Metra to arm rail cars with high-tech air purification systems

As part of its continued efforts to boost safety and build rider confidence, Chicago's Metra is upgrading the ventilation system on rail cars with a new three-stage filtration and purification process.

The new system uses ultraviolet light, electrical fields and stronger filters to create the safest possible environment for riders, Metra officials said in a press release. Metra is among the first agencies to adopt such a comprehensive system for its cars, they said.

The new system is designed to remove and eliminate 99 percent of all airborne particulates, bacteria and viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19. 

Metra already refreshes the air every four minutes and uses hospital-grade MERV 13 filters on its cars. The new system will be equivalent to or better than MERV 17 or HEPA standards.