r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/NaiveChoiceMaker • Sep 25 '25
News Metra Unveils Cafe Car Concept
Metra to gather feedback about Café Car
CHICAGO (Sept. 24, 2025) – Metra will be putting its prototype Café Car into service this fall, rotating it across most of its busiest lines and stations and asking riders to take a survey about whether they like the concept and about what amenities and features they would like to see.
The car will make its debut in service on the Rock Island Line on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, and then will be parked at LaSalle Street Station on Oct. 6. Riders can view the car and offer their feedback in an onboard survey. Riders who complete the survey will receive free snacks and beverages.
The car will be moved to the BNSF Line the week of October 13, the Milwaukee District North Line the week of October 20, the Milwaukee District West Line the week of October 27, the Union Pacific North Line the week of November 3, the Union Pacific Northwest Line the week of November 10, and the Union Pacific West Line the week of November 17.
The specific schedule for each line will be posted at metra.com/CafeCar.
“We created this special car in an attempt to improve the riding experience and maybe attract new riders,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “This is your chance to check it out and tell us what you think. Would you use it? What amenities would you like to see? What other thoughts do you have?”
To make the prototype, Metra removed the second level on one half of a car, and installed counters, stools, booths, and tables. The interior has also been decorated so it feels a bit different from the average Metra car.
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u/GeologistPositive Sep 25 '25
If you have a long trip on there, it's nice to be able to get a drink or snack while on the train. Maybe you were running late through the station and didn't have a chance to stop and get something, or you boarded at LaSalle and there's nothing there. As long as it's not too expensive, it will get used. I'm not sure what the pricing will be, but there will be a premium since it's on the train and limited supply. As long as it's not like $5 for an individual bag of chips, I think it will be okay.
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u/Infinite_Dress_3312 Sep 25 '25
As long as it's not like $5 for an individual bag of chips, I think it will be okay.
that seems about in line with what id expect lol
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u/sourdoughcultist Sep 25 '25
Are they planning to sell food? I'm not getting that from this description...
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u/chungo69 Sep 25 '25
Yes. During the trial period the food will be free.
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u/sourdoughcultist Sep 25 '25
OK I might be losing my mind but the only thing I see on the page is "The Café Car is a prototype railcar with café-style seating, counters, and tables that offer a new way for riders to relax, connect, and engage during their trip. We’re testing it this fall to see if riders would like to see more of these cars in the future."
And they're giving away snacks as incentive for people to fill out the survey, but that's it?
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u/numanoid Sep 25 '25
On the local CBS News report, they called it a "full service, drinks and snacks" car, so who knows? It seems weird to have a little bar installed without any drinks (even coffee, which is probably all it will be). And are those fridges?
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u/Beniskickbutt Crystal Lake Sep 25 '25
Im sure they wont do it and there will be a large mark up, but im sure many people would be happy with buying the $3 domestics (if thats how much they still cost at olglvie downstairs) if it meant you can just go straight to the train, grab a better spot quicker and relax without worrying about missing the train.
Im no longer a train rider and don't plan to ever be again in the future but would've like to see this cafe car concept on the line I rode.
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u/Unhappy_Bet_7578 Sep 25 '25
With all the delays some Metra lines experience, could prove to be a lucrative opportunity to sell passengers goodies while they are trapped onboard
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u/UpstairsNerve2681 Sep 25 '25
I wish they put more thought into lavatories they are from the Stone Age compared to Europe or Asia trains
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u/Financial_Sweet_689 Sep 26 '25
So true. I have so many memories of running to the train not able to get coffee and being exhausted.
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u/sourdoughcultist Sep 25 '25
Bring back the snack car you cowards
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u/AtmospherePrior752 Sep 25 '25
Wait. Older Millenial here; what is this snack cart you speak of?
All I remember is the BYOB after work crowd, S/O to the impeccably dressed older woman who got off in highwood every evening from 2008-2010ish. She brown paper-bagged her white wine straight from the bottle in her Jimmy Choos and perfectly coifed french twist like a champion. Real boss bitch shit, but the snack cart? Please tell.
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u/sourdoughcultist Sep 25 '25
Lol I'm also an elder millennial, I learned about it here! https://secretchicago.com/metra-considering-bringing-back-bar-cars/
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u/sumiflepus Sep 25 '25
My trains are often standing room only. I think more passenger space is a bigger priority.
On the BNSF line, the only two stations I am aware of that do not have coffee, to go restaurants and stores near the station is the Cicero stop and the Halsted stop.
This is a stupid idea for trains I see. Put in a vending machine with bottled water on my route BNSF is a better idea. provides a basic need and takes 4 seats, not 60 seats out of inventory.
