Rail Commuter Average Weekday Ridership United System Serves

There are many commuter "rail" (with trains or train-like vehicles that travel on metal tracks attached to the ground) systems in the United States. The "commuter rail systems" travel between major cities, or at least between large cities and their "suburbs" (areas where people live, surrounding a city). As you might expect, they are more common in large "metropolitan areas" (developed areas in and around a city) and the larger cities "tend to have" (usually or generally have) the greatest "ridership" (number of passengers).

The Long Island Rail Road was opened in 1836. Today, it has 124 stations and serves an average of 341,200 riders on a typical "weekday" (a day other than Saturday or Sunday), primarily in New York City. New York is also served by the Metro-North Railroad, which is the nation's third-biggest commuter rail system, with average weekday ridership of 289,900. It opened in 1983, has 120 stations, and covers 384 miles.

The Metra in Chicago, Illinois is the second-biggest commuter rail system in the United States, with average weekday ridership of 311,500. The Metra has been in operation since 1984 and today has 240 stations and covers 495 miles. A second commuter rail system that serves Chicago, the NICTD South Shore Line, is the nation's 12th-largest system with average weekday ridership of 13,000.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is also a major transportation "hub" (the most important part of a system; something that many things are connected to). The New Jersey Transit Rail connects New York and Philadelphia and, with average weekday ridership of 285,063, it is the fourth-largest commuter rail system in the United States. The SEPTA Regional Rail also serves Philadelphia and is the nation's sixth-largest commuter rail system, with average weekday ridership of 114,500.