Aaron Maertins
@amaertins.bsky.social
Chicagolander
Transit planner 🚉
World traveler ✈️
Husband 🏳️🌈 and dog dad
Lover of Shark Week 🦈 and chocolate chip cookies 🍪
Transit planner 🚉
World traveler ✈️
Husband 🏳️🌈 and dog dad
Lover of Shark Week 🦈 and chocolate chip cookies 🍪
Oh boy do I have thoughts on stopping patterns
February 16, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Oh boy do I have thoughts on stopping patterns
But if you had them only at stations, like almost every other median-running rapid transit in the world…
February 3, 2026 at 2:20 PM
But if you had them only at stations, like almost every other median-running rapid transit in the world…
Sound walls should be a no-brainer
February 3, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Sound walls should be a no-brainer
The conceptual Fulton Mkt station b/w Ashland and Ogden would fill that connectivity need. Hoping to drive more traffic to Kedzie as we improve the service - all off peak trains now stop there 7-days-a-week and a think it will see a good boost once we’re able to improve the weekend service.
January 26, 2026 at 6:49 PM
The conceptual Fulton Mkt station b/w Ashland and Ogden would fill that connectivity need. Hoping to drive more traffic to Kedzie as we improve the service - all off peak trains now stop there 7-days-a-week and a think it will see a good boost once we’re able to improve the weekend service.
Need some love for a Humboldt Park Milwaukee District station
January 26, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Need some love for a Humboldt Park Milwaukee District station
Don’t go counting on this every two hour business being the case forever
January 23, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Don’t go counting on this every two hour business being the case forever
Best bet off the top of my head would probably be the 7:02 or 7:32 BNSF expresses from Naperville, both are scheduled to overtake 3 trains, just 50/50 whether those trains are moving when you overtake them. Or there are two Downers Grove expresses (:15/:45) during that hour that overtake 2 trains.
December 29, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Best bet off the top of my head would probably be the 7:02 or 7:32 BNSF expresses from Naperville, both are scheduled to overtake 3 trains, just 50/50 whether those trains are moving when you overtake them. Or there are two Downers Grove expresses (:15/:45) during that hour that overtake 2 trains.
Problem is with regular schedule variability even if there’s a scheduled meet at a given location +/- 1 minute and one flies by the other sitting at a stop. Are you looking specifically for that NYC-esq express vs. local thing where you’re looking at the people on the other train?
December 29, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Problem is with regular schedule variability even if there’s a scheduled meet at a given location +/- 1 minute and one flies by the other sitting at a stop. Are you looking specifically for that NYC-esq express vs. local thing where you’re looking at the people on the other train?
It’s common on the BNSF, but one of them would be making local stops so the race wouldn’t last long. Same on the ME. Maybe UPNW where the stops are spaced out and there are 3 tracks. Also maybe on the stretch of lines around Fulton Market, 3 lines worth of trains moving on more than 2 tracks.
December 29, 2025 at 12:42 AM
It’s common on the BNSF, but one of them would be making local stops so the race wouldn’t last long. Same on the ME. Maybe UPNW where the stops are spaced out and there are 3 tracks. Also maybe on the stretch of lines around Fulton Market, 3 lines worth of trains moving on more than 2 tracks.
You mean like two trains scheduled to run parallel in the same direction?
December 29, 2025 at 12:34 AM
You mean like two trains scheduled to run parallel in the same direction?
Yep both places where the enhanced weekend/holiday schedules have rolled out, unfortunately. And doesn’t N1 just roll off the tongue so much more nicely that UPN?
December 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Yep both places where the enhanced weekend/holiday schedules have rolled out, unfortunately. And doesn’t N1 just roll off the tongue so much more nicely that UPN?
I’m hearing that it was staffing and still trickling into today. Will know for sure in the morning. Very unfortunate given we had already reduced the Xmas Eve schedule to head off this very issue.
December 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I’m hearing that it was staffing and still trickling into today. Will know for sure in the morning. Very unfortunate given we had already reduced the Xmas Eve schedule to head off this very issue.
… well for folded scooters and so it became our preferred solution, at least until we get new rolling stock.
December 15, 2025 at 12:52 AM
… well for folded scooters and so it became our preferred solution, at least until we get new rolling stock.
And the alternative was fixed off-the-shelf bike racks, which had a 6 months+ lead time at the time we wanted to open up the bike policy immediately, and those ultimately would’ve made the space less flexible. We called this 1.5 because we intended to move to the fixed racks but it works really …
December 15, 2025 at 12:51 AM
And the alternative was fixed off-the-shelf bike racks, which had a 6 months+ lead time at the time we wanted to open up the bike policy immediately, and those ultimately would’ve made the space less flexible. We called this 1.5 because we intended to move to the fixed racks but it works really …
The goal was absolutely address the denied boarding issue. Bringing luggage or carts on would only be an issue in the most extreme of crowding situations (like Lolla or a BNSF meltdown) and we really wanted to separate bikes from ADA to give folks some assurance.
December 15, 2025 at 12:47 AM
The goal was absolutely address the denied boarding issue. Bringing luggage or carts on would only be an issue in the most extreme of crowding situations (like Lolla or a BNSF meltdown) and we really wanted to separate bikes from ADA to give folks some assurance.
Yes this, if you have an e-bike along with a few phones/laptops it can trip the breaker on the whole car.
December 15, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Yes this, if you have an e-bike along with a few phones/laptops it can trip the breaker on the whole car.
Many people are saying this.
November 16, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Many people are saying this.
And things will only get better from here
November 15, 2025 at 11:35 PM
And things will only get better from here
Like we could actually have company it’s spotless
October 30, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Like we could actually have company it’s spotless
Becomes a Madison Street cut and cover subway. Trying to avoid expressways.
October 17, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Becomes a Madison Street cut and cover subway. Trying to avoid expressways.