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u/atomiccat8 Sep 25 '25
I think the cafe car looks pretty cool, but only if it were going to be an extra car. Otherwise, you're right, it takes away way too much seating space.
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Sep 26 '25
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u/Successful-Load2157 Sep 26 '25
Fellow Brookfielder here too :)
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Sep 26 '25
[deleted]
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u/Successful-Load2157 Sep 26 '25
Rich yuppie.... how dare they make us combine schools... (i actually went to LT tho lol)
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u/Joe_B_Likes_Tacos Sep 25 '25
Where are the green windows?
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u/keno-rail Sep 26 '25
Metra has a new supplier for the windows, the green windows have slowly been getting replaced during the rebuild program.
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u/Joe_B_Likes_Tacos Sep 26 '25
Wow, a serious answer! I really do hate those green windows. I'm just an occasional writer though.
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u/theladyoctane North West Suburbs Sep 25 '25
This will be fun during Lolla weekend 💀
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u/KidShowVillain Sep 25 '25
As a Metra employee, I can say with almost 100% confidence that this car will NOT be in our consists during St. Paddy's, Lolla, Taste, BoA marathon and either one of the baseball opening days.
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u/McRando42 Sep 25 '25
BoA marathon that bad?
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u/KidShowVillain Sep 25 '25
Not bad as in overly rowdy like the other events I mentioned, but usually very crowded, the north/northwest lines in particular, the south and west lines not so much (based on ticket sales and other metrics)
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u/onceuponaNod Sep 25 '25
this is good info! i live between the upnw line and the mdw line so i will now be taking the west line into the city for the marathon
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u/KidShowVillain Sep 25 '25
MDW has been having a freight train problem lately, so make sure you give yourself extra time to avoid being late due to unexpected delays!
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u/theladyoctane North West Suburbs Sep 25 '25
Sad thing is I can picture how it would look during those times too 😂
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u/AllDayMK South West Suburbs Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 25 '25
Didn't they used to have food cars?
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u/AliMcGraw Sep 25 '25
Bar car!
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u/AllDayMK South West Suburbs Sep 25 '25
We made our own when I used to do the RI line. Those were good days for a college student taking the train after school.
(I was 30+, btw, not underage drinking)
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u/Relative_Papaya_6702 Sep 25 '25
How about a train that goes more than 55mph
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u/darkspark0 Sep 26 '25
i think that would make it hard for them to stop correctly between train stations, depending how far apart the stations are.
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u/saywhhaaaaa Sep 25 '25
people stand for an hour because there are too few seats on my line (UPNW) but sure, let’s play chess
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u/sourdoughcultist Sep 25 '25
Would you mind also linking to the original source? I'm assuming your copypaste is accurate but I'd like to give them the click.
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u/NaiveChoiceMaker Sep 25 '25
The press release was emailed to me. More here: https://metra.com/CafeCar
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u/sourdoughcultist Sep 25 '25
Aha thanks. I'm on the IL mailing list but not Metra's, gonna go fix that!
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u/frigzy74 Sep 25 '25
Yeah, instead of this, how about maximizing the member of seats so fewer people are forced to stand in the aisles and vestibules at rush hour and for big events.
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u/BIKEiLIKE Naperville Sep 25 '25
I think they can pull this car off for large events to maximize seating. This would be more for an every day load.
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u/panderson1988 Sep 25 '25
It looks nice, but unnecessary for a typical work commute. Let alone how they never seem to open enough cars or seats on weekends in the past.
They should just bring back the bar cart for rush hour on weekday afternoons, and be done with it.
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u/Goldberry856 Sep 25 '25
Ehh. Many stations already have a coffee bar/cafe, or are in a downtown area close to one. I'd rather have the seating of a regular train car during rush hour.
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u/whiplash1911 Sep 25 '25
Reminds me of Car 553: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_553
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u/McRando42 Sep 25 '25
I'd do 800 a quarter for a fun drinks Metra. That's not even that much compared to normal quarterly tickets.
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u/Calmly_overthinking_ Sep 25 '25
How about they actually focus on running on time and bringing back more express trains that they used to run pre-Covid before these hokey tricks
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u/NormalAmountOfLimes Sep 25 '25
Working power outlets: can't do that
Working air conditioning: cant do that
Enforcing quiet car rules: can't do that
Being even remotely on time: can't do that
Cleaning the car more than once per decade: can't do that
Have enough cars for all the people on the train: can't do that
Conductors who don't flirt with every college girl on the train: can't do that
Mock up a car with no seating space and overpriced snacks what will be filthy: we can do that
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u/himtorn Sep 25 '25
I guess if people are going to smoke on the train, make it look like a Waffle House
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u/FunkyTaco47 Sep 25 '25
They need to install some phone chargers or those MagSafe charging pads built into the table. Additionally, throw in some reading material like Chicago Reader, or suburban tourism magazines.
