Jan. 27--After a survey found that most Metra riders wouldn't mind if seats no longer flipped, allowing them to always face in the direction the train is moving, the commuter rail line announced Tuesday that it will add new, nonflippable seating to two railcars every month for the rest of the year.
The blue and gray seats, which Metra says are more comfortable, have armrests and better support for the head, neck and lower back. Metra will put the first railcar with the new seats, No. 7437, in service this week on the Milwaukee District lines.
All lines except the Metra Electric will be getting the new seats under the pilot program.
Half of the seats will face backward, which most riders said was fine after they tried a prototype in fall 2014. About 36 percent of survey participants said they wanted Metra to keep the flippable seats. The survey showed customer opinion was split on armrests and cup holders (which are on the backs of seats).
The seats, made by Bellwood-based Kustom Seating Unlimited Inc., cost the same as the old ones. But Metra said "there are more manufacturers of this style in the rail industry, which is expected to keep the prices competitive and possibly drive down future costs."
bgurciullo@tribpub.com
