Pass News Geneva Station

Passenger News
at Geneva Station

Posted November 16, 2025

UP Worker Shares What Property UP Maintains

On Friday November 14, I talked to a UP maintenance worker at the La Fox station installing light bulbs in the tunnel.

From our conversation, I am still unclear as to who owns what and who maintains pertaining to the La Fox Station and the Geneva Station.

He did share that he fixed the heater at Geneva's north shelter. He also said that Geneva now owns and has maintenance responsibility for the two south shelters. I hope to confirm that soon.

He further pointed out that the UP/Metra divorce has caused many issues, some still unresolved.

As he was a friendly guy, after thanking him for the information and after learning about his maintenance at Geneva’s north shelter, I presented my vision for turning the Geneva’s north shelter into a Rail Viewing area.

His reaction was positive and said he would pass the idea along to “Bridges and Stations”.

Knowing how slow UP moves, I am not optimistic for follow through any time soon. However, he essentially confirmed the shelter is on UP property and not on Metras or Shodeen.

Earlier this year, the City of Geneva provided me a map that shows who owns what around the Geneva station. The land around the shelter did not show the UP name, but showed another railroad name that I didn’t recognize.

He also shared that the City of Geneva has full responsibility for Geneva's south parking and the two south shelters. I will confirm.

Completing this puzzle continues ….

Posted November 7 2025

The Geneva Station hours is now open on WEEKDAYS until 9pm. Furthermore, there will be a Metra Customer care person on site during from 5am to 9pm weekdays.

Also, in the 'miracle' department, the Illinois Assembly passed a transit bill that provides for a sustainable future.

Included is a provision for 'transit volunteers'. Stay tuned as information will eventually be provided if this would cover providing an Ambassadors program for Geneva's station.

In early November I have attended three Metra meetings:

ADA Advisory Committee

Citizen's Board Advisory Board

Public Hearing in Geneva

I found the following interesting and informative:

Metra has reassigned numerous Customer Care folks (former ticket agents) form outlying stations (Glen Ellyn,

Elmhurst, etc. to Chicago's downtown stations. It appears that one of the 'slots' then was reallocated to Geneva

to cover the 1pm to 9pm shift on weekends.

Metra's Cafe Car has been a big hit. Over 2,000 surveys have been filled out. The Cafe Car was on each line for

a week. With the Transit Bill passed, this increases the odds that the Cafe Car will be permanent on many lines.

I was informed that the 2nd phase of the ticket vending machines was cancelled. If correct, only about one-half

of the 243 stations will have vending machines.

The bill is 1,000 pages and goes into effect on June 1, 2026. All new boards have be filled by September.

The transit bill provides for 7 new boards. No fare increase possible until June 1 2027.

Reason for above budgeted sales tax: online sales are now taxed at the same rate as if item was purchased in store.

When compared to other large city in categories such as finances, on time performance, etc.Metra is regarded as a

well run transit agency.,

Police activity followed by locomotive failures continue to be the main reasons for delays.

System on time percentage: 94%

Starting a year or two ago, Metra employees ride free on Metra.

It appears City of Geneva owns the south parking lot and the two south shelters.

The Geneva station appears to be a 'condo', owned by Metra with Shodeen Corporation the owner.

Engineers have the discretion where to stop the train unless overruled by the conductor.

Representative Matt Hanson D -Montgomery is an active BNSF engineer. He was very involved in the Transit Bill.

Posted November 7, 2025

Track Anxiety at the La Fox Station

ADA passengers and elderly may want to board in Geneva

Several Mill Creek & Campton Hills Metra passengers are alerting riders to confusing boarding issues at the La Fox Station. Many passengers are uncertain as to where to board Chicago bound trains.

Some have missed trains, others have had to hustle to get to the boarding platform. Passengers with luggage have to take ramps and steps risking falling as well as missing trains.

Chicago bound trains can arrive on Platform 1 or Platform 2. This happens mostly in the afternoons.

