Why does Metra use diesel-electric locomotives? (Chicago, Aurora: home, construction, price)

[KoNgFooCj]

Why not use only electric multiple units? They accelerate and decelerate faster, can be used in tunnels without ventilation, and are better for the environment. They also look more like subway cars and less old fashioned. Also of note, Chicago is the only city I know of that uses double deck EMUs. Do any other cities use them? I personally like the look of single floor EMUs more because they look more like subway cars.

[Hiruko]

The more important question is: Why did I see a big billboard-style advertisement for Jimmy John's on the side of one of the Metra locomotives rolling through Wilmette the other day?

[chirack]

The EMU's on the Metra Electric district are a bit of an historic accident. There were many train stations downtown before the 70ies and all of the commuter stops where Metra terminates where home to large train stations. Today only Union and part of Ogevile survive. Back then the city concerned with the smoke from steam trains on the line passed a law requiring the lines on the tracks that now serve millennium station to be electrified.

The reason why the city probably wasn't as concerned with the rest is because the north shore line was electric and ran on the loop with the EL and that would cover a couple of current Metra stops to the North(plus it ran to the city of Milwaukee) and to the west the Chicago Aurora and Elgin ran on then existing EL tracks to it's own terminal downtown. There were also competing steam(latter dissel) trains as well.

The Aurora shut down during 1951 due to the construction of what is now the Congress(blue line)...it was a replacement for the Garfield elevated line that was replaced with creation of the expressway. The north shore line ran till 1963 but had multiple problems and did not survive completion of 90/94 due to competition from faster dessel lines and tearing up of the trolley tracks it used to travel through a couple of towns. It was slower than existing routes but offered more service and that was it's survival until it got faster and easier for cars and buses to use it's route. A tiny part of it is used in the CTA yellow line and it is the reason why the northside main line has 4 tracks instead of 2 or 3 like the rest of the system had at the time. The south shore line is the last surviving interurban line in the area.

The reason why they don't electrify is due to the cost and the low frequency of said lines. Also the RTA was not created until the 1970ies long after those electric lines where gone and the surviving commer lines(which were dissel) were operated by the railroads that owned them until they went out of the passenger carrying business and were handled by Metra.

[emathias]

Cost is the biggest reason.

20 years ago, Caltrain in the Bay Area used trains very similar to Metra, but as part of getting ready for HSR in California the route South from San Francisco has been electrified and they now use trains more similar to Toronto's GO commuter rail, so it's not inside that Metra electrifies some more of it's lines at some point.

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

The more important question is: Why did I see a big billboard-style advertisement for Jimmy John's on the side of one of the Metra locomotives rolling through Wilmette the other day?

It raises some revenue, so you can't blame them. Back to the original question: they could use EMU coaches with diesel-electric units providing the power (LIRR does this) but Metra sees little advantage in doing so. If they had unlimited funding they could electrify their entire network (like the Metra Electric) but I don't see that ever happening.

[chicagodude.1984]

Originally Posted by emathias

Cost is the biggest reason.

20 years ago, Caltrain in the Bay Area used trains very similar to Metra, but as part of getting ready for HSR in California the route South from San Francisco has been electrified and they now use trains more similar to Toronto's GO commuter rail, so it's not inside that Metra electrifies some more of it's lines at some point.

What are you talking about ?? SF bay area Caltrain is still operating Diesel locomotives with bilevel cars JUST like Metra's fleet ??


According to Wikipedia, Trump admin delayed funding for the electric system, Regardless Caltrain is still >PLANNING< to go all electric in the next few years

[paytonc]

Why stick with bi-level EMUs? Never underestimate Metra's resistance to change.

Why not electrify other lines? As mentioned above, the better question is why the Illinois Central (pre-Metra) bothered to electrify, and that was due to Chicago mandate. Very few route miles of US commuter rail are electrified, and until recently the IC/South Shore was the only electric commuter railroad that didn't somehow touch NYC or Philly. (Both the Pennsy and NY Central began electrification with their Manhattan tunnels in the early 1900s, and later extended electric operations north, east, west, and southwest from there, with PRR's reaching as far as Harrisburg and DC. The Reading copied PRR's Philadelphia suburban electrification in the 1930s, and SEPTA inherited both sets of suburban lines.)

The majority of Metra passengers ride lines that are owned and operated by "host railroads" -- i.e., BNSF and UP. These railroads have no interest in spending their money on mucking up their roadways with catenary. And again, Metra has no interest in spending money on any "new technology" like ohh, electrification.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by chicagodude.1984

What are you talking about ?? SF bay area Caltrain is still operating Diesel locomotives with bilevel cars JUST like Metra's fleet ??


According to Wikipedia, Trump admin delayed funding for the electric system, Regardless Caltrain is still >PLANNING< to go all electric in the next few years

Yea, Caltrain is currently in the midst of electrifying.

Metra is not quite doing that with its own lines, though it really should along with introducing through-running at Union Station. Crossrail Chicago talks about the benefits of such a plan.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by pvande55

It raises some revenue, so you can't blame them. Back to the original question: they could use EMU coaches with diesel-electric units providing the power (LIRR does this) but Metra sees little advantage in doing so. If they had unlimited funding they could electrify their entire network (like the Metra Electric) but I don't see that ever happening.

Electrifying single lines at a time and doing through-running for Metra Electric can be done. It doesn't have to be an immediate all or nothing. It's also a lot more flexible now with the introduction of battery electric trains where lines don't necessarily have to be electrified for the entire length of track.

[pvande55]

If the price of diesel fuel skyrocketed without a corresponding rise in electric rates, then stringing up catenary would pay off. Absent that, the most likely way Metra will electrify is when someone comes up with a practical battery locomotive. Don't laugh, it's closer than you think.