Wi-Fi on Metra Trains: Pricey, but Worth It?

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?

Wi-Fi on Metra Trains: Pricey, but Worth It?

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. "(…

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La Grange: A Look at Metra Stops, Income Level

La Grange residents earn an average of $72,727, putting their station income rank as 96th among all Metra stations, according to Crain's.

  A look at income levels in suburban towns with Metra stops provides a glimpse at the disparity in wealth throughout the area, according to a map by Crain's Chicago Business Journal.  Among all Chicago and suburban Metra stops, La Grange ranked as the 96th highest income with an average income of $72,727, according to Crain's. La Grange residents are ranked in the top 30.1 to 50 percent of average incomes of towns along Metra lines, according to the map.  The Metra station that ranked as number one was Kennilworth where the average income came in at $242,188, according to Crain's.  Read more and find out how other area suburbs compare on Crain's Chicago Business Journal. 

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Deadly Westmont Metra Collision an Accident, Not Suicide: Coroner

The March 7 train-on-pedestrian incident that killed Hickory Hills resident Eric Bennett near the Cass Avenue station has been ruled to be accidental in nature after the DuPage County Coroner's Office investigation.

The man who died after being struck by a Metra train near the Cass Avenue crossing in Westmont on March 7 did not commit suicide, DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen said Wednesday. Jorgensen's office ruled in its report completed on April 20 that 31-year-old Eric Bennett, of Hickory Hills, did not intend to be hit by the eastbound commuter train that was carrying only an engineer and crew. But he did, according to witnesses the coroner spoke to, disobey down warning gates and had his head down before he was struck near the Westmont train station at around 5:46 p.m. that Thursday evening. READ: Male Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by BNSF Metra Train in Westmont Jorgensen said the manner of death was "accidental," and the cause of …

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Tommy O

6:00 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013

Mickey- You state, "I believe the least that can be done is his little girl should be taken care of...." By whom?   more ›

Pedestrian Killed by Freight Train was La Grange Man, 22

The man died Thursday after he was struck by a train near the Stone Avenue station in La Grange, police said.

Updated, 2:45 p.m. The man who died Thursday after being struck by a freight train near the Stone Avenue train station in La Grange has been identified as a 22-year-old La Grange resident, Police Chief Michael Holub said in a statement Friday. Cook County Medical Examiner spokeswoman Mary Marik said that the young man died of multiple injuries. His death was ruled a suicide, she said. “Please keep his family in your thoughts as they cope with their loss and continue to notify all of their immediate family members,” Holub said in his statement. This is the fourth fatal incident along the BNSF tracks since March 7. On Thursday, March 7, a 31-year-old Hickory Hills man was struck by a train at the Cass Avenue crossing in Westmont. Then on …

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Lauren Williamson

11:31 am on Thursday, April 18, 2013

They have, but per our policy Patch is not going to publish his name.   more ›

Man Killed by Freight Train Near La Grange Stone Avenue Station

The freight train involved with the incident moved out of the area around 4 p.m. All blocked crossings have now reopened.

Updated 4 p.m. A pedestrian was struck and killed by a freight train in an apparent suicide around 1 p.m. Thursday near the Stone Avenue Station in La Grange, police said. The victim is a white male, but he has not yet been identified.  "This was someone who made an effort to do what he did," Police Chief Michael Holub said. "This is not someone who just walked around the gates."  The freight train was stopped for about three hours between the Wolf Road and La Grange Road crossings. It moved out of the area at about 4 p.m. Service resumed a normal schedule along the BNSF commuter line shortly thereafter. The Wolf and La Grange crossings remained open throughout the afternoon, but every crossing in between was blocked. Traffic was backed up…

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BP

3:11 am on Saturday, April 20, 2013

This is the only one out of 10s of 1,000s of these reports I've seen with signal failure which happens all the time. Wonder you it was??? http://www.nrc.uscg.mil/reports/rwservlet?standard_web+inc_seq=1043957 CALLER STATED AN AUTOMOBILE RAN INTO THE SIDE OF A TRAIN LAST NIGHT. THERE WAS AN ACTIVATION FAILURE OF THE RAILROAD CROSSING SIGNAL AND THE CAUSE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME   more ›

Causes of All 3 Fatal Metra Collisions Still Under Investigation

The DuPage County Coroner's Office is waiting on the victim's toxicology results before announcing a cause in the first of three recent fatal incidents along the BNSF tracks.

Those who want to know what officially led to the deaths of three men stuck by Metra trains in separate incidents this month will have to be patient. DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen said Wednesday afternoon his office is still investigating the causes of the incidents that took place in Westmont on March 7, in Hinsdale on March 18, and in Downers Grove on March 19, and have yet to determine whether any of the victims intended to be hit or were hit by accident. The cause of the first incident, in which a 31-year-old Hickory Hills man was struck by a Metra train near the Cass Avenue crossing in Westmont, won't be released until Jorgensen's office receives the victim's toxicology results. That, the coroner said, will likely take two …

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Pedestrian Killed by Train a 21-Year-Old Downers Grove Man

DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen said the cause of the Tuesday morning collision is still under investigation.

The man who died Tuesday morning after he was struck by an eastbound Metra commuter train at the Forest Avenue crossing near downtown Downers Grove was a 21-year-old Downers Grove resident, DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen said Wednesday. Jorgensen said initial findings show the man died of multiple head and chest traumas, but whether he intended to be hit or was accidentally hit has not yet been determined. "Our investigation is ongoing," he said. The incident occurred around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. According to Downers Grove police, the pedestrian disobeyed Forest Avenue crossing gates that were down before he was struck by the train that was preparing to stop at the Downers Grove-Main Street station. "Witnesses stated that the …

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UPDATE: Another Pedestrian Dead After Being Hit by Train in Downers Grove

It was the third train-on-pedestrian fatality in the last two weeks on the stretch of BNSF railway between Hinsdale and Downers Grove.

Updated at 4:30 p.m. The DuPage County Coroner's Office does know the identity of the male pedestrian who was killed by an eastbound train near downtown Downers Grove Tuesday morning, but is withholding all information, including age and residence, until all next of kin are notified, chief deputy coroner Charlie Dastych said. 12:21 p.m. The male pedestrian who died Tuesday morning after being struck by an eastbound commuter train near the Forest Avenue crossing in Downers Grove disobeyed crossing gates that were down, according to a statement released by the Downers Grove Police Department at 11:48 a.m. According to the statement, the incident was reported to police at 9:49 a.m. A Metra spokesman said the collision itself occurred around 9…

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Katie A

11:11 am on Friday, April 12, 2013

I agree. I ride the trains every day, and hear VERY little about safety measures. In fact, these are the same trains that routinely had doors open while traveling, and daily I'd hear the conductors say "The door won't close? Oh, just kick it a few times, it'll close eventually." Not that I'm blaming Metra for people walking in front of trains, but I'd hardly call them safety conscious.   more ›