- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Metra Metropolitan Rail
Rating Details »
Categories: Public Services & Government, Public Transportation [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near West Side547 W Jackson Blvd Fl 13
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 322-6900
- Nearest Transit:
-
Clinton (Pink, Green)
88 reviews for Metra Metropolitan Rail
By far the easiest way to get between the suburbs and downtown.
(Pretty much) always on time. And it's a GOOD DEAL. You thought the Amtrak is going to get you to Wisconsin for under 10 dollars? You thought wrong. Very safe. Very easy to navigate.
Just make sure (especially if you're going to the suburbs from downtown) that you buy your ticket IN ADVANCE so you don't have to pay the $2 penalty fee.
BRING CASH. The earliest the Metra-powers-that-be claim they might possible be able to start taking credit cards is February of 2010:
http://www.chicagobrea...
Marvelously
Efficient
Trek
Returning
(or)
Arriving
I dig the subculture. Oh, and things that are clean, run on time...and take me to places I've never seen before. Like, the 'burbs. :)
For you city dwellers unfamiliar:
*you can buy tix on board if there is no agent/vending machine. (cash)
*The outbound track is generally on the west side (at least at Ravenswood)
*You can bring your bike!
Glad it's an option, I must say. METRA, holla.
Metra, I heart you.
You take me to see my brother in Aurora.
You take me to see my Grandma in Hinsdale.
You take me to see my daddy in Morton Grove.
You take me to see my best friend in Edison Park.
You take me to see fabulous people in Park Ridge.
You take me to see friends in Fox Lake.
You take me everywhere! [Almost]
OMG I didn't know we could review the Metra on yelp! The Metra is AWESOME. I feel like it's Chicagoland's best kept secret. First of all, you're on a real train. For all us train fans, that is a treat. Second, it is almost always on time. And it makes ME be on time, which is quite an accomplishment. I take the Metra every day to my student teaching position. It is a 14 minute ride from Foster and Elston to Western and Grand. If I drove, it would take me at least 45 stressful traffic-road-rage-filled-coffee-spilling minutes. Guess what I get to do on those quiet trains with friendly conductors? Sleep. That's right folks, I sleep. And it is FRIGGIN' AWESOME.
I have been riding Metra for as long as I can remember....mostly the Union Pacific Northwest line that travels through the northwest suburbs. The trains are almost always on time but occasionally they can be a few minutes late. Every train I have ever been on with Metra has been clean. Some times the bathrooms are a tad bit iffy, but hey, at least they are there if you need 'em.
The goods:
-Reasonably priced. $5 for unlimited rides on weekends/holidays
-Clean
-Convenient
-Friendly employees
-Quiet---there are days that it's not (cubs fans, bar crawls, bachelorette parties, etc.)
-Booze allowed :)
The not so goods-
-Occasionally late
-No credit/debit cards accepted (but I hear this is going to change soon!)
Just FYI, keep your feet off the seats, they are obsessive over that. And don't argue with the conductor when he makes you move your suitcase/bag from next to you on your seat. Even if there are a total of 3 people on your car and seats are plentiful. He will threaten to kick you off at the next stop.
You save me from hours upon hours sitting in traffic. You let me read and do my crossword puzzles. Your seats are not comfortable but I suppose I can forgive that sin. Especially because you allow me to drink beer. That is all.
So I get a call from a group of pals, telling me they're planning a get together, so I say "sweet! where's it at?" They tell me it's in Vernon Hills. And my response was:
"Where is that and how am I supposed to get there?"
Okay, I've only lived in Chicago for two years, I don't spend much time in the burbs. I typically only venture as far as the El will take me. But I decided to look up Metra schedules and finally give it a go.
So I give Metra 4 stars. Because no one on the train terrified me, the trip seemed to fly by, and I didn't get lost. And because 5 stars seems a bit much for mass transportation.
I've ridden this train way too much and it's sad I've become so desensitized to what used to make these trips fun. Instead of looking out the window as I did the first 200 times I took the train, I now use these 45 minutes to close my eyes. Maybe the conductor will pass me up? Sometimes!
Anticipating the 30+ people that will board the train at Elmhurst really keeps Metra's staff annoyingly diligent and will also keep their business thriving for a long while. So once I've passed Elmhurst, not much coming and going takes place. Then Oak Park comes along and those who chose to ditch the green line hop on the Metra and pay a bit more for just a 10 minute ride. Kedzie is an interesting stop. In what looks like abandoned factories, there's this one floor that's been turned into someones apartment and they are ALWAYS having a party. It's very strange as this is around Kedzie and Carroll where everything looks like it's deteriorating. But it's also around this last stop that the train's crack has worn off, slows down, and trudges its way into the station. This could quite possibly be the longest part of the ride and it's also the shortest distance.