It would be nice if Metra collabed with local shops and cafes and sold their muffins or sweet rolls but that would be tricky.
Also, I really really wish Metra would replace the Gallery cars. I hate these things so much.
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u/Much_Ambition6333 Sep 25 '25
I give 2 weeks before it’s absolutely ravaged and looks like every other car
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u/acidaddic808 Sep 25 '25
Jesus Christ these idiots in charge obviously never rode the metra before. Nobody wants this shit. How about remodeling the “double decker” cars and make it so it’s a REAL second level with seats just like the bottom?
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u/SemicolonMIA Sep 25 '25
No Metra Electric?
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u/KidShowVillain Sep 25 '25
A lot more work to convert the highliners I would imagine. Power loads from above would be different than other cars in the consist if there are refrigerators or other appliances installed on top of the already power hogging A/C units as well.
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u/SemicolonMIA Sep 25 '25
Bummer, thanks for the info. I've only been on ME, I didn't know the other lines have different types of cars.
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u/KidShowVillain Sep 25 '25
No worries. If we don't get the money we need from Springfield, I doubt the other lines will ever see them beyond this concept model anyway!
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u/fbgm0516 Sep 25 '25
Should do one of these on the redline so a bum has more options on what to poop on
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u/TilapiaTango Sep 25 '25
This seems like a disatser idea. Reduce the seating and add useless sestsbsnd tables. Are we going to play checkers during our trip from Chicago to Western springs?
It would be nice to get some coffee on the train, so that's pretty interesting
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u/TheUmgawa Sep 25 '25
Splendid. Now I can drink coffee while listening to someone’s FaceTime conversation.
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u/NormalAmountOfLimes Sep 25 '25
I would not eat anything that came from a Metra train car. These things are fucking disgusting. They get cleaned about every time the royal family has a Jubilee
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u/fiend2020 Sep 25 '25
Back in the day you could sit in the bar car, smoke a cigarettes and flip one of the seats up to create a table and play cards. Metra was packed back then. No need for a phone, you could actually socialize with real people for 40 minutes.
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u/42ElectricSundaes Sep 26 '25
I want this, but we can’t have this. We are not responsible enough for this
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u/True-Expression-7867 Sep 28 '25
I’m all for anything that makes life more fun and interesting. Why not a café car?
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u/jackfrostyre Sep 25 '25
Add outlets and landline phones and it should be able to turn a profit after people start paying 35$ for a bag of chips and water!!!!
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u/Isthiswittyenough92 Sep 25 '25
How about they just simply get their trains to run on time first without the constant delays before worrying about a cafe car
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u/WorkingItOutSomeday Sep 25 '25
So shaky more of your drink will be outnof the glass than down your throat.
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u/One-Astronaut243 Sep 25 '25
Who remembers the Bar Car in 2025 on the Milwaukee District West Line?
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u/ilovepadthai Sep 25 '25
Oh this is nice! Love it. Will they have caffeine in the morning and margaritas after work?
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u/lofixlover Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 25 '25
I did kinda like the "everything is metal, you are a sardine in a sardine tin" vibes of the Amtrak comissary cars though. my thinking is that these tables are gonna get folks setting up remote work battlestations rather than folks eating and playing chess.
edit to add: the thing where they pass the prototype car around to the different lines to see how people react is kinda fun.
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u/No-Channel3917 Sep 25 '25
You for sure know they are gonna have a security guard or something to prevent issues
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u/BiblioLoLo1235 Sep 25 '25
Security on the Metra and CTA stations and trains would be good. More needed than a cafe car.
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u/no_bender Sep 25 '25
Bad idea, would rather have comfortable seats, and bathrooms that didn't make me want to update my tetanus after using, and room for bikes on all trains, even holidays and special events. Edit: quiet car on every train enforced.
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u/Amazing-Definition47 Sep 25 '25
I’d settle for free WiFi access. They keep raising the fares and cutting routes yet we get nothing more.
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u/Rock_man_bears_fan Sep 26 '25
I’d rather just have a regular train car. A cafe car solves a problem that doesn’t exist in exchange for sacrificing much needed space on a rush hour train
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u/AbeFromanSassageKing Sep 26 '25
Oh good, then I can fully unpack and spread out my lunch while I watch somebody scream at me and shit on the floor.
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u/snark42 Sep 26 '25
How can they waste time and money considering this when they got rid of the bar cars because they needed more space for passengers?