Too frequently, passengers find themselves on the wrong platform. Train signage has not been updated for several years.

Recommendation: If PA does not indicate arrival platform #, look West down the tracks

three minutes before train arrival, train headlight clearly indicates platform arrival #. If needed, passengers have 1 1/2 minutes to change platforms.

Additionally, ADA and elderly passengers may want to consider boarding in Geneva: There are no ramps, no stairs, and no tunnels. There is free daily parking after 8:30am & weekends steps away from the station.

Furthermore, a Metra customer service attendant is available to help with ticketing, information, and boarding from 5am to 9pm on weekdays.

Posted November 16, 2025

Message to Mill Creek Resident:

Friday afternoon while at the La Fox station, I saw a woman park her car and run toward the south stairs to access Platform 2 . Obviously, this is where she normally waits for the train. I saw her as I normally watch for passengers from the south platform to inform them if I know what platform the train is coming in on. Since she was looking to climb the south stairs and the train was 1 block from the station, I yelled at her to to don’t take the stairs and run through the tunnel While she was in the tunnel, the train came into the station. I got the engineers attention to let him know there was a passenger in the tunnel. He gave me a thumbs up and waited for the lady to get to the platform where she successfully boarded the train. Recently, I learned Metra owns land north of the La Fox Station tracks purposed for a parking lot in anticipation of Shodeen’s massive residential development nearby.

Posted September 18, 2025

Metra notified me today that the Geneva station will be staffed in the weekday afternoons starting in mid October 2025.

This is good news on several different levels:

Safety -

The Customer Care person will get all passengers safely to Platform 2 when the Chicago bound train comes in on the outbound track.

Encourage passengers waiting on Platform 1 (in front of the businesses) to move into the station when a freight trains comes in on Track 1. Union Pacific guidelines state: stand no less than 24ft from the track. From my observation, I have not seen the

morning customer care person do this.

Weather -

Passengers will no longer have to endure inclement weather conditions.

Customer Service -

ticket help, parking, rest room availability, etc.

However, in this notification, no mention was made about staffing on the weekends!!!

To: Corinna Gallardo-Jerbis

Title:: Supervisor Customer Communications

From DG ‘Rusty’ Alderson

Re: Geneva Station

Observations When Inbound Trains Arrive on Outbound Tracks Weekday Afternoons

The 3rd track through Geneva became operative on July 15, 2025. I have since observed 70% of the inbound to Chicago weekday afternoon trains. During my observations an average of 20% of inbound trains came in on the outbound track (Platform 2/Track 3).

I observed most passengers came to the station at least 7 minutes or earlier before the scheduled train arrival.

They were in position to move to Platform 2/Track 3 when directed to by the Monitor and PA.

However, passengers who came about 1 minute or less before the scheduled arrival and who were expecting to board on Platform 1,

upon seeing the inbound coming in on the outbound tracks, had to run down Platform 1 to the crossing gates at 3rd Street

to board on Platform 2.

I observed some passengers who walked under the gates

I observed some passengers who waited for the gates to go BACK UP

When the train stops ‘Short’ (50 to 70’ feet) before the 3rd Street Crossing for 15 seconds, the gates do go back up)

I observed

Some cab cars stopped at the 3rd Street Crossing (gates stayed down)

Some cab cars stopped ‘Short’ and when stationary for 15 seconds or longer, the gates went up allowing passengers

to cross the tracks and board the train on Platform 2/Track 3.

Perhaps, if the Cab Car stopped CONSISTENTLY ‘SHORT’ and if there was a sign at the 3rd Street crossing informing passengers to wait for gates to go up after the train arrives, perhaps passengers would not make the decision to go under the gates.

__________________________

Significant observations:

September 4, 2025 2:37 train

While in conversation with several UP/Metra retirees adjacent to Platform 1, we all observed this situation

involving 10 passengers

Passengers hearing the “Board on Platform 2” announcement began walking to cross the tracks to Platform 2/Track 3

Then, before the passengers got to the 3rd Street Crossing, the gates went down.