The times I've enjoyed myself the most were the times the conductor forgot to charge me. It's $3.80 to ride the Metra from Lombard to Chicago, and I'd say I owe Metra around $15. It's not like I hid in the gross bathrooms when the conductor came around. A lot of times they get distracted when the train stops and they have to open the doors. Not my fault, but I do feel a little guilty. Sorry, Metra.
Times to avoid Metra if you're not a fan of crowds--Air and water show, Taste of Chicago, Cubs games, Lollapalooza, Pride Parade, and if there's a Cubs/Sox game--just forget it. Also, Sundays in the summer seem to invite every annoying child in the western suburbs. Don't ever expect a quiet or calm ride on Sundays.
I've seen many people get kicked off for being too drunk, and if there's a Cubs game, I'm pretty much guaranteed a good show. Coming home at 12:40am, you'll have one of the most entertaining or annoying rides of your life depending on what state of mind you're in. I always have fun ;).
The Metra is a God send for those of us stuck in Hyde Park....gets me to Millenium Station in 15 minutes...definitely faster then the 6!!
Supposedly these old-schoolers are finally. Considering. Wi-Fi! And gasp... debit cards for payment! I mean, who carries around cash and checks anymore anyway?
http://www.dailyherald...
Hmm... we'll see.
Anyway, as far as transportation goes, Metra gets the job DONE. A smooth ride, and I'm picked up and delivered safely and most importantly, on time!
Once I was on the phone and the conductor forgot to collect my cash fare. I didn't realize my oversight until I had exited the train. The power of the human conscience... I felt so guilty I fessed up and offered the conductor an extra $3.80 on the return trip! Did he take it? A wise girl never tells.
METRA must have exorcised the ghost of Mussolini. These trains always used to run on time. No longer, apparently.
The last several times I've been on METRA, the trains have been late. And yesterday I discovered METRA's dirty secret.
A late train with a kid on a train platform can be the recipe for restlessness and acquisition of very dirty hands and face.
"No worries," I the experienced parent thought to myself; "You'll just wash them on the train."
No can do.
METRA HAS DISABLED ALL WATER FAUCETS IN ALL BATHROOMS ON ALL TRAINS.
That's correct, this means IT IS IMPOSSIBLE IF ONE USES A METRA BATHROOM TO WASH YOUR HANDS.
I was working in the burbs for far too long and relied on Metra as part of my daily commuting ritual. Fortunately, it was rare to have any Metra-related problems. My worst experience was when the train I was on apparently bumped a car not far from my stop. No one was hurt and we moved on in no time. Other than that, it's a good alternative if you're without a car or want to leave the car at home. From what I've seen, if you're doing the burbs to Chicago commute, parking at most of the Metra stations is inexpensive, especially compared to what it could cost within the city limits.
My biggest complaints are the outdated purchase methods and sometimes confusing schedules. In those areas, Metra could use a push into the current century.
Whether you do it for the environment, necessity, or selfishly for your own budget, try Metra.
Their service has gotten a bit better, and they are the convenient way to fly! 15 minutes from Elmhurst, and the city is upon me - I can get downtown quicker than many city dwellers in various neighborhoods!
Note - if you are a passenger on the Metra, it's really, really rude to fart constantly during your trip. Glad you are enjoying your beers on the way to a sporting event, but please keep your nasty smells to yourselves - the rest of us really don't want to share in it.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/26/2006
I am a long time Metra rail user, and they provide a clean, comfortable way to get into the city.… Read more »
Can I tell you a secret? I used to be petrified of the Metra. Swear. To. God.
Let me know when you're done laughing at me.
I grew up in the Oak Park-River Forest area and always lived close to the Blue and Green lines. Since my dad is economical (read cheap) we always took the El, the phrase Metra wasn't in his vocabulary.
I first rode Metra ride when I was 21 and I was petrified. Not because I thought a stroller-wielding soccer mom might try to beat me up, but because I didn't quite know how the system worked.
Since then I've become somewhat of a Metra pro. I took it daily for the 6 years I lived in the burbs; it's like a clique, most people sit in the same car and seat everyday and have their group of 'train friends.'
I still take it now and again usually places like Ravinia or my parent's house.
So what makes the Metra so great?
+ Drinking allowed on the train*
+ Set schedule - saved my butt from sleeping in many a work day
+ Express trains
+ Pretty reliable
+ Rarely stinky or smelly
+ Air conditioned cars
+ Bathrooms, if you must stick to the handicap ones
On the down side they don't take credit cards, stop running fairly early on weekends, and regularly have switching problems in the winter.
Bottom line: 4.5 stars, Metra really is the way to really fly
TIP: If you're tipsy and taking the last train home, let the conductor know what stop you want. That way you won't pass out on the last train, miss your stop and spend $60 on a cab ride home from Aurora at 2 AM; or so I've heard.
