Metra’s leaders approved a budget that spares riders from a fare hike next year, but they acknowledged it won’t be an express train to the hoped-for transformational service expansion.

The commuter rail agency won’t see any service cuts next year, thanks to the $1.5 billion transit bailout passed in Springfield last month. But Metra’s $1.2 billion proposed budget, passed Thursday by the agency’s board of directors, largely keeps the status quo with plans for yet-to-be determined “modest service increases.”

Metra CEO Jim Derwinski said there is still tough work ahead to expand service, even though the agency has overcome an impending deficit when federal COVID-19 funds run out next year.

“The real work is ahead. The last three months have been hard. The next 10 years are going to be hard

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