Why there are Metrolink cars in Chicago

Metrolink is the commuter rail operator in Los Angeles, California. So imagine my surprise when I was railfanning in Chicago and came across a few Metrolink cars! Turns out these are headed to a factory in Wisconsin for refurbishment.
Trains Are Awesome!

[@22817hm]

I’ve been riding the newly refurbished Metrolink cars out here in California. They provide a smoother ride and the interior has been updated along with new seats and power outlets. The conductor on one of my morning trips demonstrated some other features like being quieter in the cars and not being so squeaky when walking through the car. Apparently it’s also much easier to clean and maintain now.

[@Thom-TRA]

Those all sound like some really great improvements! I can think of some Metra cars that could be a little quieter…

[@waynewright2886]

I had no idea that Metrolink was Sending its Rail Cars to Milwaukee, Via Chicago to be Rehabbed, I've Notice that the Older Metrolink Cars were Showing its Age, Mainly on the Outside due to the Paint Fading, when I was Catching, or coming off the L Line at Union Station & you would see the Metrolink Cars Next to the L Line, both the Older & Stainless Steel Cars, Hooked together, I Assumed Metrolink would Ditch those Older Cars for more Crash Restant Cars after the Fatal Crashes in Glendale, Chatsworth, Orange County & Oxnard. I don't Ride Metrolink, Mainly Metro Rail, but will be Riding it before the Year is Out, because I want to Ride the Arrow in San Bernardino County, which Metrolink Operates for S.B. County Transportation Officials Built the Line.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@waynewright2886 I rode the Arrow this past Saturday!

[@Amrepdude499]

⁠@@waynewright2886originally the plan was to replace all the bombadiers with Hyundai rotems but Metrolink decided to keep the gen 1 and gen 3 ones as additional cars. They did sell the gen 2s off though. This is how they wound up with enough cars to make the quiet cars, cars fitted with bike and surfboard carriers, luggage racks, etc. The catch is that the bombadiers are just restricted in consists. They are not allowed to be cabcars nor are they allowed to be placed as the first car behind the locomotives. They can only be placed in the middle of consists. The CEM equipment must be placed at each end of all revenue trains.

[@edeinhorn6016]

In May, 2022, my wife and I took the Southwest Chief from Los Angeles Union Station to Chicago. However, to get to Union Station we took the San Bernardino Line Metrolink train from Rancho Cucamonga to Union Station. One way senior citizen fare was $4 each for a very pleasant, comfortable ride of 1 hr 15 minutes. I love Metrolink!

[@Thom-TRA]

I am riding the San Bernardino line next weekend! Looking forward to it.

[@edeinhorn6016]

@@Thom-TRA San Bernardino line does NOT have the best scenery. We've taken the Inland Empire-Orange County Line from San Bernardino Station to Oceanside and the last 15 to 30 minutes you have great views of the Pacific Ocean! However, due to mudslides, the trains end at San Clemente Pier. I don't know where the Pacific Surfliner is ending, but it's the same tracks. On weekends you can get a Metrolink Pass for $10 to get on and off as often as you want and ride as many lines as you want. That pass is a great way to explore multiple Metrolink rides on a single day. metrolinktrains.com/ticketsOverview/discounts/metrolink-$10-weekends/ I'm sure that is less expensive than the Amtrak fare. Anyway, have fun out here in SoCal. Will you be doing videos of Metrolink routes, Amtrak routes, or both? By the way, I'm a subscriber to your channel and really enjoy your content.

[@nixcails]

Photo bombed by Superliners! If you look on here you'll see many cases of steam specials being missed by the passing of standard intercity IET's or Freight! I notice Metrolink has finally almost become a functioning regional and commuter network. When I worked in NZ and used to take stopovers in LAX for two to three days to break up the flight it really was quite a limited service. Even Auckland's DMU provided tranzmetro was more frequent. Finally cities outside Europe and Asia are discovering the benefits of decent rail travel!

