Metra offers free rides on New Year’s Eve
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Hoping to help its customers end the year on a positive note, Metra will offer free travel on all trains arriving at or departing from Metra’s downtown stations after 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. On that day, Metra will be operating a Saturday schedule, but will hold the last outbound trains on the lines that are operating until after midnight.
“This year many people will be returning to traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations and it’s important that Metra is there to provide a safe mode of transportation for everyone who needs to travel on this holiday night,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “The past two years have been difficult for everyone, and the small gift of a free ride is the least we can do.”
This marks the third year in row that Metra has offered free travel on New Year’s Eve. Alcohol will be prohibited on all trains after 7 p.m. Metra “Family Fares,” which allow up to three children to ride free with each fare-paying adult on weekends, will also be in effect on weekdays from Dec. 20 to Dec. 31.
For customers planning to travel on Christmas Eve, Metra will offer a $7 Day Pass good for unlimited rides across the Metra system. The pass will be available for purchase on the Ventra App and from agents and conductors and vending machines.
Metra also announced its service plans for the upcoming holidays. The current Saturday and Sunday/holiday schedules can be viewed after the weekday schedules on the pdfs here.
On Christmas Eve Friday, Dec. 24, and on New Year’s Eve Friday, Dec. 31, all Metra service will be operating on a Saturday schedule. There will be no train service on the North Central Service, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines on those days. In addition, on New Year’s Eve, Metra will also hold the departure of the last outbound trains on all the lines that are operating until at least 1:15 a.m. New Year's Eve schedules can be viewed here.
On Christmas Day Saturday, Dec. 25, and Sunday, Dec. 26, Metra will be operating on a Sunday schedule. There will be no train service on the North Central Service, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines on those days.
A Sunday schedule will also be in effect on Saturday, Jan. 1 and Sunday, Jan. 2. There will be no train service on the North Central Service, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines on those days.
