Image Courtesy of Metra. Metra to Buy New Multi-Level Railcars Metra’s Board of Directors has approved the purchase of up to 500 state-of-the-art railcars from Alstom Transportation Inc., opting for new multilevel cars that will replace the commuter agency’s current fleet of 840 gallery cars, a design dating back to the mid-20th century. “This move is truly transformational,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “We are finally modernizing one of the oldest fleets in the country and, in doing so, we will improve operations while elevating our passenger experience to an entirely new level. It’s really part of our long-term plan to evolve and serve the changing needs of today’s commuters.”