Metra ridership, costs rise due to high fuel prices

June 13th, 2008 05:00 AM - <p>For Metra, high fuel prices giveth, and high fuel prices taketh away.</p>
BY <a href="mailto:mwisniewski@suntimes.com">MARY WISNIEWSKI</a>Transportation Reporter
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I have often thought electrifying the entire metra system would save a huge amount of money in the long haul in terms of a cheaper fuel bill, rolling stock lasting much longer, and able to run at higher speeds. For the "greens", the absence of diesel fumes speaks for itself. I have yet to hear or read fm anyone on the feasibility of doing this. Would someone be kind enough to get back to me on this ? I would greatly appreciate it.

There's a couple Wikipedia articles you might like to read

Railroad electrification in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_electrification_in_the_United_States)

Metra Electric Line - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metra_Electric_Line)

My guess is that there is a huge capital investment required, and for it to work best you would want high density (short distance between stops) and high traffic. Metra's lines go for miles and miles (long distances) and except for peak periods are not that busy.. sometimes two hours between trains during the day and longer on weekends.

But then I'm just guessing.. you might have to speak to a railroad planner to get a sense of how feasible it would be for Metra and which lines if any would make more sense than others.

Sorry for not writing sooner, thanks for the reply. I was thinking of using the overhead wire known as a cantenary system. Distance between stops is irrelavant as evidenced by europe's use of this system all over the continent. In europe's case their intercity trains top 200mph regularly. Even Russia announced that they had just completed electrification of the trans-siberian railroad recently. That's around ten thousand miles. One writer complained about the esthetics of the overhead wire. He said it would be an eyesore. Boston, New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland to name some have this system. I have ridden on most of them on numerous occasions & never heard or read anything from the public in the way of complaint. Again, in the beginning the capital outlay would be big but I believe the financial savings down the line would be enormous.

It's an excellent question, and I know lots of influential people used to monitor this board. Or did so when it was active, it's gone into some decay since, but the board technology itself is still up and very alive for anyone to use. Electrification of Metra is as good a topic/public interest project as any :-)

Regarding your question, I'd love to hear an opinion from a Chicago Transportation Planner / Engineer who would be able to answer this question.. I just don't know.