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’