metra

# Chicago Metra Commuter Rail

Real-time Chicago Metra commuter rail data — train arrivals (GTFS-RT protobuf), vehicle positions, service alerts, schedule info, and fare calculation for all 11 Metra lines serving the six-county northeastern Illinois region. Requires a free API key for all feeds.

## When to Use

- User asks about Metra, Chicago commuter rail, or commuter trains in Chicago
- User asks "when is the next train" in a Chicago suburban context
- User mentions specific Metra lines: BNSF, UP-N, UP-NW, UP-W, MD-N, MD-W, ME (Metra Electric), RI (Rock Island), NCS, HC (Heritage Corridor), SWS (SouthWest Service)
- User mentions specific Metra stations: Union Station, Ogilvie, Millennium Station, LaSalle Street, Naperville, Aurora, Downers Grove, Evanston, Highland Park, etc.
- User asks about Metra service alerts, delays, or construction
- User asks about Metra fares, zones, monthly passes, Ventra
- User asks about Chicago train schedules (distinguish from CTA "L" trains — Metra is commuter rail)

### When NOT to Use

- User asks about CTA trains (the "L"), CTA buses, or Pace buses — those are separate systems
- User asks about Amtrak long-distance trains at Union Station

## Data Sources

Metra uses standard GTFS-RT protobuf feeds served from a single base URL with Bearer token authentication. No proprietary extensions — clean standard GTFS-RT.

### GTFS Realtime Feeds (Protobuf, requires `METRA_API_KEY`)

Get a free key at: https://metra.com/developers

| Feed | Endpoint | Description |
|------|----------|-------------|
| Trip Updates | `GET /gtfs/public/tripupdates` | Real-time arrival/departure predictions |
| Vehicle Positions | `GET /gtfs/public/positions` | GPS locations of active trains |
| Alerts | `GET /gtfs/public/alerts` | Service alerts, delays, construction notices |

Base URL: `https://gtfspublic.metrarr.com`

Authentication: `Authorization: Bearer {METRA_API_KEY}` header.

Data updates every 30 seconds. No need to poll more frequently.

### GTF...

# 🚂 Metra Chicago Commuter Rail — OpenClaw Skill

> **Real-time Chicago Metra commuter rail data for your OpenClaw agent.** Get train arrivals, vehicle tracking, service alerts, schedules, and fare info for all 11 Metra lines.

[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-blue.svg)](LICENSE)
[![Node.js 18+](https://img.shields.io/badge/node-18%2B-green.svg)](https://nodejs.org)
[![ClawHub](https://img.shields.io/badge/ClawHub-Skill-green.svg)](https://clawhub.ai)

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## Why This Skill?

**For anyone who rides Metra and wants:**
- Real-time train arrivals — know exactly when the next train arrives at your station
- Live vehicle tracking — see where trains are on the line right now
- Service alerts — know about delays, construction, and service changes before you leave
- Today's schedule — see all remaining trains with inbound/outbound grouping
- Fare calculation — know exactly how much a trip costs between any two stations
- Stop and route lookup — find stations, explore line stops, locate nearby stations

**How it works:**
Data comes from Metra's official [GTFS-RT feeds](https://metra.com/developers) — standard protobuf format updated every 30 seconds. Static schedule data from Metra's published GTFS feed.

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## Quick Start

### Step 1: Get Your API Key (free)

Register at **https://metra.com/developers** to get a free API key.

### Step 2: Set Environment Variable

```bash
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env and add your key:
# METRA_API_KEY=your-key-here
```

### Step 3: Install the Skill

```bash
# Copy to your skills directory
cp -r metra-skill ~/.openclaw/skills/metra

# Or for a workspace-specific install:
cp -r metra-skill <workspace>/skills/metra
```

### Step 4: Install Dependencies & Download Data

```bash
cd ~/.openclaw/skills/metra && npm install
node scripts/metra.mjs refresh-gtfs
```

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## What You Can Do

### 🕐 Real-Time Train Arrivals
- See when the next train arrives at any Metra station
- Filter by specific line (BNSF, UP-N, etc...