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This week, the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. (Metra) will add weekend service on two lines serving Chicago’s north suburbs and adjust weekday schedules to alleviate overcrowding and provide travel alternatives during highway reconstruction work.

Metra will add two inbound and outbound trains on Saturdays and one inbound and outbound train on Sundays on the Fox Lake-to-Chicago Milwaukee District North Line and the Kenosha, Wis.-to-Chicago Union Pacific North Line. In addition, the agency will adjust weekday schedules and reallocate some equipment on the lines to accommodate significant ridership increases associated with the construction work.

In 2008, Metra budgeted $2 million to expand service. The additional weekend service on the Milwaukee District and Union Pacific lines will cost $1.1 million annually. However, the agency will hold off on expanding other services because of rising fuel costs.