Union Pacific operates three commuter lines under contract with Metra, inherited from the Chicago and NorthWestern Railway when UP bought C&NW. For a while now, UP has wanted "out" of operating the service. Metra thinks UP has common-carrier obligations, while UP doesn't. So the UP has gone before the Surface Transportation Board for (1) a ruling that UP has common-carrier obligations re. the existing Chicago commuter service, and (2) an injunction against UP ceasing commuter-service-related activities like revenue accounting, claims, ticket agents, and maintenance of cars and locomotives. Metra statement with details.
I'm presuming there's a certain amount of brinksmanship in UP saying, as Metra puts it "that if the court [sic, the STB, I would imagine] determines it has no common carrier obligation, it intends to discontinue service 90 days after that decision." Having Metra sell tickets and maintain rolling stock is one thing, Metra already does that for most of its lines, but ending service is another animal altogether.
I'm presuming there's a certain amount of brinksmanship in UP saying, as Metra puts it "that if the court [sic, the STB, I would imagine] determines it has no common carrier obligation, it intends to discontinue service 90 days after that decision." Having Metra sell tickets and maintain rolling stock is one thing, Metra already does that for most of its lines, but ending service is another animal altogether.