Metra CEO Apologizes for Recent BNSF Line Delays
Metra CEO Alex Clifford issued an apology to riders who use the BNSF line, which runs through Naperville, Lisle and Aurora.
Metra CEO Alex Clifford issued an apology to customers yesterday after riders faced recent delays on Metra's BNSF line, which runs through Downers Grove at Belmont Road, Main Street and Fairview Avenue.
In a letter posted on Metra's website and sent via email to customers, Clifford said Metra is taking the delays "seriously" and "working with BNSF Railway to address them."
"We and BNSF do everything we can to minimize delays and provide you with reliable service," Clifford said in a statement. "I recognize these delays were frustrating, and I apologize for the inconvenience you experienced."
Last week, a Metra train was stopped for about an hour and a half at the Naperville station, 105 E. 4th Ave., after several doors on the train failed to close.
On Monday evening, a total of 13 BNSF trains were delayed 8 to 56 minutes due to a power failure, which was caused by a blown fuse. Then, on Tuesday evening, 16 BNSF trains were delayed due to an incident involving signals at Chicago's Union Station.
The statement from Clifford reads:
Dear BNSF Riders,
Metra would like to apologize for delays on the BNSF line in recent days and assure you that we take them seriously and are working with BNSF Railway to address them.
On Friday morning, inbound train No. 1252 was delayed for about 75 minutes due to a door malfunction at Naperville. The door circuitry cable was damaged by striking debris, disrupting the circuit and preventing the doors from operating properly. We had to send a relief train from Chicago Union Station to accommodate the passengers on 1252.
On Monday evening, BNSF had a total of 13 trains delayed 8 to 56 minutes due to a power failure at the Downers Grove Fairview interlocker, which was caused by a blown fuse. The area is a major switching point used to route express runs around locals during the evening rush hour, and all the switches had to be operated manually, which greatly slowed progress through the area.
On Tuesday evening, 16 BNSF trains were delayed, most of them from 15 to 30 minutes, due to an incident involving signals at Chicago Union Station.
We and BNSF do everything we can to minimize delays and provide you with reliable service. I recognize these delays were frustrating, and I apologize for the inconvenience you experienced.
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In This article
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Metra Metropolitan Rail Passenger Stations
105 E 4th Ave, Naperville, IL -
Village of Downers Grove
801 Burlington Ave, Downers Grove, IL -
Belmont Station
5000 Belmont Rd, Downers Grove, IL -
Main Street Station
5001 Main St, Downers Grove, IL -
Fairview Avenue Station
Fairview Ave & Burlington Ave, Downers Grove, IL
Scott C.
5:44 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
With prices up (substantially) and reliability down, Metra has a serious problem.
Its telling when a train line only uses its Twitter feed to report delays and it is a prolific tweeter!
Blown fuses. Signals out. Rail technology isn't exactly new and these are basic infrastructure issues that they should get right every day and have a plan to address in minutes, not hours.
If they can't get the simple stuff right, how can they possible innovate?
I tweeted Metra's CEO this week and, to his credit, he replied with their commitment to get it right. Although, he didn't take me up on the offer to come ride the train some morning with my wife and me (I even offered to buy the coffee!). That's a shame, because it would have been a smart PR move for him.
At some point increasing fares coupled with decreasing service are going to require some sort of intervention. You know its a bad year (not just a bad week) when people regularly schedule their day assuming there will be train delays.