Suburban commuters, take note. Metra said trains to and from the city could be delayed by up to 30 minutes from Monday to Friday this week.
Union Pacific, which owns three Metra lines in service, has embarked on a five-day construction project between Barrington and Crystal Lake on the UP Northwest Line, according to a press release Friday. As part of the project, the railroad will replace approximately 116,000 sleepers between Chicago and Harvard, and the repair service is “essential” and “regular to maintain speed and service levels on the track.” It must be done on
Construction between Barrington and Crystal Lake is expected to have an even greater impact on delays due to an older signaling system and fewer places for trains to switch tracks, officials said.
The Department of Transportation estimates that between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day, train journeys through the work zone could take up to 30 minutes longer than usual.
“Further delays are expected as work progresses,” Metra said after this week.
That’s not the only reason delays could become more frequent next week. Workers will rebuild an existing flyover on Main Street in Barrington. Metra said doing both projects at the same time could reduce the overall impact on its services.
The UP Northwest Line runs between Harvard and Chicago, stopping at Crystal Lake and Barrington, Woodstock, McHenry, Palatine, Arlington Heights and Des Plaines.