CHICAGO — Metra’s “Rails, Trails, and Ales” program — a series of Saturday trips on the normally weekday-only Heritage Corridor — will return for a fourth straight year starting Sept. 7, the commuter operator announced Monday.
The trains will operate on six consecutive Saturdays from Sept. 7 to Oct. 12, with three round trips each day, departing Chicago Union Station at 10:30 a.m., 4:15 p.m., and 8 p.m., and leaving Joliet, Ill., at 8 a.m., 1:45 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. The schedule allows those living on the corridor to make Saturday trips to the city, as well as providing opportunities to take advantage of the bike trails, festivals, craft breweries and other attractions in the communites along the route. A full schedule and list of attractions is available as part of this flyer.
“Autumn is a great time to explore the entire Chicago region and adding this special excursion service is an affordable way for Metra riders to explore areas that aren’t normally served by trains on weekends,” Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said in a press release. “Bring your bike and ride a bike path. Check out a weekend festival. Ride a zip line. There are scores of possibilities along the Heritage Corridor Line.”
Riders can take advantage of Metra’s $7 Saturday pass, which offers unlimited rides on that day, as well as the Family Fare, which allows three children ages 11 and under to ride free with a fare-paying adult.
Only Charles would suggest “getting bored” in Lockport.
Contrary to his opinion, let me assure you all that the once sleepy blue collar town has become a fun, vibrant place to hang for at least an afternoon. There are micro-breweries, coffee shops, restaurants, bars for all tastes, antique stores and more. Lots of outside dining as well. The Public Landing building used to be a shipping facility on the I&M Canal. It now houses an excellent restaurant and upstairs museum. Two railroads within a short walk of each other, all in town. Bored indeed!
RON —- Guess I stuck my foot in my mouth. We’d heard great, awesome things about Lockport so that’s where we headed. But as the world’s Number One Santa Fe fan, gravity pulled me out of town to the west. So we didn’t get to see the town center which is where we had been originally headed.
So let me rephrase, guys. Please please please do what Ron says – take the train to Lockport. Rhymes with Rockport (Massachusetts), another one-day trip on commuter rail that can’t be missed.
We drove to Lockport, actually, on the way to somewhere else. As for this train, it’s a can’t-lose day trip! For $7.00.
If you get bored in Lockport, a stiff walk to the west will get you to the “lock” on the ship canal, and to the ex-Santa Fe main.