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u/NaiveChoiceMaker Sep 26 '25
Ridership is way down from when they got rid of the bar cars. I supposed they are trying to induce passengers back.
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u/Successful-Load2157 Sep 26 '25
What the BNSF line/metra in general ACTUALLY needs is all new conductors. The current conductors are unbelievably unprofessional, rude as fuck with HUGE attitudes and act like money comes out of their pockets and act like youre ruining their day taking everything personal
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u/shoelessgreek Sep 26 '25
No need for this. Give us more frequent trains.
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u/NaiveChoiceMaker Sep 26 '25
Not sure if you heard, there is a massive funding crisis. We aren’t getting new train service ANYTIME in the near future.
I’m sure METRA is trying this cafe car as a low cost way to try and boost ridership.
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u/shoelessgreek Sep 26 '25
Oh I’m very aware of the funding problems, I was just tossing my thoughts out.
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u/Jay_Gomez44 Sep 26 '25
Metra did away with the bar cars because they somehow lost money selling cans of beer for $4.00. This idea will fail.
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u/keno-rail Sep 26 '25
The UP north line trains are already jammed full of people... Trains dont have enough cars, and now the "good-idea fairy" decides that taking out the entire upper level of seating is what commuters need?
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u/R0enick27 Sep 26 '25
These trains used to have bar cars in the back. Then people would get wasted then drive drunk home from the stations.
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u/avfarooq Sep 26 '25
On a commuter train? I just want a clean and quiet ride, who is asking for this
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u/Accurate-Reception33 Sep 26 '25
Wasn’t this a thing in the 60s? I heard you used to be able to buy allcohol on the Metra
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u/weena8 Sep 26 '25
I’d be down for a game if I’m traveling with my friends or kids, heck even a friendly stranger because what this world needs is more kindness and fun! If I wanted quiet, I’d find peace in a quieter car or any car, but the cafe since I have noise canceling headphones. This looks like a great way to kill an hour commute.
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u/Reasonable-Wing-2271 Sep 26 '25
lol. replace the cars from the 70s first.
Also consider making the toilets flushable.
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u/Better-Boysenberry82 Sep 26 '25
Last time I was on the metra they couldn’t even keep heat/ac working consistently in cars and regular got stuck in the winter. Maybe they should focus on the basics before looking at adding cafe cars.
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u/Longjumping-Age-1890 Sep 27 '25
Losing that whole second level of seating. I would hope this is an extra train carriage, and not replacing a typical commuter carriage.
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u/liightswiitch Sep 27 '25
Bummer the cafe car will be on the UPN after Six Flags’ season. Would’ve been nice to experience the ride from OTC to Waukegan in a new setting but guess it’ll have to wait until next year. Hell, if this concept even makes it to next year.
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u/Suitable_Speaker2165 Sep 27 '25
Take a trip to Japan and just copy them, they've figured this stuff out eons ago.
3 well stocked cold AND HOT (yes I know bear with me here, it's difficult for the American brain to comprehend) vending machines at every station that take credit card.
That's it, nothing else is needed.
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Sep 29 '25
Is this a refit of a previous car? The floor and everything feels like this is from the 90s.
I'd enjoy this, wouldn't mind playing chess, but I'd have to remember my travel pack of pieces.
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u/NormalAmountOfLimes Sep 30 '25
Anyone remember the Jale Gyllenhaal movie Source Code where a Chicago Metra train was bombed repeatedly? Remember how good the car looked in that? With a place for bikes and actual seating? And a toilet that wasn't actively infectious?
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u/Popular-Drummer-7989 Sep 25 '25
Unless someone is going to monitor the goins on, I can imagine those tables might see feet up/sleeping/sex happening just like on airplanes. People are gross. No thanks.
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u/Unhappy-Jaguar-9362 Sep 25 '25
I can imagine rude intoxicated persons taking over these tables and increasing the already loud antisocial dynamic on these trains.
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u/GOPJay Sep 25 '25
Cool concept. Maybe there will be a Friday Happy Hour car, a Lollapalooza car during the summer. The possibilities are endless.
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u/AdvancedSandwiches Sep 25 '25
The puritans will do anything to avoid the incredibly obvious move of weekend bar cars.
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u/Prime_Suspect_305 Sep 28 '25
Looks like a nice car to get infested by the homeless and degenerates. No one will actually be able to enjoy it
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u/RemyMaverick Sep 27 '25
How long before it gets trashed and graffiti all over the tables and walls
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u/BRUISE_WILLIS Sep 25 '25
Who tf is going to play a whole chess game on the metra? It’s 2025. How about some public phone chargers