CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Metra is getting set for the upcoming challenging weather combined with the holiday weekend and the impact on commuters.
Metra plans its regular schedule Thursday, but on Friday, most lines will run on a Saturday schedule except for the North-Central Service, Southwest Service and Heritage Corridor, which don’t normally have Saturday trains.
"The Heritage and Southwest will be normal weekday schedule. North Central will be a modified weekday schedule," Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile said.
No matter what line you use, riders should check metra.com for the actual schedule Friday, Reile advises.
"Saturday service is like 43% of what we normally run on a weekday. There are going to be fewer trains," she said.
"That should help us not have logjams, but that also means because of the weather conditions, people need to look at the schedules so that they minimize the time they’re exposed to the elements."
Reile also suggests motorists consider the conditions when trying to stop at railroad crossings, so they don’t slide into the railroad gates or worse.
She said Metra plans operational moves that keep trains rolling when the temperatures are sub-freezing and snow is blowing, for instance, reducing the number of switching moves that need to be made in railyards.
"We’re going to do everything we can to keep those trains running on time, but it’s not going to be an easy commute on Friday, but we also recognize that there are people that absolutely have to get into work because of their job and rely on us."
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