Looking west and seeing the Inbound train (although it was at least 1/2 a mile away),

they made the decision to go under the downed gates.

However, it wasn’t their Metra train that triggered the gates to go down.

It was a westbound freight train within a block of the 3rd St Crossing on Track 1 that activated the gates.

These passengers were looking west and not east …

They did not see the approaching freight train that fortunately was still one block from the 3rd St. Crossing —

thus avoiding a catastrophic situation!

September 8, 2025 2:37 train

Two passengers arriving as the inbound train arrived were anticipating to board on Platform 1.

They made the decision NOT to go under the downed gates.

They waited at the 3rd Street crossing hoping the gates would go back

Since the cab car didn’t stop ‘short’, the gates didn’t go back up.

After the train departed, they called an Uber.

Video

Safety, Track Anxiety, and Shelter Issues

in 2025

Geneva Station News

Good News about

Track Anxiety in Geneva

Posted September 1, 2025

Since September 2024, I have been at the Geneva train station for 80% of the weekday afternoon trains.

During this time I have been informing passengers that although Chicago bound trains most generally arrive on Platform 1, trains can and do arrive on Platform 2

My educational efforts along passengers having to cross tracks along with some having to go under gates and many missing trains have resulted in most (but not all) passengers now are coming at least 7 minutes or earlier before the scheduled train arrival!!!

Tap here for the informational booklet I give to passengers.

Geneva Station News

Posted September 1, 2025

Rusty's Observations

La Fox Station

I spent an afternoon at the La Fox Station talking to passengers and observing trains. Many La Fox Station passengers are not sure what platform the inbound to Chicago will be arriving on.

Service to Moline?

Funding has been secured to increase the likelihood Amtrak will start service between Chicago & Moline in the very near future.

Dispatchers Consolidation

Learned BSNF and Union Pacific has consolidated their dispatchers in Ft Worth and Omaha respectively. My source suggested that much of the dispatching is done by computer.

Amtrak on time performance

Amtrak's Southwest Chief has had a dismal on time performance this summer running sometimes 4 to 5 hours late arriving in Chicago. According to an Amtrak employee, it is do 100% to freight interference.

After 30 days with 3rd Track Opening

Will All Inbound to Chicago Trains

Arrive on Platform 1 (North Track1)?

Posted August 15, 2025

With the 3rd rail (track 3) now open passengers were hopeful all inbound to Chicago

would arrive and board on Platform 1/Track 1.

However, afternoon weekend in bound trains to Chicago are arriving on Platform 1/Track 1 (on average) 75% of the time.

Of course, we don't know what time the trains that arrive on Platform 2/Track 3 will arrive. The Platform arrival varies.

Passengers arriving 7 -10 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time have had enough time to move and cross the tracks at 3rd street to board on Platform 2.

However, those passengers who arrive 1-2 minutes before the scheduled arrival can make their train if their train stops 50 feet before the 3rd St crossing. With the train stationary for 15 seconds the gates will go up to let late arriving passengers to board.

HOWEVER, NOT ALL TRAINS COMING IN ON PLATFORM 2/TRACK 3 stop 50 feet before the 3rd St Crossing.

I have seen conductors wave late arriving passengers to cross the tracks even with the gates down. I have seen passengers NOT waved to cross the tracks ... thus missing their trains.

I have been told it is against railroad policy for a conductor or engineer to wave people over tracks with the gates down.

Operation LifeSaver was in Geneva last month handing out flyers stating:

$500 fine for going under/around downed gates and

The Conductor sees you going under downed gates,

you will not be allowed to board the train.

100 Passengers Miss Train!

posted Aug 3, 2025

On July 31, 2025, an inbound to Chicago came in on Track 3.

Passengers were expecting train on Track 1 (Platform 1).

Two very long freight trains on Track 1 and 2, passing as the commuter train arrived on Track 3 (Platform 2), blocked passengers from crossing tracks to walk from Platform 1

to Platform 2 to board train.

