By Alissa Groeninger and Lisa Black
Metra launched its quiet cars operation on all 11 of its lines Monday, offering interested riders a silent commute. The reaction itself was quiet, as many commuters didn't know they were in designated cars.
Gaurav Gaonkar didn't realize he got in a quiet car, but he's glad he did.
"I actually had no idea," said Gaonkar, who commutes from Buffalo Grove to the Illinois Institute of Technology. "It was very quiet. The conductor didn't need to really say anything."
Jennifer LaGrandeur works in finance downtown and inadvertently ended up in a quiet car during her commute Monday morning. The car was silent, and she was able to work, LaGrandeur said, adding that she would definitely seek a quiet car for her next Metra ride.
Conductor Don Kiesgen said he had to tell several riders to stop talking on their cellphones or move. He expressed concern about trying to enforce the rule without angering regular riders. Metra has said conductors will hand reminder cards to noisy passengers, though it will rely largely on peer pressure to keep the volume down. Quiet cars are marked with signs.
Quiet cars are available on all lines except on two-car trains, according to Metra. The second car from the engine and the second car from the other end of the train are designated as quiet on all diesel trains with six cars or more, according to Metra. On trains with five cars or fewer, only the second car from the engine will be a quiet car. On Metra's Electric line, the third car from the south end will be the only quiet zone.
A trial version of the program started on the Rock Island line in January. Metra expanded the program to all lines because of its popularity with riders. Designated cars are on inbound trains arriving before 9 a.m. and outbound trains leaving between 3:30 and 6 p.m.
The agency asks that all passengers sitting in quiet cars mute electronics and silence cellphones. Passengers who need to talk are asked to switch cars.
Aditi Singh, 30, and Ambuj Kumar, 35, realized they were sitting in a quiet car after they boarded the train in Lake Forest and noticed Metra's sign. But they chatted softly throughout the ride to Union Station, and no one said anything to them about it.
"I thought it was meant for cellphones," Kumar said.
Metra launched its quiet cars operation on all 11 of its lines Monday, offering interested riders a silent commute. The reaction itself was quiet, as many commuters didn't know they were in designated cars.
Gaurav Gaonkar didn't realize he got in a quiet car, but he's glad he did.
"I actually had no idea," said Gaonkar, who commutes from Buffalo Grove to the Illinois Institute of Technology. "It was very quiet. The conductor didn't need to really say anything."
Jennifer LaGrandeur works in finance downtown and inadvertently ended up in a quiet car during her commute Monday morning. The car was silent, and she was able to work, LaGrandeur said, adding that she would definitely seek a quiet car for her next Metra ride.
Conductor Don Kiesgen said he had to tell several riders to stop talking on their cellphones or move. He expressed concern about trying to enforce the rule without angering regular riders. Metra has said conductors will hand reminder cards to noisy passengers, though it will rely largely on peer pressure to keep the volume down. Quiet cars are marked with signs.
Quiet cars are available on all lines except on two-car trains, according to Metra. The second car from the engine and the second car from the other end of the train are designated as quiet on all diesel trains with six cars or more, according to Metra. On trains with five cars or fewer, only the second car from the engine will be a quiet car. On Metra's Electric line, the third car from the south end will be the only quiet zone.
A trial version of the program started on the Rock Island line in January. Metra expanded the program to all lines because of its popularity with riders. Designated cars are on inbound trains arriving before 9 a.m. and outbound trains leaving between 3:30 and 6 p.m.
The agency asks that all passengers sitting in quiet cars mute electronics and silence cellphones. Passengers who need to talk are asked to switch cars.
Aditi Singh, 30, and Ambuj Kumar, 35, realized they were sitting in a quiet car after they boarded the train in Lake Forest and noticed Metra's sign. But they chatted softly throughout the ride to Union Station, and no one said anything to them about it.
"I thought it was meant for cellphones," Kumar said.