Let Metra be your ride to this year’s Chicago St. Patrick’s Day and South Side Irish parades. Metra will be adding extra service to each event on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15, making it easier than ever to give up on fighting traffic and let us do the driving.
Due to the expected high ridership, customers are advised to purchase tickets prior to boarding on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. At downtown terminals, Metra personnel will be checking tickets and requiring ticket purchases prior to boarding.
The organizers of Chicago’s 65th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade strongly recommend taking public transportation to the event. To make that an even more attractive option, Metra will be offering extra trains, including some express service, on seven of its 11 lines on Saturday, March 14. On Sunday, March 15, the South Side Irish Parade will march down Western Avenue through the Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods. Metra’s Rock Island Line will also offer extra service to the 103rd Street/Beverly Hills and 111th Street/Morgan Park stations, which are within walking distance of the parade route. Details about the extra service for both events are available here.
“Riders know the value of taking Metra to city events and that’s why we’re happy to provide extra service,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “Our Weekend Pass and Family Fares make Metra the most affordable, smart and safe choice for anyone planning to go to the parades and celebrate one of Chicago’s favorite holidays.”
Metra’s $10 Weekend Pass allows unlimited rides on Saturday and Sunday. The pass can be purchased at stations with open ticket offices, with cash onboard the train or via the Ventra App, which can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. As always, with Family Fares, up to three kids 11 and under can ride free with each adult. Metra’s Monthly Pass holders can use the pass for unlimited travel to any zone on weekends.
Visit metrarail.com for complete details, including schedules and additional details about the extra train service.
Editors’ Note: Due to Covid-19, the City of Chicago has canceled the St. Patrick’s Day celebration and all extra Metra services have also been canceled.