The commuter train did not wait for the freight trains to pass. Thus, 100 passengers missed their train.

Several passengers claimed there was no announcement

that train would arrive on Platform 2.

First Train on Track 3

July 15 2025 9pm

posted Aug 3, 2025

While observing trains at the Geneva station in the afternoon of July 15,

I learned UP crews were ready to open Track 3.

However, the decision was made to wait until after the evening rush.

I returned to the station at 6:30pm not knowing exactly when the track would be open.

I was rewarded when the first train to arrive on Track 3 was a Metra outbound to Elburn that crept along at 15 mph.

Passengers had to be wondering why the slow speed between W. Chicago and Geneva.

A UP supervisor was kind to share the reason: ballast (rocks) on new tracks need to settle. Thus, light trains traverse the tracks first ... followed by increasingly heavier freights.

For the next few days i saw both commuters and freights on Track 3

going slow.

Curious to know if the new track 3 would result in all inbound to Chicago trains arriving on Platform 1 (track 1), I was present for 90% of the week day trains from July 16 to July 29.

All but one train came in on Platform 1. The only one that didn't was due to maintenance on that track.

I was hopeful that this would continue letting Geneva passengers not have to worry what platform the train would arrive.

Then, I remembered several months earlier, I put the question of trains always coming in on Platform 1 to a UP supervisor. He answered. "No. There will always be maintenance and freight traffic that will mandate inbound to Chicago coming in on Track 3".

On Wednesday July 29 and Thursday July 30, several in bound to Chicago trains came on track 3!

On Saturday & Sunday August 2 & 3, several more trains came in on track 3!

Letter to Metra

Rusty's Observations & Concerns

Posted August 2, 2025

Corinna

Greg

You asked me to share with you what’s going on in Geneva …

After UP activated their 3rd track through Geneva on Tuesday 9pm July 15 2025:

I observed afternoon trains

July 16 - July 19 July 21 - July 24 July 28 - July 31

All trains arrived on Platform 1 except one train as there was maintenance on Track 1.

Expectations that inbound trains would consistently arrive and board on Track 1/Platform 1 after

the 3rd tracks were operational was happening…

… until Wednesday July 30 2:37 train

I observed:

… passengers waiting on

Platform 1 PA announcement: train coming in 7 minutes (no track or

platform # mentioned),

then 2 minutes before scheduled arrival, PA—board on Track 3/Platform 2

Passengers cross tracks to Platform 2

Westbound Freight train passes through Geneva on Track 3

After freight train passed

Passengers hear PA announces - train arriving Platform 1

As Passengers started to walk to Platform 1, inbound train activated gates

preventing passengers from crossing Platform 1

Passengers wait behind gates (not knowing if they will be allowed to cross tracks)

Commuter train stops 50 ft before street crossing

There was a UP maintenance truck on track 1 100 ft east of the tracks

that prevented the gates from going up even thought the commuter trains

had been stationary for over 15 seconds)

Finally, the gates go up

Passengers standing behind gates cross tracks (there were no other trains passing)

Everyone boarded the train safely.

Fortunately, the cab car had stopped …not a the stressing crossing where it

usually stops…but 50 feet before the street crossing …

Wednesday July 30 2:37 train arrives on Track 3

Thursday July 31 All afternoon trains arrived on Platform 1

Thursday night, before retiring I opened Facebook and saw numerous posts

about 100 passengers missing their train

The week of July 23 …

Expectations were that trains would consistently arrive and board on Track 1/Platform 1

Although improved, trains still occasionally come in on Track 3/Platform 2.

Safety Issues:

On several occasions, passengers have had to wait behinddowned gates before boarding their train.

On Wed July 30, the 2:37 train … passengers waiting on

Platform 1 were told train coming in 7 minutes (no track or platform # mentioned), then 2 minutes before scheduled arrival, passengers told to board on Track 3/Platform 2.

