A dispute over commuter service in the Chicago area has brought Covid-era fare collection practices and the litigation they sparked into the spotlight again. Freight train operator Union Pacific (UP) was awarded $19.3 million in damages in a dispute with Metra; Following the decision, UP announced that it was considering an appeal. This development marks an important turn in a broader Metra-UP lawsuit centered around pandemic restrictions and current operational challenges.
With restrictions starting in March 2020, Metra and freight partners UP and BNSF temporarily halted in-person collection of passengers’ in-car fares. As restrictions eased, fare collection activities resumed on trains; however, UP was unable to continue fulfilling this mandate until May 2021. The information shared by Metra shows that it becomes difficult to find a conductor when passengers have problems with the vehicle, and some UP teams’ efforts to maintain social distance by closing the wagons create difficulties. UP’s plan to appeal against the judicial decision continues the tension between the parties and reveals the messy dynamics of the litigation process.
Fare negotiations between Metra and UP following the operational takeover remain an unresolved debate over how much line access fees should be. Although Metra completed the transfer of commuter rail operations on the former Chicago & North Western line in spring 2025, disputes over rail access fees remain. While this decision reshapes the relations of the two major railway companies, it also brings to the agenda the parties’ efforts to find a long-term solution.
Featured notes:The jury’s decision emphasizes the vitality of fare collection practices even after the pandemic period restrictions and the impact of operational decisions on operational processes with passengers. UP’s appeal plan on the decision indicates that the process of resolving the dispute between the parties could take a long time.
