Metra to Launch Real-Time Alert System
Riders can sign up at MetraTracker.com for email or text alerts on train service and predicted arrivals starting Thursday.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Transportation
Metra will launch a new alert system Thursday that delivers real-time train information to riders by email or text, replacing its current email-only system which will shut down the same day. Riders can sign up at MetraTracker.com by creating an account and selecting the alerts they want.
Why it matters
The new system follows upgrades to Metra's GPS tracking and passenger information systems and gives Chicago-area riders more options for tracking their trains. Because information from the current email-only system cannot be transferred, riders will need to set up new alerts.
The new system offers two alert types, service alerts and prediction alerts, with separate service alerts required for each trip. The extraction does not report subscriber counts or usage figures for either the current or new system.
The players
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail agency serving the Chicago metropolitan area, operating multiple suburban rail lines.
The details
Riders create an account at MetraTracker.com and select service alerts, which can be set by day, time, and delivery method of text, email, or both. Prediction alerts let riders choose a line, origin and destination stations, and days and times, and can repeat at set intervals until a chosen end time.
Timeline
Thursday: Metra launches the new alert system and sign-ups begin.
Thursday: Metra shuts down its current email-only alert system.
Industry Position
The launch extends Metra's recent GPS tracking and passenger information system upgrades by adding real-time push alerts for riders. It moves the agency from a one-way email notice to a two-channel system that can notify riders by text as well.
Riders who want alerts must create a new account and set up their preferences at MetraTracker.com, since existing email-only settings will not carry over. Choosing text, email, or both determines how alerts reach commuters before their trains arrive.
The takeaway
Riders who depend on Metra should set up their alerts before Thursday's switch to avoid losing notifications. Creating separate alerts for each regular trip ensures the right updates arrive at the right times.
What happens next
Thursday marks the launch of the new alert system and the shutdown of the current email-only system.
Further reading
Explore more Chicago transportation news for context on the region's commuter rail network.
More information
Sign up for service and prediction alerts at MetraTracker.com.