Passengers cross tracks to Platform 2

Freight train enters Geneva on Track 3

Freight train passes

Passengers hear announcement - train arriving Platform 1

As Passengers walk to Platform 1, inbound train activated gates

Passengers stand behind gates waiting for gates to go up

(There is a UP maintenance truck east of the tracks

preventing the gates to go up)

Fortunately, the train stopped …not a the stressing crossing … but 50 feet before the street crossing … and when the maintenance truck moved further east the gates then went up allowing the passengers to board

Signage: There are no signs indicating ‘Platform 2’

There are no signs indicating track numbers

PA Announcements:

When arriving on Track 3/Platform reference is made

to ‘new’ station.

Observation: It is not a ‘station’ … it is a ‘waiting area’ or

shelter.

Meanwhile, Geneva afternoon, evening, and weekend passengers

Safety issues caused when train comes in on Platform 2

Track Anxiety

Train Anxiety

No Signage

Poor Signage

Poorly timed PA Announcements

Poor Monitor Information

No viable shelter

No viable seating

Ticket Machines Poorly located

Main station not available to afternoon, evening, or weekend passengers

I am particularly anxious to communicate to passengers progress being made on

Shelter/Waiting Room on Platform 1

Rollout date of new signage

Main station open for afternoon, evening, and weekend passengers.

I am available to give you further details if desired.

Geneva Station

Posted May 22, 2025

Rusty's Meeting

with Metra

My presentation to Metra on May 21, 2025 was attended by Metra staff ... those who needed to hear my message and who can address my issues were present.

These included the top Communications Department Director and the Supervisor of Communications.

They listened, asked questions, and said they will be taking the information to their respective team members.

Hopefully, that is a sign that maybe these issues will be addressed.

I presented these issues:

Numerous safety issues at the Station

Track anxiety

Need for signage alerting passengers to

potential train arrival on Platform 2

Signage directed to New/Occasional

passengers

Need for Main Station to be open longer

and on weekends.

(Current: Main station is only opened

weekdays 5am to 1pm and closed

on weekends

There is no shelter from inclement and cold weather

______________

Geneva Safety Issues (up top)

for more detailed information

Geneva Station Posts

Tuesday May 14, 2025 Wednesday May 15, 2025

The good newss re afternoon inbound to Chicago train: more passengers are arriving at the Geneva station at least 10 minutes prior to their scheduled train arrival. Many, but not all, now know to listen 7 minutes before the scheduled train arrival for platform arrival information.

However, that is not everyone!

On Tuesday and Wednesday (May 13 & 14), I waved 6 cars and 12 people who arrived at the staton 3-5 minutes prior to their train arrival and expecting to board on Platform 1 to immediately go to Platform 2.

Fortunately, all made it to Platform 2 safely. No one missed their trains.
I had not witnessed anyone walking under the downed gates to get to Platform 2 for two weeks.

However, on May 14, a young man running down Platform 1 as the train was coming in on Platform 2, chose to go under the down gates and in front of the train!

Earlier in the year, I witnessed a similar situation except the person ran under the down gates and crossed the tracks in front a fast moving freight train!

I have witnessed conductors not allowing passengers who go under the downed gates to board the train.

On Wednesday May 21, I am expecting to meet with a Metra Passenger Safety Department supervisor.

On Wednesday I noticed a UP maintenance man entering the locked station around 2pm. He was checking to see if the station doors were locked.

I learned:
When it comes to the Geneva station and to the Platform 2 shelters — it’s a gray area. Perhaps not surprisingly, UP and Metra have a love hate relationship.

He said he has keys to the shelters. He shared that signage pertaining to station and shelter hours is coming soon. (We’ll see.)

I wasn’t surprised when he shared the La Fox Station is a “mess”. He has experienced ‘track anxiety’ personally.

I shared that I have talked to several people who live within minutes of the La Fox station who come to board at Geneva.

He informed me that Geneva and W. Chicago turned down a UP request to build a intermodal yard that would have straddled the two towns. UP then built one in Rochelle.

