The "reverse-commute trains" will operate express on the Milwaukee District North Line between Chicago's Union Station and Lake Forest during the morning and evening rush hour.
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About 160 people were on the first train Monday when it left Union Station at 6:25 a.m.
Employees and employers in the north suburbs requested that Metra offer the option.
"It's a big deal and it's all about talent," said Kevin Considine, president of Lake County Partners, a nonprofit economic development corporation. "In any company today, any company would say their No. 1 challenge is to attract and maintain qualified talent."
His group approached Metra about adding reverse commute service with hopes that the addition of the special reverse-commute trains would help companies recruit and retain employees who live in Chicago.
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"They said they are hearing a demand for it from their employee and people trying to recruit that maybe they would have an easier job recruiting talent from Chicago," said Mike Gillis, of Metra.
The two-year pilot program is being paid for by several companies, the city of Lake Forest, the village of Deerfield and Metra.
If the two-year project is successful for the businesses and Metra, the next investment would be capital improvements which would include a new turnaround just north of Lake Forest to get trains to the station quicker.
Full details of the new schedule are available on Metra's website.