Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation
Chicago, IL · NTD ID 50118 · 2024 report year
Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation carries 35.1 million passenger trips a year on commuter rail service — making it the 31st-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in Chicago, IL.
It spends $989 million a year running that service, or $28.21 per trip. Its commuter rail service, the largest of its modes, costs $28.21 per rider — 36% below the $44.41 median for the 27 US agencies reporting commuter rail.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 43% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 10% on 2023. Fares cover 17% of operating cost.
Service by mode, 2024
| Mode | Annual trips | Operating expense | Cost per rider | vs national median | Farebox | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commuter Rail#4 of 27 nationally | 35,051,943 | $989 million | $28.21 | -36% | 17% | 951 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 35,051,943 | $989 million | $28.21 |
| 2023 | 31,988,076 | $923 million | $28.86 |
| 2022 | 23,791,702 | $882 million | $37.06 |
| 2021 | 14,080,750 | $832 million | $59.06 |
| 2020 | 16,731,031 | $861 million | $51.45 |
| 2019 | 61,456,663 | $960 million | $15.62 |
| 2018 | 68,446,239 | $952 million | $13.91 |
| 2017 | 70,592,215 | $950 million | $13.46 |
| 2016 | 72,289,606 | $944 million | $13.06 |
| 2015 | 72,631,172 | $935 million | $12.88 |
Where Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation ranks
- Cheapest Commuter Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #9 of 24
- Most Expensive Commuter Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #16 of 24
- Highest-Ridership Commuter Rail Systems #4 of 27
- Best Farebox Recovery Among Commuter Rail Systems #10 of 24
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Ask NTD about Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation →Source & method. Figures are from the Federal Transit Administration's National Transit Database (NTD) annual reporting for 2024, the most recent published report year. Cost per rider is operating expense divided by unlinked passenger trips. Farebox recovery is fare revenue divided by operating expense. Ten-year trends are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; single-year figures are as reported. Agencies self-report to the NTD, and reporting practice varies, so figures are best read as comparable in magnitude rather than to the cent.