Metra's North Central Service trains started operating over the Wisconsin Central main line between Chicago and Antioch, Illinois, near the Wisconsin border. A special train for VIP's ran over the line the day before. This is significant because it is the Chicago area's first new commuter rail line in 70 years. Service began with three daily rush hour trains in each direction, plus a midday round trip. A fourth rush hour train was added was added in each direction in February, 1997.
Service is weekdays only.
The first day of service generally went smoothly, although some trains ran about 15 minutes late. Many people came to the new stations to watch the trains pass through. Trains seemed well patronized, largely because many riders on the new line already had been riding other nearby Metra lines. These are riders who can now drive a shorter distance to the nearest Metra line. Metra expects that lost ridership on its older lines will only be temporary, and that overall ridership will grow as the population grows in that area.