Metra News

Posted September 18, 2025

I attended (remotely) Metra's Board of Director Meeting held on September 17.

The upcoming fiscal cliff was discussed. It is coming. However, due to decreased spending, increasing tax revenue, and slightly increase in ridership, it appears there were be little changes in 2026.

However, in 2027 there may be some slight changes, but it is in 2028 that there would be significant changes unless the Illinois legislature address the 'fiscal cliff' in the October 2025 veto session.

Several board members pointed out:

If Metra is forced to cut trains ...the freight railroads (UP and BNSF) will take those times and it will very difficult for Metra to

get those time slots back ... as much as 10 -15 years!

Metra News

Posted June 2, 2025

Union Pacific employees (conductors, engineers, etc.)are now Metra employees.

Metra's lease/rent of of Union Pacific tracks is up July 1, 2025.

Metra is suing

Union Pacific contending that the lease/rent is

unreasonable.

Union Pacific's president has stated the railroad will not stop service.

The Illinois General Assembly passed a balanced budget on

June 1.

However, the Legislators did not address the

CTA, Metra, Pace "fiscal cliff". They plan to reconvene this summer or fall.

Any changes to service would start in January 2026 or maybe spring,

depending how much money is left from the Covid Funds.

For MORE
Metra News previous posts

including Metra Fiscal

News Articles

Tap Here

This case was brought to my attention by retired UP/Metra employees.

Former UP Conductor Case

Former UP Conductor

This article is from the Chicago Tribune written on August 22, 2021

It took 27 years and utensils from a Chili’s restaurant, but authorities finally made an arrest in the death of a 20-year-old Aurora woman.

Larry J. Galloway, a 46-year-old Union Pacific train conductor in Chicago, faces two counts of first-degree murder in the death of Cheryl Lynn Hall, who was strangled with the cord of an iron in 1981.

Galloway was taken into custody Thursday night without incident by Aurora Police at the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago, where he works as a train conductor, according to Aurora police spokesman Dan Ferrelli.

Galloway, whose bail was set Friday at $3 million in Aurora Branch Court, was always considered a suspect in the case, police said. But a break didn’t occur until a new detective took over the case and placed Galloway under surveillance. In January 2007, two detectives followed Galloway into a Chili’s Restaurant on Aurora’s West Side. When Galloway finished his meal, the detectives grabbed his utensils, which they used to match with DNA evidence from the crime scene, Ferrelli said.

The crime was committed on Sept. 9, 1981, when Hall was in her apartment in the 1600 block of Shamrock Court. She had taken the day off from her job at an Aurora bank, and about 2 p.m. she was joined by her husband, Nicholas, who stopped by to have lunch with her. After he left, neighbors reported hearing noises from the apartment but no one called police.

About 6 p.m., Hall was discovered partially clothed and hanging from a doorknob in a second-floor bedroom, according to police. She had not been sexually assaulted.

Galloway and Hall knew each other. Both graduated from East Aurora High School in 1979 and, after graduation, Galloway and his wife worked with Hall’s husband. The four socialized together, said Lisa Larson, Hall’s younger sister.

Police said Galloway was considered a suspect within days of the murder but wasn’t charged. Evidence from the case languished in storage for years at the Aurora Police Department. Several detectives revisited the case, but “kept hitting brick walls,” Ferrelli said. Then a new detective took over, ultimately leading to collection of DNA evidence.

Kane County State’s Atty. John Barsanti said the DNA evidence came from skin samples, which are now as easy to match to crime scenes as traditional DNA evidence of blood, hair or semen.

Galloway’s next court date is scheduled for Aug. 13 at the Kane County courthouse.

At the time of her murder, Hall and her husband had been married for less than two years and had spoken about their plans to have children, said Larson, 43, of Yorkville.

Larson said, even after 27 years, she still has hope that her sister’s murder will be solved. “We had to keep praying for justice,” she said. “We owed that to her.”

Passenger News at Geneva Station

Geneva Station News

Passenger News
at Geneva Station