Rails, Trails, and Ales again in 2024

In the fall Metra has sometimes offered a great Saturday cycling service.  They have a special fall color train on the heritage line.  They are offering it again this year. The Heritage Line or HC follows the  Des Plaines River/Chicago Ship Canal from around Willow Springs to Joliet.  There is a special bicycle car on the train.  You still have to haul your bike up the steps, but once inside there are bike racks.  I boarded the train in downtown and egressed at Willow Springs.  From there it is about 20 miles of paved and unpaved bike trails to Joliet.  The city riding in Joliet was not bad going from the trail to the Metra Station.  

  The descriptive brochure is at https://metra.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/SeatDrop8.5x11_H...

 I will try to attach it.

 If the link does not work look up "Metra Rails Trails and Ales 2024 pdf " in google. Be sure to get the 2024 version since they just update the brochure each year. 

  When I last went I stopped for lunch at a place I would not return.  I noticed on Google they are permanently closed.  If you have a great lunch stop along this ride, please post it.

see you on the road,

Elwood

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Permalink Reply by Dirke on September 6, 2024 at 3:37am

Each of these brochures lists a different starting date.  While neither brochure has a year printed on it, the starting saturdays suggest that one is for 2023 while the other is for 2024. 

I called Metra about this just last week and was told the HC line would not operate on Saturdays this year.  I also inquired with several conductors at Union Station who also confirmed that the program would not be continuing due to low ridership.  Small wonder there's low ridership with no advertising and conflicting information.

Permalink Reply by Elwood Gruschow on September 6, 2024 at 4:54am

I agree the Metra info on this event (or non-event) is poor.  A couple weeks ago I was looking for current info on Metra website.  I was looking for “fall color train”, “canal bike trail” and other permutations and could not find any info.  I wrote Metra and they emailed me back over a week later what I am posting below.  Unfortunately a schedule conflict keeps me from going (or trying to go) tomorrow and I have medical procedures a week from now where I have to avoid cardiovascular activities for five weeks.   The link in the September 3rd reply gives a brochure version starting with September 7th as a Saturday, so I assume it is for 2024.  I really enjoyed this ride and wanted to repeat it.  With the assumed 2024 update I felt like sharing it on The Chainlink.  If anybody goes on this ride in 2024 please post.  

Email answer from Metra , September 3, 2024

Elwood,

 

Thank you for contacting Metra railroad. For more information on our Rails, Trails and Ales event, please follow this link:https://metra.com/newsroom/rails-trails-and-ales-returns-heritage-c....

 

Metra

Permalink Reply by Dirke on September 6, 2024 at 5:55am

In a particularly curious turn of events, I just called Metra customer service and was this time told that YES, the HC Saturday 6 week event will indeed start tomorrow.  When I inquired why, when I called just one week ago today, was I told that the program had been cancelled, the representative said that they were just informed this Monday (4 days ago).  Hell of a way to run a railroad.

For those interested, here is the link to the 2024 schedule

Heritage%20Corridor%20Saturday%20Excursion%20Schedule_202408260848.pdf

Permalink Reply by Dirke on September 8, 2024 at 3:02am

Just confirming that this bizarre train is actually a thing, Saturdays until Oct. 12. 

I rode it yesterday: 10:33 out of union station to Willow Springs, 2:16 pm return from Willow Springs.

There were 6 cyclists on the whole train

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