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m so glad the consist was relatively short!

[@MichaelNolhan]

Funny thing was the 110 and I forget what the other car was that took 2 round trips because the train was almost a day late behind BNSF derailments, and something else, and didn't have any equipment swaps, so we just gave it a cross country tour for back to back trips. I recall sitting in Kansas City for about 14-18 hours.

[@harpsgalore6584]

Yes also I saw some LA Metro Light rail and LA Subway cars in Vallejo, CA (halfway from San Francisco and Sacramento) because the manufacturer Alstom has a contract to refurbish LA Mass Transit cars.

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s cool how we can sometimes see trains very far from where they normally run!

[@waynewright2886]

Yes... their Rehabbing the 52 Siemens Cars & 104 Breda Heavy Rail Cars for the B & D Line & I don't know when Metro will Rehab the 50 Breda Rail Cars Delivered around 2009, or 10 that are On the L Line & Later the A Line when the Long Delayed Regional Connector Opens Next Year & the A Line is Extended to Replace the L Line.

[@SCRM_Railfan]

Alstom is refurbishing the Light rail cars and subway cars but didn't manufacture them

[@PatrickESpecht]

Very helpful. Was seeing those cars cross the country on VRF's feed, didn't know the destination. Thanks!

[@Thom-TRA]

Glad I answered your question!

[@landon176]

Hey Thom! The metra BNSF line has extended service on weekends, and even added some major express services!

[@dexteralexander2437]

I appreciated the “date filmed” superimposed on the video’s beginning.

[@Thom-TRA]

I will try to remember that for future videos!

[@AllAboardRailfan.1]

Very nice catch, Thanks for being there.

[@rayizard5687]

I've seen BART cars on flatbed trucks at the Petro in Gary, IN

[@ck4426]

Mystery solved!!! Thanks for your “detective” work!!! Appreciate and enjoy your videos very much!!!

[@Thom-TRA]

Haha thanks! I got my information from a great Amtrak forum online, they’re worth checking out!

[@eolafan100]

Nice job, very informative…I saw them inbound on #4 SWC at Naperville! Thanks!

[@Thom-TRA]

I would have loved to see them in that consist!

[@Giratina1999]

Southern Californian here, enjoy the metrolink cars! They’re rather comfortable when kept up to date, Caltrain’s been buying off our old Bombardier Bilevels too! I saw these particular cars riding in tow with an evening Amtrak Southwest Chief train sometime around August of 2021! I remember distinctly seeing those cars in particular in tow

[@Thom-TRA]

On my few trips to SoCal I’ve enjoyed riding them as well!

[@sixfifty_sebb]

I wish Caltrain bought the bombardier cab cars from them, but they only bought coaches

[@londonwhaley8690]

I enjoyed that video👍👍

[@anthonywarrener1881]

What a great catch ! It will be interesting to see those Metrolink cars after they have been refurbished. Many thanks..

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m hoping they’ll have the same ribbon livery as the newer cars!

[@F59PHI]

@@Thom-TRA There is one refurbished car in revenue (that I know of) that is in the new ribbon scheme. It's not like 187 which was just painted into the scheme in 2009 but not refurbished. Also the currently running one was built as a coach car and not as a cab car unlike the ones in this vid. I doubt that'll make a difference but it's something to keep in mind.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@F59PHI the cars in this video are cab cars? Didn’t know that!

[@F59PHI]

@@Thom-TRA They were built as cabs but they were decommissioned to coach cars and the cabs gutted. The compartment is still there and the cutouts for the lights, marker lights, the cab window, and the angled stripes are still there. The entire cab area will likely be removed when the cars are refurbished but only time will tell. Looking forward to see them in revenue!

[@jacobestevez7570]

I'm looking forward to your video on Metrolink

[@Thom-TRA]

Me too! I’m trying out the new Arrow service next month!

