Paralell passenger runs - who will get into town first?

[Kozzie]

As Carl correctly pointed out, Metra trains on the former C&NW lines often come in together. For example, in the morning, all inbound Metra trains on the UP North and UP Northwest lines stop at Clybourn. I have observed not only 2 trains leaving Clybourn simultaneously, but also seeing two trains on the Northwest line arriving together. (The Northwest line has three tracks, so “Express” trains will use the center track whilr the locals will use the Eastern track. Don’t forget, C&NW used left hand running.) I have not seen it, but theoretically there could be three trains running parallel out of Clybourn.[2c]

Northwesterner, let us know if you catch three trains leaving Clyburn simultaneously…make a good picture.
Does the Metra system include the elevated lines that one sees in movies set in Chicago?

Dave

[northwesterner]

No - Metra is the commuter rail system that serves a number of suburbs from downtown depots. none of these line are elevated (that is, run on elevated steel structures above street traffic.) The elevated lines you see in the movies are all owned by the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority), and run primarily in the city proper. Most were built in the late 1800’s/ early 1900’s. There are exceptions, such as the Blue line to O’Hare and the Orange line to Midway, both comlpleted in the 1980’s.

[zardoz]

Carl, I agree totally, one wouldn’t want to to see services “racing” each other into town - but one does wonder, on the run in, who will get in first - and there are many variables, e.g. how many passengers each train will pick up on subsequent stops on the way etc etc.

Dave

Back in the C&NW days, priority used to be determined by:
a. scheduled arrival time
b. ‘express’ status (how many stops it made)
c. who (meaning CNW officials) are riding the train
d. need for the equipment for a subsequent trip
e. the reputation of the engineer
f. the mood of the tower operator
g. the position of the moon
h. just kidding about “G”.

[MStLfan]

Half way into the city, on my journey to work on the commuter train network, my inbound train joins the main line, from my suburban line, at a station called Northgate. The number of tracks jump from 2 to 4, and if my service is delayed just a fraction, we often see, at Northgate, another inbound train on the main line also pulling in, over on the other inbound platform.

Then, the big question: which train will leave first, will it be “neck and neck”? Many variables, yes, but one can’t help watching the other train, as it: slides past ours (oh no!), or slips back (yes!), or even just keeps up (who will get ahead??).

Some people, (yes, including me), stop reading the newspaper, and look back across at the other train, and of course, some in the other train do the same. Pretending indifference, we secretly wonder if “our” train will get into town first…hmmmm…at least it brings variety to the regular commute…that’s my excuse anyway…ha ha…

Have other folk had that experience?

Dave

.

Oh yes!

Last year I regularly commuted from Rotterdam to Hillegom. I had to change from the Rotterdam-Amsterdam intercity service to the local service from The Hague Central Station to Haarlem at Leiden Central Station. Both trains leave at the same time but the local is a single decker, 3 old 2-car emu’s and the intercity service 2 6 or a 6 and 4 car intercity doubledecker. Of course the local accelerates faster e