Throughout its three decades of existence, Chicagoland’s Metra regional rail service has resisted the widespread adaptation of “fixed-seat” consists by other North American transit agencies, arguing that its customers prefer the choice of facing forward (or backward) on rides and, as well, that such choice poses little danger to riders obeying railroad safety rules.
But a notice in Metra’s November 2014 publication “On the Bilevel” is asking riders to evaluate a fixed-seating alternative, which would bring Metra in line with its regional passenger rail brethren.
“We are considering switching to seats that do not fl ip but are more comfortable, with armrests and cupholders. They would be permanently positioned facing the vestibule, so half the car would have to ride backward,” Metra explains.
Metra is offering a “tour” of the sample seats this week and next at its Chicago terminal locations to allow riders to evaluate the idea.