CHICAGO — Metra has begun a rider survey over renaming its lines from their current names — which largely are derived from their historic operators — to one of two alphanumeric systems, one of which also uses color coding to a significant degree.
The move is spurred by Metra’s upcoming operational takeover of the three lines currently operated by Union Pacific, which is slated to occur in April, although the two sides remain unable to reach agreement on financial terms of that transition [see “Metra asks STB to require Union Pacific …,” Trains News Wire, March 7, 2025]. Metra says that when it assumes operation, the “Union Pacific” name will be phased out from the current Union Pacific North, Northwest, and West lines.
In announcing the survey, Metra says this change presents and opportunity “to reconsider all its line names, which follow no logical or consistent pattern,” which each line using its own distinct color on maps, signs, and timetables. It says it believes clear and consistent names may make the system easier to understand and encouraging infrequent and first-time riders to ride more often.
One proposal, known as the Cardinal Direction System, would group the lines by their general direction and color-code them according to their Chicago terminal. In this plan, the four North lines — the current UP North, North Central Service, Milwaukee District North, and UP Northwest ± would become lines N1 through N4, respectively. West lines (Milwaukee West, UP West, and BNSF) would become W1-3; South lines (Heritage Corridor, Rock Island, Southwest, and Metra Electric, with its two branches) would become S1-7. Union Station lines would color-coded yellow (or “Union Gold,” according to the poll); current UP lines using the Ogilvie Transportation Center as a terminal, would be green; Rock Island service from LaSalle Street station would be Orange; and Electric lines, from Millennium Station, would be gray, as shown below.
The second proposal, the Metra System, would use a single color — still to be determined — to differentiate Metra from the color-coded lines of the Chicago Transit Authority rail system, and number all routes and branches as M1 to M14, as shown below.
Those taking the surveys are asked to judge the two proposals — as well as the current system, which would only be altered regarding the UP lines — on such factors as ease of understanding and whether they would make it easier to navigate the system. They are also ask to rank the three systems in order of preference.
The survey is available here. It will be the subject of outreach events beginning today (March 11) at Chicago Union Station between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Another event will be held Wednesday, March 12, at Ogilvie Transportation Center, with the final events Thursday, March 13, at Millennium Station and LaSalle Street Station. Those will also be from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The commuter operator says this will be part of a systemwide signage and wayfinding project to replace older signs with a common design and using a common language. That stage will be in the design phase into 2026, with manufacturing and installation beginning later that year. The goal is to complete the process by early 2029.
When Philadelphis built the center-city tunnel to connect the ex-PRR lines with the ex-RDG lines, they initially assigned line numbers R-1 to R-8. The trains ran through under the same R-number.
This reduced flexibility so they later swiched to using line names and that system is working well.
By all means, color code the lines for people that can’t read.
Many sentimental people in the comments here are looking at the line names through rose-colored glasses. The names need to go. They are confusing for everyone, save the hard-core commuter. The cardinal system is a sound system that provides structure to the line names so the tourist/occasional traveler can easily guess where the line goes.
To those saying the old system is not broken, it actually is very literally broken. Three of the highest ridership lines will not have a name soon. And you can’t just refer to them as the “North” or “West” line, because there are two other lines that roughly mimic that name.
The old system has to go. The vast majority of Metra rail users are not railfans and do not care about the history of the system. They should not be required to get a lesson in railroad history to ride a train. The naming convention is full of non-sensical terms. The Rock Island suburban branch neither serves Rock Island nor “the suburbs” (except Blue Island, which is also not an island).
The old system of names and colors was amazing, I love it dearly. It served its need and must be retired.
For cripes sake,
The same idiot people who want to “re-brand” the Metra lines are the same idiots we need to flush out of the “Feral” Bureaucracy.
Question #1: Whose Brother-in-Law got the ‘consulting’ contract from RTA/METRA to come up with this dumb/lame-a@* idea?
My goodness, who the hell wants to commute into work every morning on the “Grey Line?”
What the hell is the matter with you people?
Sheesh,
Mike Roche (Preferred Pronoun – General ZOD [Supreme Ruler of the Galaxy])
“ Question #1: Whose Brother-in-Law got the ‘consulting’ contract from RTA/METRA to come up with this… idea?”
Nepotism? In Chicago? Surely you jest!
Calm down man. Who cares if they travel on the “Grey Line”? No one will care! The system is confusing, and you are looking at this situation as someone who probably has used it for a while. So you might understand it, but everyone else (occasional traveler, tourist, etc.) is completely lost without a map. You cannot let sentimentality hold back meaningful change for the better. Also, where does the consulting comment come from? They have their own staff who can whip this up in the afternoon. There’s an example out there of what one former staffer created. Look up “2034sight”.
Take a deep breath and go touch some grass.
Since I was working at Metra and responsible for creating the new Metra timetables in 1986, standardizing the format and, many thanks to Mike Schafer, adding heritage line colors, I think it has stood the test of time. Certainly drop “UP”. I would suggest Metra North, Metra Northwest, Metra West, or the idea of Charles Landey to reintroduce CNW. Many passengers will not know the origin of CNW, but so what, it’s easier to remember than S2 and N3 and so on. Make life simple: keep what works.
CNW commuter lines go “North, “Northwest” and “West”. So, Chicago and North Western isn’t so bad a name.
Kevin, the work you did was an improvement but a better approach is both possible and needed.
The problem is that it doesn’t work. It only works for those who are super transit users. It needs to work for everyone. CNW will be a mouthful and even more confusing. The names need to be simple, have a system behind them, and be easy for outsiders to navigate.
Charles, you are right on.
Kevin, I’m not so sure about how many passengers won’t know about the CNW. How many passengers know about the Rock Island, or the Milwaukee Road (both of which “disappeared” long before the C&NW)?
And what’s a “Heritage Corridor”, anyway?
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Yeah I get it that people are pissed off at Union Pacific. The solution is simple: METRA pay Union Pacific a dollar in return for use of the CNW trademark. Call the lines CNW-N, CNW-NW, and CNW-W.
There’s plenty of people out there enjoying the heritage locomotives, even if they weren’t even born back then. Same should go for commuter lines. There’s a newish station on the North Shore lettered for Chicago and North Western.
And BTW, it’s not BNSF, it’s The Burlington. Santa Fe was nowhere near there.
Oh, also rename Ogilvie Transportation Center. “Ogilvie Northwestern Station” would do just fine.
Throw dust into the air to simulate motion. Real progress would take ambition and resources, neither of which are in ready supply these days in Chicago.
Better yet, CPT (Chicago Passenger Terminal) or is it (Can’t Phix Toopid?)