Hello-
I am writing to complain about a situation I encountered on Metra this evening, 12/7/2009.
I boarded the 5:28 at Union Station, intending to get off at Belmont. I sat in the rear car as it would be nearest where I parked at the Belmont station. I sat in a window seat on the lower level.
The train stopped at Main Street. As it pulled away, people began to line up in the aisle to get off, I presumed, at Belmont, the next stop. When the line backed up to where I was sitting (about 12 people from the vestibule door) I asked my seatmate to let me out, and I joined the line.
The train stopped at Belmont. No-one moved. I assumed that perhaps there was a problem with the doors, as there had been an electrical problem a few minutes earlier that had caused a short delay. The next thing I knew, the announcement came that the doors would be closing in 20 seconds. I still thought the there must be some problem, as the line hadn't moved and I was still 12 people away from the vestibule door. Imagine my feelings when the train started moving, and the announcement came that the next stop would be Lisle. I had missed my stop because people,wanting to exit at Lisle, had jammed the aisle. As I exited the train at Lisle, I mentioned what had happened to the conductor, whose response was to shout at me that the doors had opened at Belmont and that people had gotten off. How he thought that would be helpful, I don't know.
I had no alternative but to walk back to the Belmont station, where I had parked. 3 miles away. In the snow. In the dark. In danger from heavy traffic.
I realize that nothing can be done at this point to rectify my situation, but I have a suggestion that may help to make sure that such a thing doesn't happen again.
As the train approaches a station, a recorded voice announces that the next station will be "X." I suggest adding to that recording words like: "If X is not your stop, please keep your seats and do not block the aisles, so that passengers wanting to get off at X can exit the train. Please do not enter the aisles or vestibule until your station is the next stop."
Conductors can also make such an announcement over the PA system, and, when the train is at a station and there seems to be a backup in the aisles, they can ask, so that all can hear, if there is anyone wishing to exit at that station who has not been able to do so because of the backup.
These things seem only common sense and common courtesy.
Jim Wearne