(The Associated Press distributed the following article on February 15.)
CHICAGO — New statistics show that Metra provided nearly 87 million passenger trips during 2008.
The suburban Chicago commuter train line has issued its ticket sales figures for last year. It says sales were at the highest levels in 40 years. Metra officials say they’ve seen a 4.2 percent increase in ridership since 2007, when just more than 83 million tickets were sold.
Metra officials attribute the bump to high fuel prices and enhancements in their weekend service.
The busiest route that Metra serves was the BNSF Railway, which runs between Aurora and Chicago’s downtown Union Station. There were 17 million trips taken on that route in 2008.
The largest gains were seen on routes between Kenosha, Wisc., and downtown Chicago and Antioch and downtown Chicago.