Commuter happy hour? Metra teases return of bar cars

For decades, Metra’s bar cars offered Chicago commuters more than just a seat home. They were rolling happy hours where friendships were forged over beers and plastic cups of wine. Riders recall poker games played on folded seats, holiday parties that spilled from the office into train cars, and camaraderie that made the grind of the daily commute lighter.

“It’s happy hour on the rails,” one longtime rider commented on Reddit, capturing the spirit of what many came to see as their own version of “Cheers” on the tracks.

That all ended in 2008, when Metra phased out its refreshment cars after vendor contracts expired. In an interview with The Chicago Tribune, officials argued the cars didn’t bring in enough revenue, just under $100,000 a year, and they needed the space for the agency’s growing ridership. Even so, passengers mourned their loss. “We’re all upset. It’s like cutting off a limb,” one commuter told the Tribune.

Bar cars weren’t unique to Chicago, but the city embraced them with unusual enthusiasm. The legendary Car 553, originally built in 1949 as a lounge and barbershop car, spent decades ferrying riders on the Union Pacific North Line. Membership was once reserved for wealthy North Shore families, but by the 1990s, anyone could join, for a price ranging from $550 to $850 per quarter. The car became a social hub, its regulars swapping business cards and stories or family celebrations, treating one another like family.

When Metra finally ended the official bar cars, it didn’t end the tradition of a drink on the rails. Riders could still bring their own beverages, save for blackout dates like St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve. But the sense of a designated community car quietly slipped away.

Now, Metra is testing the waters for a comeback. The agency has been floating a new idea: café cars. Metra’s Executive Director Jim Derwinski acknowledged in a July 2025 board meeting, as reported by the Daily Herald, that one of the most common rider requests is, “When are the bar cars coming back?”

The new version might look different. Instead of a bartender with a cooler of beer and wine, Metra is experimenting with counters, stools, and small tables where commuters can grab coffee, snacks, or possibly more. Alcohol isn’t guaranteed, but it hasn’t been ruled out, either.

Read more at Chicago Star

• Back to Hogwarts Day casts a spell on Chicago
• Forget the Cubs and Sox, Chicago’s gone bananas with a Savannah Bananas takeover
• Chicago artist puts his stamp on USPS 250th anniversary
• Black bears and rogue armadillos in IL: Safety 101

A prototype debuted at the LaSalle Street Station in June with a DJ spinning music at a “Commuter Coffee Rave.” Metra said the event drew more than 150 people and was “a huge success.” Riders told CBS News and posted online: “Do it now,” and  “Adding a café car on busy commutes would be delightful.”

Metra says it plans to rotate the prototype between suburban and downtown stations to gather feedback. If the response is strong, the agency will then weigh the budget and logistics before making a recommendation to the board.

The stakes are higher than just nostalgia. Metra, like other transit agencies, is still rebuilding ridership after the pandemic. In 2024, the system logged 35 million rides, up from the year before but still less than half its 2019 peak of 74 million. The café cars are one way to lure back riders who might otherwise skip the train for their car or a remote office day.

For some, the idea feels like a gimmick. Others see it as a chance to revive a long-lost ritual of commuting in Chicago. Whether it turns out to be cappuccinos, cocktails, or both, one thing is clear: Many riders are still thirsty for the spirit of the bar car.