All Metra Trains to Have Quiet Cars

[Stuart G]

Source: Chicago Tribune

By Richard Wronski

Tribune reporter

10:22 a.m. CDT, May 13, 2011
Metra will start running "quiet cars" on all 11 of its train lines starting June 6 after the successful trial period on the Rock Island District line, Metra said today.

Quiet cars will run on rush hour trains. Generally, two cars per train will be designated.

Metra cited a survey that showed 84 percent of riders favor the quiet cars. In January, Metra became the largest commuter line in the nation to offer the cars, on which riders must refrain from talking on cell phones, playing music or having loud conversations.

The cars are identified by signs with a silhouette of someone going "ssshh." Others feature a mime.

Read more: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/news/local/chibrknews-all-metra-trains-to-have-quiet-cars-20110513,0,6559056.story?track=rss

---

Metra is the commuter train system in the Chicago Area. Set up in the early 70s in responce to railroad problems in running commuter trains, Metra is a clean, efficient system that moves tens of thousands a day around the area. Prices are fairly reasonable, much better than driving into the city, and on weekends Metra has a family plan. With an adult, kids can ride free. In this way, kids get used to riding the train and feel comfortable and know how to use it when they become adults.

The quiet cars are a great idea.

[snagglepuss]

1. An absolutely great idea. A recent study found that enduring someone else's

cell phone conversation is one of the most irritating features of modern life.

[hootinholler]

6. The part I find irritating about that is

enduring only half of the conversation. If we could hear the other half, it might be more interesting.

-Hoot

[mkz77655]

15. +1

[aquart]

2. Please, please, please do it on the LIRR.

And dismember anyone who disobeys it.

[Daemonaquila]

3. It'll last about a week until some mommy complains.

Just wait. Some mom will bring a pack of howling toddlers onto the quiet car, get ejected, run screaming to the media about discrimination, and that will be the end of peace and quiet.

[Luminous Animal]

14. Many train lines have had quiet cars for decades.

[truebrit71]

4. What a brilliant idea....when I commuted downtown I hated being forced to listen to other....

..people's conversations...

[hootinholler]

5. "The cars are identified by signs with a silhouette of someone going "ssshh." Others feature a mime"

WOW!!!

What a great thing to do for the arts! Hire mimes to ride in quiet cars!

-Hoot

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. A mime with a big stick. Very "Teddy Roosevelt". -nt

[jberryhill]

8. These work great on Amtrak

This has been a fixture for years on the Northeast Corridor trains.

I LURV the quiet car.

[Honeycombe8]

9. There really is a Rock Island line? Isn't that a Johnny Cash song?

"The Rock Island line is a mighty fine line...the Rock Island line is the way to go...." or something like that?

[Stuart G]

11. Yes, there is a Rock Island branch of Metra...and

there was a Rock Island Line..which went into Iowa.

Here is a link with more info on the Rock Island Line

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Island_Railroad

[valerief]

10. Now, if they could just get rid of the stinky cologne, too. nt

[Trailrider1951]

12. Hey, the cologne (mostly) isn't that bad.....in fact I prefer it to

some guy's elephant breath that is strong enough to peel the paint off the walls. PLEASE do not have a salami and lindburger cheese sandwich with triple onions and sit by me! :eyes:

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. nice. Hearing music from someone's headphones is theworst!

[mkz77655]

16. couldn't agree more