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Trains we actively promote - Commuter/Regional:
Traditionally, commuter rail's primary purpose has been to move people from suburban homes to downtown jobs. Commuter trains typically operate on track shared with freight trains.
In the US, commuter service is managed by a public agency or authority. There are many scenarios for ownership and funding. Metra's BNSF and UP routes represent one end of the spectrum. The private railroad owns and operates the trains with public support. Metra's Rock Island route is at the other end of the spectrum, where Metra owns the tracks and operates the trains.
Chicago is the only Midwestern city with commuter rail. Metra is the biggest operator. NITCD operates commuter trains from Chicago to South Bend, IN. Amtrak also operates commuter trains linking Chicago to Milwaukee. Denver and Minneapolis have secured the funding to build new commuter rail lines. Wikipedia has a good explanation of commuter rail in North America.
In Europe, the role of commuter rail has been expanded to include a much wider variety of trip types. Frequencies have been increased and new connectors have been built to allow trains to pass through the downtown. We advocate this type of expansion for Metra. Go to Wikipedia's regional rail page and look for the paragraph on hybrid's for more information.
Commuter trains share the same track as intercity trains. As a result, commuter trains can travel at high-speed. Examples:
MARC and NJT operate 125 mph commuter trains on the east coast.
In Spain, 155 mph commuter trains link Madrid to Ciudad Real, Puertollano and Cordoba allowing people to live in the equivalent of Toledo, OH and commute to work in the equivalent of Chicago.
At least one TGV run probably qualifies as a commuter train. The hourly TGV service from Gare du Nord to Lille carries a lot of people for daily trips to and from Paris. They cover the 141 miles in just 62 minutes.
Next: Intercity
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