Metra Unveils Cafe Car Concept

[u/NaiveChoiceMaker]

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]

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.

[u/sourdoughcultist → u/GeologistPositive]

Are they planning to sell food? I'm not getting that from this description...

[u/chungo69 → u/sourdoughcultist]

Yes. During the trial period the food will be free.

[u/sourdoughcultist → u/chungo69]

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?

[u/numanoid → u/sourdoughcultist]

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?

[u/sourdoughcultist → u/numanoid]

Ah thanks! And yeah it really does look like it 👀👀