Fare hikes on Metra trains will officially go into effect Thursday.
The fare hikes are designed to try to close a $45 million budget deficit caused by state funding cuts, according to the agency. Fares on most rail lines will go up by a quarter, and will be accompanied by service cuts on several Metra lines.
Those service cuts will go into effect on Feb. 5, the agency says. The frequency of some weekday trains will be reduced or the routes eliminated on the North Central Service, SouthWest Service and Rock Island Line. Weekend trains will be cut on the Milwaukee District North Line.
It's the fourth straight year that the suburban Chicago commuter rail agency has raised fares. And Metra has warned that more increases could be coming.
New schedules are explained on the Metrarail page online . Paper copies will be available at downtown Metra stations beginning Jan. 25.
The Metra Board approved a $797 million operating budget in November.