[@JamesReberry]

SCRRA/Metrolink also farms out it’s ops to Amtrak via contract so I guess that makes it super convenient.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this great video ! I fully understand the reason for the reverse move out of Union station, for even with a cab control car, the Engineer would have to move from that car to the locomotive after the relatively short reversal. Amtrak have clearly worked out it is better to have the Guard superintending the reverse move, whilst the Engineer remains in the locomotive. Many thanks.

[@markmanz8897]

Milwaukee guy, here. It is awesome to see Metroliner cars at our Amtrak station. They always show up in sets of 3 cars. Most of the time, I see the the pre-rehab cars. Only twice, have I seen the finished product. Earlier this week, first full week of March 2023, I saw a CP Rail engine that was swapping the old and new cars at the Amtrak station. And nope - I didn’t get a picture. Ugh. On a side note, the first batch of LA Subway car# are being refurbished at the same facility in Milwaukee.

[@Thom-TRA]

Are those the LA subway cars that are used on the heavy rail lines?

[@Calirailfan665]

I Remember catching those 3 cars when they left LA in Amtrak 4

[@F59PHI]

Lol! I saw these cars in person on their way to Chicago, as well as seeing them in revenue. I'll miss 'em! But they'll be back and better than ever.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m looking forward to riding Metrolink for the first time ever in less than two weeks!

[@F59PHI]

@@Thom-TRA Nice! As a relatively frequent Metrolink rider I'm sure you'll love it. I've personally never been on Metra but hope to someday.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@F59PHI Metra is part of the Chicago train experience, so if you ever come down here, I can give you a few pointers! I’ll be riding the full San Bernardino line, and of course the new Arrow service (which is why I planned the trip).

[@F59PHI]

@@Thom-TRA Yeah, the SB line used to be my go-to every morning. I actually went to Redlands to see the Arrow service, it looks pretty good. Loving those new Dmus, its a nice new addition to the Socal rail family.

[@paulcastillo1310]

That's cool to see

[@user-er7ss2lo6j]

omg this is soooo rare to see these cars in chicago🤯🤯🤯

[@StefanWithTrains3222]

Nobody: Me: The Venture cars + Bi-level combination looks really good and an Tri-Rail should buy them to use them for the FEC corridor connection.

[@Thom-TRA]

They do kind of fit, don’t they?

[@StefanWithTrains3222]

​@@Thom-TRAI want to come back on my point I just made. Tri-Rail wants to go to the Brightline Miami station and they are going to test them soon but, The platforms are high boarding level unlike the bilevels so I don't know what is gonna happen.

[@vlfrail]

I saw these pass Glenview Station on the Empire builder northbound. Headed to Milwaukee I think about a year ago.

[@Thom-TRA]

Ah so that must mean the attach to the empire builder?

[@CatBot007]

Good to see the old cars are finally being painted to the new colors, it looked so off being sandwiched between the newer Hyundai cars since those cars have better impact protection.

[@Thom-TRA]

Now it looks like they’re moving to a third livery

[@midmichiganemdrailfan.4187]

I'm going see this a little later tonight but I seen a CN SD70Is when I got off work this afternoon.

[@Thom-TRA]

Good luck with work

[@AussieTrainsVlogs]

Great video mate also subscribed

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you! I once went to Australia when I was a little kid. Way before my KZbin days. Would love to go back and experience the trains there!

[@Token_Nerd]

I think the more impressive catch is the railfan and his gf/friend at 4:00 being wholesome as shit railfans.

[@Thom-TRA]

Finding someone who will not only tolerate your hobby, but join you in it, is like finding treasure.

[@trashjunkie]

I’d recommend Fullerton CA because there’s BNSF Metrolink and Amtrak

[@Bigtflies321]

well they (new Siemens cars) came from LA where they were produced :) I guess they tagged on a few metralink cars on the way there!

[@Thom-TRA]

Hopefully they don’t become too used to each other! Otherwise we’re looking at a long-distance relationship, lol.

