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9/8/2025
The Surface Transportation Board has granted Metra's application for terminal trackage rights over three Union Pacific Railroad lines used to operate commuter-rail service in the Chicago area.
The board's decision responds to an application for terminal trackage rights that Metra filed on March 7 to continue commuter-rail service over UP's rail lines. For decades, UP had been operating Metra’s passenger trains over UP's three lines under a purchase of services agreement.
Metra's application stated that the parties have been working since 2023 to transition UP’s operation of Metra’s passenger trains over the UP Lines to Metra following a court ruling permitting UP to discontinue providing the service, but that despite their efforts — including board-sponsored mediation in 2024 — Metra and UP have been unable to negotiate successor arrangements.
UP opposed Metra’s application on the merits and also moved to dismiss the application on jurisdictional grounds. In its Sept. 2 decision, the STB denied the motion to dismiss and granted Metra’s application for terminal trackage rights.
Click here to read the board's decision.