Freight trains will no longer be held back from rolling through commuter rail stations in the west suburbs during rush hour beginning this week, in exchange for new safety systems, fences and gates designed to prevent accidents with pedestrians.

Railroad officials Tuesday will activate a new safety system on Metra’s Union Pacific West Line that’s being billed as the most comprehensive of its kind in the U.S. — one that uses signs with both visual and audio alerts to warn pedestrians to watch for more than one train.

The new measures are a tradeoff for Union Pacific and Metra, lifting longstanding policies designed to protect pedestrians when one train is in a station while another approaches. Now, freight trains will roll alongside Metra trains during peak commuting times and when passengers are boarding and exiting at eight Union Pacific West stations.

In addition, Metra will ease its policy that prohibits commuter trains from entering a station when another train is picking up or dropping off passengers.

Union Pacific and Metra officials say they are confident the new safety equipment will minimize risks to pedestrians and allow trains to safely travel past a station when a commuter train is stopped there.

The measures are part of a major upgrade of tracks, crossings and equipment on the Union Pacific West Line. The railroads are making changes on the 44-mile-long line to improve the flow of freight and commuter

Article source: http://feeds.stateline.org/~r/StatelineorgRss-Transportation/~3/QN63mtxdxko/ct-met-metra-signals-20110227,0,320839.story