[@samuelitooooo]

I had a shimmer of hope that METRA would be looking into these instead of reinventing the wheel again for new car orders. Oh well 😅

[@seanbaskett5506]

A have a similar story with mbta in Nampa, idaho on Google earth. It was a f40ph loco.

[@zetaopress2389]

That's my question with union pacific, they are a west/southwest freight company for what i know, but down here in Philadelphia PA There's one in a rail yard just 10 minutes away from the delaware river.

[@Thom-TRA]

That's a phenomenon known as foreign power. Sometimes freight companies rent the locomotives of other companies. That's how you can see UP locomotives out east. There is a train in Michigan that is run by CSX but uses a BNSF locomotive every day.

[@thedude3620]

Bro I work for Amtrak (CHI) im the Track Foreman, let me know if you need something someday. I just find it odd how some people like trains this much and im over here sick of seeing trains sometimes 😅.

[@Thom-TRA]

People ask me why I don’t work for the railroad and I always answer so that it stays my hobby and not a chore!

[@user-nc5gt5ut2d]

A few weeks ago there was a single Metrolink car at the Milwaukee station. Now you have likely answered why that was there as well.

[@Thom-TRA]

That must have been just as weird a sight as this one!

[@anitrain]

I actually caught video about a year ago of a couple metrolink cars on the southwest chief passing through riverside CA on the way east. Who knows what I did with that video clip though! LOL

[@greaterhoustonrailfan]

Because yes

[@dangelohartley5977]

2:27 Amtrak Superliner trying to steal the show lol

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah sit down superliner. Lol

[@shokutsa]

Have you seen a video of someone filming a freight train in Franklin park, Chicago until a Caltrain coach car appeared on the freight train

[@Thom-TRA]

Haven’t seen that clip yet!

[@ix.cryo1]

Image if Metrolink has a route that goes from Cali to Chicago lmao

[@Thom-TRA]

As long as I can use the $10 weekend day pass lol

[@kevinhoward9593]

how can they put the chargers through the washer if they have grates exposing the inside?

[@Thom-TRA]

The grates expose the walkway for the engineers to walk on, not the engine itself

[@StudioSA15]

There rebuilding ,refurbishing and repainting them to the ribbon scheme them in chicago

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m excited to see what they’ll look like in the ribbon scheme!

[@StudioSA15]

@@Thom-TRA what's ur discord

[@StudioSA15]

@@Thom-TRA yeha

[@0_x624]

Any metrolink car that starts with 6 is or use to be a cab car

[@0_x624]

They’re turning the old cab cars into bike cars.

[@miaviation-railway]

Update: as of 11/2/22 they are gone :( Was hoping to see them today.

[@Thom-TRA]

Bummer, so sorry!

[@gregkendall3559]

Does amtrak get these cars now? Will they be repainted?

[@Thom-TRA]

No, they’re being repainted and returned to Metrolink.

[@Racer01-lj6st]

How did metrolink get here?

[@Thom-TRA]

Behind a Southwest Chief. Did you watch the video?

[@Racer01-lj6st]

@@Thom-TRA yes

[@epacm50]

That's creepy!!!

[@tjsoundfx905]

Metrolink is getting a new paint scheme who is your trains cars

[@erik_griswold]

Metrolink is the *regional* rail agency for Southern California (not including San Diego County south of Oceanside).

[@californiamade5608]

Why don’t you go to the Bay Area instead of LA??? The Bay Area has a much better transit network system and it’s improving.

[@Thom-TRA]

Because this video was filmed in Chicago…?

[@DubJ_06]

Metra is trash i aint gon lie, they took the F59PHIs from Surfliner, why couldn’t they just get a diesel electric locomotive instead of taking the F59s

[@Thom-TRA]

Metra didn’t take the F59PHIs from the Surfliner, California put those up for sale and Metra bought them. And F59PHIs are diesel electric.

[@DubJ_06]

@@Thom-TRA oh, good point, but still

[@Santrestixx]

​@@Thom-TRAcap