METRA MCP SERVER

Real-time Chicago commuter rail data via Model Context Protocol

OPERATIONAL

An MCP server providing real-time GTFS data for Chicago's Metra commuter rail system. Supplies live train positions, arrival predictions, service alerts, and full schedule data for all 11 Metra lines through standard MCP tools that AI assistants like Claude can call.

🚂 LAUNCH COPILOT METRA GTFS API DOCS

Connection

Add this server to any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Claude.ai integrations, Claude Code, etc).

HTTP Streamable HTTP transport (recommended)

https://metra.remote-mcp.dev/mcp

SSE Server-Sent Events transport

https://metra.remote-mcp.dev/sse

Adding to Claude Desktop

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "metra": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-remote", "https://metra.remote-mcp.dev/mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Adding to Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http metra https://metra.remote-mcp.dev/mcp

Adding to Claude.ai (web)

In Claude.ai, open the integrations menu and add a custom remote MCP server pointing to https://metra.remote-mcp.dev/mcp.

Available Tools

Ten tools for querying live Metra data and schedules.

get_routes

List all 11 Metra lines (BNSF, UP-N, ME, etc.)

get_stops

List stations, optionally filtered by route

search_stops

Find stops by name (case-insensitive)

get_schedule

Scheduled trips for a route, stop, or direction

get_next_trains

Next departures from a stop with countdown

refresh_schedule

Force re-download of GTFS static data

get_train_positions

Real-time GPS positions of active trains

get_trip_updates

Real-time arrival/departure predictions

get_alerts

Active service alerts (delays, cancellations)

get_train_status

Combined dashboard: positions + delays + alerts

Metra Lines

BNSF — Burlington Northern Santa Fe (Aurora)
HC — Heritage Corridor (Joliet)
MD-N — Milwaukee District North (Fox Lake)
MD-W — Milwaukee District West (Elgin)
ME — Metra Electric (University Park / Blue Island / South Chicago)
NCS — North Central Service (Antioch)
RI — Rock Island (Joliet)
SWS — Southwest Service (Manhattan)
UP-N — Union Pacific North (Kenosha)
UP-NW — Union Pacific Northwest (Harvard / McHenry)
UP-W — Union Pacific West (Elburn)

Try It

Open the Metra Copilot for an interactive chat interface that lets you query the server in natural language. Ask things like:

"What's the status of the BNSF line right now?"
"Are there any service alerts?"
"Next trains from Ogilvie heading to Kenosha"
"Show me the UP-N schedule for tomorrow morning"

Data Source

Live GTFS realtime feeds are pulled directly from Metra's public API (gtfspublic.metrarr.com). Static schedule data refreshes daily from schedules.metrarail.com/gtfs/schedule.zip. The MCP server caches the schedule and queries the realtime feeds on each tool call.