Metra taking over UP operations?

[Busjack]

Shouldn't this have happened by now (Apr. 16 date noted above)? Any word?

[Busjack]

Evanston Now says the turnover happened last Friday.

UPDATE: Metra announcement, found via Trains Magazine.

[strictures]

21 hours ago, Busjack said:

Evanston Now says the turnover happened last Friday.

UPDATE: Metra announcement, found via Trains Magazine.

If the UP will still own the tracks, how come the actual rails I see at Rogers Park made by Bethlehem Steel in 1995 say "Metra" on them?  Obviously, Metra paid for the rails 30 years ago, so exactly who owns them now?

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, strictures said:

If the UP will still own the tracks, how come the actual rails I see at Rogers Park made by Bethlehem Steel in 1995 say "Metra" on them?  Obviously, Metra paid for the rails 30 years ago, so exactly who owns them now?

All of that has to do with Rail Agreements, such as the last summary here, which govern relationships between Metra and the other railroads. As pointed out in Trains:

Quote

The quiet operating handoff belied an oft-contentious and litigious changeover process that is still ongoing. Because the two sides have been unable to agree on financial terms for Metra operation on UP’s tracks, the commuter operator has asked the STB to award it terminal trackage rights ensuring it retains access to the UP routes beyond the current contract expiring on June 30. [See “Metra asks STB to require …,” News Wire, March 7, 2025.]

If you want to read the filing, see here.

Clearly, since UP does not run freight on the North line south of about Lake Bluff. it would not have maintained the tracks any better than the CNS&M south of Lake-Cook unless Metra paid for it. Similarly, NICTD is paying for the expansion on Metra property into Millennium station, and Metra paid to rebuild the WC, even though CN is giving it garbage about expanding trackage rights (which is a separate issue).

Of course, "Metra" and :NICTD" mean federal and state money. The state is paying to upgrade the Rockford line, but doesn't own it.

I suppose it could be argued whether it would be cheaper to buy the commuter lines instead of renting them, but that apparently wasn't considered. There's also the issue of the stations, which still say C&NW on them.

[Busjack]

In connection with the above, the filing says:

Quote

In particular, Metra and UP have entered into Fixed Facility Agreements (“FFAs”) to govern Metra’s capital investment in the lines. The FFAs provide a legal framework for Metra to invest public-sector capital funds into UP’s private system, i.e., to spend federal, state, and other grant funds on capital projects that in part also benefit UP’s for-profit freight operations.

...

Under the FFAs, Metra has invested approximately $1.25 billion in capital improvements and expansions as of December 31, 2024, to sustain the right-of-way and related commuter facilities on UP’s system. Metra also pays UP for miscellaneous maintenance and other expenses and services, such as dispatching and snow removal, on a cost or cost-plus basis, again based on Metra’s proportionate PSA usage.

 

[strictures]

9 hours ago, Busjack said:

Clearly, since UP does not run freight on the North line south of about Lake Bluff.

There is some very minor freight traffic out of the North Ave yard, although one siding & line that went east at Bloomingdale Ave has been removed, but there are still two factories on the West side of Elston, between Elston & the right of way that maintain their sidings & the switches & dwarf signals are still operating..

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, strictures said:

There is some very minor freight traffic out of the North Ave yard, although one siding & line that went east at Bloomingdale Ave has been removed, but there are still two factories on the West side of Elston, between Elston & the right of way that maintain their sidings & the switches & dwarf signals are still operating..

That could be done on a contract basis, and is 99.44%  irrelevant to your initial question on why there was Metra material on UP property, which I assume I answered adequately. As the filing pointed out, only potential interference with UP freight operations is on the West line.

[Busjack]

On 5/21/2025 at 6:41 AM, strictures said:

If the UP will still own the tracks, how come the actual rails I see at Rogers Park made by Bethlehem Steel in 1995 say "Metra" on them?  Obviously, Metra paid for the rails 30 years ago, so exactly who owns them now?

 

On 5/21/2025 at 7:10 PM, strictures said:

There is some very minor freight traffic out of the North Ave yard....

Turns out MyMetra magazine for 2Q 2025 says what I said:

 

[Busjack]

Evanston Roundtable story about haggling over trackage rights. IMO (which doesn't count unless Metra or UP pays me to represent them), this is just about money, and since someone isn't generally allowed to impose an agreement unilaterally, and Metra pays to maintain the tracks (as established previously, it pays 100% for the N and NW lines, and part for the W line), UP isn't entitled to much. Also, if legally permissible and could be bonded, I think Metra should just condemn the property, which I thought was the original issue.

