The next time you board a Metra train, don’t be surprised if one car feels less like a transit tube and more like a café pop-up, because that’s exactly what Metra is testing this fall. The agency has launched a prototype Café Car, rolling it onto rush-hour runs across its busiest lines and asking riders to weigh in on whether this kind of experiment should become a permanent part of Chicago’s commuter experience.
Metra removed the second level in one section of a car and retrofitted it with counters, tables, booths and stools so that riders can sip, snack, chat or work mid-ride. Metra’s leadership says the intention is to improve the rider experience and maybe draw new riders back to the system.
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The Café Car runs on the Rock Island Line through October 2 and will later be parked at LaSalle Street Station for a day of viewing. From there, it heads across BNSF, Milwaukee District North and West, Union Pacific North, Northwest and West lines for a week each.
Riders who fill out the onboard survey during those runs will be treated to free snacks and drinks (while supplies last).
“We created this special car in an attempt to improve the riding experience and maybe attract new riders,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski in a statement. “This is your chance to check it out and tell us what you think. Would you use it? What amenities would you like to see? What other thoughts do you have?”
Of course, there are other questions commuters will have to ask. Will it feel cramped? How many people will actually take advantage of it? How much will food and drink cost? What will they even serve? But even the chance to ask those questions feels like an important step.
In an era when all cities are wrestling daily with congestion, changing work patterns and the struggle to increase ridership, small innovations like this may help reframe experiences of transit. The Café Car won't magically solve delays or overcrowding, but it signals a willingness to imagine the journey as more than a necessary chore. So, if you spot it on your route, take the time to hop in, take the survey and treat yourself to a snack. You might just find that the future of commuting is getting a little more human, one train (and beverage) at a time.