fe9abb13549329505bff5f4927e83%2Fscreenshot-2026-05-27-at-12-52-56-pm.png\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Metra map\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1cc02d0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2276x1277+0+70/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2F52%2Fe9abb13549329505bff5f4927e83%2Fscreenshot-2026-05-27-at-12-52-56-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2170443/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2276x1277+0+70/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2F52%2Fe9abb13549329505bff5f4927e83%2Fscreenshot-2026-05-27-at-12-52-56-pm.png 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1cc02d0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2276x1277+0+70/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2F52%2Fe9abb13549329505bff5f4927e83%2Fscreenshot-2026-05-27-at-12-52-56-pm.png\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>Metra Rock Island District map</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Wikipedia</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Derwinski said the pilot program will expand \"later this year\" to separate the Beverly branch line from the Rock Island's mainline branch. Doing so should help reduce travel time to and from downtown to around 30 minutes, he said.</p><p>But more work will be required to provide 30-minute service to Tinley Park and Mokena, Derwinski said. That could include additional signal work and track crossovers.</p><p>Looking further ahead, quickening service to Joliet would require a substantial investment in a flyover over the Canadian National crossing that currently makes a \"bottleneck\" near the far southwest suburb, Derwinski said.</p><div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center> <div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related</div> <ul class=\"RelatedList-items\"> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2026/04/16/rta-nita-lsecurity-service-cta-metra-pace\" target=\"_blank\" >First chunk of new transit money to be spent on security, service for CTA, Metra and Pace</a> </li> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2025/12/16/illinois-transit-bill-signed-pritzker\" target=\"_blank\" >Pritzker signs CTA/Metra/Pace overhaul that ‘makes transit safer and more reliable’</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>The agency expects to announce addition train service on the Metra Electric soon, Derwinski said. That would include new trains added June 15 to provide service every 20-minutes to Hyde Park — just in time for the June 19 opening of the Obama Presidential Center, Derwinski said.</p><p>Find details about upcoming schedule changes at <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://metra.com/schedules\" target=\"_blank\" >metra.com/schedules</a>.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" data-embed> <iframe src=\"https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=https://schedules.metrarail.com/pdf/alternative/RI/New%20Rock%20Island%20Schedule%20effective%20June%201_202605211048.pdf\"></iframe> </div> </div></div><p></p>",
  "title": "Metra adding trains to Rock Island, Electric lines as part of NITA law requirement",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-27T18:15:40.602Z"
}