[strictures]

59 minutes ago, Busjack said:

Evanston Roundtable story about haggling over trackage rights. IMO (which doesn't count unless Metra or UP pays me to represent them), this is just about money, and since someone isn't generally allowed to impose an agreement unilaterally, and Metra pays to maintain the tracks (as established previously, it pays 100% for the N and NW lines, and part for the W line), UP isn't entitled to much. Also, if legally permissible and could be bonded, I think Metra should just condemn the property, which I thought was the original issue.

Almost the entire North Line is commuter only.  Only north of Lake Bluff is there freight & most goes to Abbott Labs or some factories in Waukegan.  

Even the rails in the city are owned by Metra, as they have impressed on them, "Metra, Bethlehem, 1995, 115 lbs."

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, strictures said:

Almost the entire North Line is commuter only.

Which is another reason I don't think UP is entitled to much. A railroad only owns an easement for transportation purposes, and like whatever company abandoned freight service on the Skokie Valley south of the Edens Spur, it becomes a bike path or reverts to adjoining landowners. Anyway, UP is not collecting any rate of return on it.😃

[Busjack]

Evanston RoundTable: Metra and Union Pacific agree to station rents, but track contract remains elusive

The article explains the various issues that Metra has to work out with UP. UP owns certain platforms and stations, and the rent on them has gone up by about $5 million. The trackage rights  are still being negotiated.

Way back in the day, when there were phone books, the C&NW, and station agents, I wondered why there were listings such as for C&NW Glencoe Station, C&NW Hubbard Woods Station, etc., but this now explains it.

[strictures]

3 hours ago, Busjack said:

Evanston RoundTable: Metra and Union Pacific agree to station rents, but track contract remains elusive

The article explains the various issues that Metra has to work out with UP. UP owns certain platforms and stations, and the rent on them has gone up by about $5 million. The trackage rights  are still being negotiated.

Way back in the day, when there were phone books, the C&NW, and station agents, I wondered why there were listings such as for C&NW Glencoe Station, C&NW Hubbard Woods Station, etc., but this now explains it.

I don't understand how the UP actually owns the tracks, as I can see the markings on the rails at the Rogers Park Station when the morning sun hits at the right angle, the read Bethlehem Steelton, Metra, 115 lb 1995!

So I guess Metra actually paid for those rails!

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, strictures said:

I don't understand how the UP actually owns the tracks, as I can see the markings on the rails at the Rogers Park Station when the morning sun hits at the right angle, the read Bethlehem Steelton, Metra, 115 lb 1995!

So I guess Metra actually paid for those rails!

We explained it before but you apparently chose to ignore it.  If you go back and look it up, a My Metra article said that under contracts with UP, Metra pays for all the maintenance on the N and NW lines, and a portion of the W line. Similarly,  while the linked article said UP owns the Central St. station,  they also reported that Metra is getting money to rehab that station. 

Clear enough for you now,  or are you going to ask the "Metra rails" question again?

[Sam92]

8 hours ago, strictures said:

I don't understand how the UP actually owns the tracks, as I can see the markings on the rails at the Rogers Park Station when the morning sun hits at the right angle, the read Bethlehem Steelton, Metra, 115 lb 1995!

So I guess Metra actually paid for those rails!

@Busjack is explaining a situation similar to SWS, HC and NCS. It's like me borrowing your car. My money is paying for the gas I used so the transaction is gonna show up on MY bank statement, not yours. Metra handles the maintenance so they probably are the ones placing the orders for track material when the time comes so it makes perfect sense for them to show up on the invoices etc. 

[Busjack]

On 7/11/2026 at 8:53 AM, Sam92 said:

@Busjack is explaining a situation similar to SWS, HC and NCS. It's like me borrowing your car. My money is paying for the gas I used so the transaction is gonna show up on MY bank statement, not yours. Metra handles the maintenance so they probably are the ones placing the orders for track material when the time comes so it makes perfect sense for them to show up on the invoices etc. 

