Metra, the operator of the Northeast Illinois commuter rail system, has completed its winter weather preparations for its rail operations in anticipation of the coming snow season.
“Snow, ice and cold temperatures make winter travel a challenge for everyone in Chicago – including Metra,” said Don Orseno, Metra executive director and CEO. “We are bracing for a challenging snow season and have taken all the steps we can to be ready for winter’s bite.”
As it has done in past years to prepare for the winter, Metra inspects its 463 mainline switches along the Milwaukee North and West, Metra Electric, Rock Island and SouthWest Service. The agency tests nozzles on 275 hot-air switch heaters, and inspects and tests the remaining 188 mainline switch heaters that use gas flames or electric current. It also inspects snow and ice shields on 73 switches, which cover part of the switch machinery.
A common winter switch problem is when snow and ice accumulates on the underside of locomotives and train cars, and then falls into a switch, preventing the movable part of the switch from making contact with the rail. As a failsafe, the signal system will not permit a train to proceed over the switch. Metra routinely assigns employees to key switching locations during winter storms to keep the switches clear.
Also included in Metra’s winterization process is: stockpiling more than 3.1 million pounds of salt; inspecting test 45 snow plows; inspecting its three cold-air blowers and five hot-air jet blowers to clear its largest and most critical yards; and inspecting doors on older cars for defects. Gaps in the door pockets can fill with fine snow that can turn into ice that jams the doors and leads to delays.
Extreme weather conditions may cause Metra to implement snow schedules, which include about 75 to 80 percent of regularly scheduled trains. Metra will provide advanced notice to customers if it implements these schedules.