Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Why doesn’t Metra have wireless internet on its trains yet? Mostly because it would be enormously expensive and a technological challenge, too. But should they?
Should Metra get Wi-Fi? Even if it’s expensive and hard to implement and maintain? The commuter-rail network is considering the possibility, the Chicago Tribune and other news agencies report, but price and technology continue to be two major barriers, despite that a DePaul University report shows 48 percent of Metra riders use personal electronic devices during their commutes. According to the paper, it could cost over $70 million to install wireless internet on all 11 Metra lines over five years—though some of that could perhaps be recouped by paid plans or sponsorships—and there’s a fear that the technology might quickly become obsolete or go unused by customers who prefer other connectivity, like smart-phone hotspots or air-cards. "(…
Among all Chicago and suburban Metra stops, Glen Ellyn ranked as the 54th highest income, according to Crain's.
- PATCH'S HOUSE & HOME
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Tuesday, May 14
By Amie Schaenzer, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch A look at income levels in suburban towns with Metra stops provides a glimpse at the disparity in wealth throughout the area, according to an interactive map posted on Crain's Chicago Business Journal. Among all Chicago and suburban Metra stops, Glen Ellyn ranked as the 54th highest income with an average income of $89,916 while Wheaton ranked 75th with an average income of $79,229 and Lombard ranked 102nd with an average income of $72,023, according to Crain's. According to the map, Glen Ellyn residents are in the top 10 to 30 percent of the highest average incomes among Chicago towns with Metra stations. The Metra station that ranked as number one was in Kennilworth, where the …
Friday, August 17, 2012
The Chicago Air & Water Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
North Avenue Beach is the hot spot this weekend as the Chicago Air & Water Show kicks off Saturday. All weekend planes will be filling the skies with aircraft aerobatics and the lake will be filled with boating fanatics. The show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It’s a free event. The main attractions at the show include the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights and the U.S. Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs. Metra will have additional passenger service on Saturday and Sunday to accommodate those heading downtown for the event. Trains will have expanded seating and there will be outbound express trains to Lombard on Saturday and Sunday, according to Metra. Because of the additional riders on …
Friday, August 10, 2012
Track construction is underway and will continue on the weekends through Sept. 9.
Weekend travelers heading to the city may notice some delays with their travel. Track construction is underway on Metra’s Union Pacific West Line and will continue through Sept. 9, according to the Village of Glen Ellyn. The construction is taking place on the weekends and some trains may have minor delays of around 10 minutes due to the construction, the village said. Along with the delays, trains may also have delays because of an increase in the number of passengers attending summer events in Chicago.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The passenger car rehab program will help Metra riders recharge their electronic devices. Renovated cars will include power outlets and other rider-friendly features.
As part of a multiyear, multimillion-dollar program to renovate its rail cars, Metra is installing a variety of new features to improve the passenger experience—perhaps most noticeably by adding power outlets so riders can charge their electrical devices. In a major cost-saving measure, the cars are being refurbished in-house by Metra workers. See: Give Metra a Piece of Your Mind The program aims to rehabilitate 176 cars that were built by Amerail (originally Morrison Knudson) between 1995 and 1998. The car shells were built in Japan but the cars were assembled in Chicago. Forty cars have been completed so far and 60 should be completed by the end of the year. The entire Amerail fleet, which includes 79 cab cars and 97 trailer cars, should…
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
It's all about being local.
As a local legend says goodbye to Glen Ellyn by passing her coffee shop onto new owners, Metra commuters can expect more local fare at Next Stop Coffee Shop. Remember Glen Ellyn's bike billboard guy? Craig Yerly and his wife, Joy, recently purchased the coffee shop inside Glen Ellyn's Metra station from longtime owner Dotty Flicek. They know they have some big shoes to fill but they're excited to bring more options and local favorites to commuters during the early morning rush. Commuters can now nibble on muffins, scones and breakfast bars from Honey and tea from Serene Teaz located in neighboring Wheaton. Like Honey, Next Stop Coffee Shop will brew Metropolis coffee which is roasted in Chicago by a father and son duo. The Yerlys are all …
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Geneva police have identified the man struck and killed by a freight train Saturday near the Geneva depot.
Geneva police have identified the man who was struck and killed by a freight train early Saturday. The man is identified as Patrick M. Flynn, 40, of 529 Linden Court, Geneva. The Geneva Police Department is working with the Metra Police Department and the Union Pacific Police Department to determine the circumstances leading to Flynn's death, a police press release said Monday. Geneva police responded to the call at around 12:51 a.m. Saturday, June 9, to an area just west of the Geneva Metra station. According to police, an eastbound Union Pacific freight train struck Flynn, but the conductor did not realize the train had collided with a human being. A second eastbound freight train discovered that a person had been struck. "At this time, …
Saturday, June 9, 2012
At this time, the man's identity has not been determined.
A man was killed when he was hit by a train near the Geneva train depot Saturday afternoon. Geneva police responded to an area on the train tracks west of the train depot around 12:51 p.m. Saturday, June 9, a Geneva Police Department press release said. The original report was that the conductor of an eastbound Union Pacific freight train had reported that the train had struck an unknown object. After receiving this information, personnel on another eastbound Union Pacific freight train discovered that a person had been struck. The unknown male subject was deceased upon the arrival of Geneva police officers. At this time, the identity of the subject has not been determined. This accident is being investigated by the Geneva Police …
Sunday, May 27, 2012
The next outbound train will depart at 12:40 p.m. and arrive in Elburn at 2:10 p.m. The next inbound Metra train will depart from Elburn at 12:25 p.m.
Two Metra trains on the Union Pacific West line today (Sunday, May 27) were canceled due to an earlier pedestrian incident near Lombard. One morning inbound and one outbound train were canceled. The outbound train that was to depart Chicago at 10:40 a.m. and arrive to Elburn at 12:06 p.m. did not operate, according to a statement from Metra. The inbound Metra train scheduled to depart Elburn at 10:25 a.m. did not operate either. The next outbound train will depart Chicago at 12:40 p.m. and arrive in Elburn at 2:10 p.m., Metra said. According to Metra, the next inbound train scheduled to leave Elburn will depart at 12:25 p.m. and arrive in Chicago at 1:50 p.m. Inbound and outbound delays were caused when an inbound Metra train scheduled to …
This is the second incident this week in which a train hit a pedestrian near Lombard.
12:40 p.m. update: The inbound Metra train scheduled to depart Elburn at 10:25 a.m. will not operate due to an earlier pedestrian incident near Lombard, according to a statement from Metra. Original report: A Metra train on the Union-Pacific West line struck a pedestrian around 9:30 a.m. Sunday near Grace Street in Lombard, according to Metra officials. An inbound train scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 9:50 a.m. hit the pedestrian and is now halted near the scene of the accident. An outbound train scheduled to arrive at Elburn at 10:06 a.m. is stopped near Villa Park until further notice. On Sundays, trains are scheduled every two hours, according to Metra officials. It's unclear if the incident will cause further delays. Metra …
Gregory l
3:32 am on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Tony P, why are you sucking your thumb??? more ›