It isn't that complicated. It was simply stated in MyMetra, and the EvanstonRoundTable, and consists of:

• Metra is the only agency/company running trains on the N and NW lines, and runs a proportion of the trains on the W line, which is the only of the 3 lines that runs freight.
• The feds provided money to the RTA to do the project.

If there is any analogy,  Metra is renting space on UP's property, as compared to buying the Milwaukee Road and RI out of bankruptcy and the IC commuter line. Conversely, Metra has to allow CPKC trackage rights on the Milw. But if you want an analogy, Kroger rents the buildings where Mariano's stores are, but the landlord isn't responsible for maintaining grocery equipment.

[redacted]

[strictures]

23 hours ago, Busjack said:

But @strictures is not going to understand it, anyway.

Why are you such a nasty, hateful jerk all the time?

[Sam92]

On 7/10/2026 at 7:05 PM, strictures said:

I don't understand how the UP actually owns the tracks, as I can see the markings on the rails at the Rogers Park Station when the morning sun hits at the right angle, the read Bethlehem Steelton, Metra, 115 lb 1995!

So I guess Metra actually paid for those rails!

If you're confused as to why they still own the tracks instead of just out right selling them then maybe the reason is they might occasionally still need them for the same reason CTA still needed the Paulina Connector prior to the pink line or the ramp leading to it. 🤷 

[Busjack]

17 minutes ago, Sam92 said:

If you're confused as to why they still own the tracks instead of just out right selling them then maybe the reason is they might occasionally still need them for the same reason CTA still needed the Paulina Connector prior to the pink line or the ramp leading to it. 🤷 

I don't think that's the issue.

If you are raising that issue, it may go back to why the RTA/Metra bought the IC electric, but it has been pointed out that freight was not on the electric tracks.

When the "UP wants to abandon commuter service" first was raised, I wondered if Metra had the bonding power to buy the r.o.w., but that apparently was not on the table. If Metra had, any use by UP could have been handled in the same manner as with CPKC. UP says it wants a reasonable rate of return, but if Metra didn't run commuter service there, it would revert to bike trail or the like, as the North Shore Skokie Valley line south of the Edens Spur, The 606, and the proposed Bronzeville trail.

[strictures]

9 hours ago, Sam92 said:

If you're confused as to why they still own the tracks instead of just out right selling them then maybe the reason is they might occasionally still need them for the same reason CTA still needed the Paulina Connector prior to the pink line or the ramp leading to it.  

The Up has zero reason to own the right of way from the split with the Northwest Line all the way to where the UP Mainline out of proviso renters it around Lake Bluff. There is no longer any freight traffic on that section of ROW! The North Ave yard is empty other that maintenance of way equipment, the Illinois terminal locomotive that used to be stored there that hauled a few car to Goose island is gone are are the rails to Goose Island. Tempel Steel no longer hauls off scrap at Bryn Mawr, S&C Electric ripped up its siding down to their huge factory complex & nothing goes on freight wise until Lake Bluff!

[artthouwill]

Apparently UP is content on letting Metra pay for the upkeep of the N and NW line tracks and infrastructure.   Metra is content on paying for it without having to lay out a huge sum of money to take ownership of the r.o.w.    Metra probably still pays trackage fees, but I don't know how much the fees are on these two lines compared to the West line which shares tracks with UP freight trains.  To this point, it doesn't seem like UP is itching to sell nor is Metra itching to buy.

[Busjack]

14 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

Apparently UP is content on letting Metra pay for the upkeep of the N and NW line tracks and infrastructure.   Metra is content on paying for it without having to lay out a huge sum of money to take ownership of the r.o.w.    Metra probably still pays trackage fees, but I don't know how much the fees are on these two lines compared to the West line which shares tracks with UP freight trains.  To this point, it doesn't seem like UP is itching to sell nor is Metra itching to buy.

As documented above, Metra has been litigating the amount of the fees before the STB for about 5 years, but not the obligation to pay them.

BNSF is now in a different situation, as it still operates the trains, but I'm surprised Warren Buffett hasn't decided to do the same thing and dump responsibility on Metra.

[artthouwill]

36 minutes ago, Busjack said:

As documented above, Metra has been litigating the amount of the fees before the STB for about 5 years, but not the obligation to pay them.

BNSF is now in a different situation, as it still operates the trains, but I'm surprised Warren Buffett hasn't decided to do the same thing and dump responsibility on Metra.

He might get a chance of heart after losing Maersk to UP.