* Drinking isn't allowed on peak travel days like St. Patty's, 4th of July, etc.
During my stay in Chicago, I used the Metra line that went up and down from the Southern Lakeshore to Millenium Park. Based on my previous experience with public rail in California (BART), METRA has a lot of room for improvement. First, the METRA isn't very helpful for visitors to Chicago. Signage with maps and time tables were scarce to non-existent at the stations that I happened to hop on and jump off at (115th st, 55th st, Van Buren, Museum Campus, McCormick Place). Once on the platform, there were absolutely no maps. People that are short on time and not familiar with the routes aren't helped one bit by the lack of maps. While many passengers were helpful, the kindness of strangers can't be relied on at all times. Along the same lines, there were no dedicated staff or security on the platforms. Some of the stations were poorly lit and didn't seem to have any security cameras around at all. I suppose what happens on the Metra stays on the Metra. Anyhow, the love the great and cheap service that the Metra provides, but adding a simple feature like way finding signage on the platforms is an easy and cheap way of adding a lot of value and benefit for new passengers.
I don't know what trains other people are taking but the morning commute from Route 59 to Union Station was a nightmare every morning. I just began taking the train because of school. I never really had much problems up until this point. Then last January my warm and fuzzy feelings about Metra changed. Every morning there was a delay (late equipment, signal problems, etc.) and every day I felt more train rage. Not mention the people are rude, literally pushing into you so they can get onto the train. I don't think that by stepping on me it is going to get you in any faster. The trains also reeked of a smell that can only be described as a mix of sweat and Brookfield Zoo. It was horrible and couple that with the heat cranked way up. Plus some conductors can be on a real power trip with their "get your feet off the seats" scoldings.
I've ridden public transportation all my life. I can't believe I would actually prefer the CTA over this. But the morning commute is that bad. I've contemplated even driving downtown in lieu of this hassle.
Though the weekends are great ($5 weekend passes, yea!), except they really need to have later trains. If you're hitting up a bar on the Northside Friday or Saturday night, it's impossible to get back to catch the last train.
I'm downgrading this system to 3 stars for one simple and important reason. That being said, I would normally have given them four stars. The service is fairly reliable and the staff on the train is usually very helpful. However, as I mentioned, I'm knocking them down because they don't take credit cards. True, it's not the most inconvenient(my spell checker wanted to put in incontinent), to go to the ATM to take out a wad of cash. But the last time I checked my calendar, it is 2009. And if you need to take out $180 in cash from the ATM in Union Station, that can be kind of a frightening experience.
When I commuted from Baltimore to DC, we were able to use our credit cards at the Amtrak kiosks. It was great! I'm sure Amtrak got a cut out of those tickets, but who cares?
Word is that Metra will begin taking credit cards in February. Witness me holding my breath (yea right!). But once again, let me state, that it is 2009 and therefore I reserve the right to give them the one star deduction until they finally follow through with their "plans."
I'm somewhat of a train/transit lover, and I live in a city relatively devoid of meaningful public transit solutions. So, on a recent trip to Chicago, I was very excited to take a train from the city out into the suburbs...I imagined myself blissfully listening to my iPod, watching the scenery go by, daydreaming.... It was going to be a treat!
Then I boarded the train. Something seemed off, but I couldn't quite place it. Then, as we exited the station, I was suddenly bathed in a bright green, otherworldly light.
Um. Why are all of the windows of the train tinted green? GREEN? Really? I don't know if this is ALL Metra trains, or just the freakshow I was riding, but I gotta say....NOT soothing. Listening to music and watching the scenery loses much of its charm when everything you see through the glass looks like it's being boiled in a sea of NyQuil and toxic waste.
There's probably something vaguely poetic about watching average American towns fly by the window, looking for all the world like the zombie apocalypse has ravaged them with the help of a horrifying, mutant green sun, but I wasn't in the mood for poetry. I was in the mood for scenery, damnit!
Ah well. The train was cheap, fast and incredibly convenient, so three stars it is.
Having moved here from the Bay Area, I'm overall impressed with public transportation in Chicago--especially Metra, which generally runs on time and gets you all over this (freakin' huge) city.
However, here are a couple of complaints--all of which I'm sure someone has pointed out before:
1) You can only go in/out of the city, not between neighborhoods. This is okay if I'm going north to south, but not north to west. Still pretty fast, but ya know, this could be better.
2) Why can't we all just buy tickets on the train without an extra (large) fee? In some stops you can (e.g., Rogers Park), but in others you can't (e.g., LaGrange Rd.). And sometimes one Metra line runs late, which makes you run for the next line (ahem) and then *you* get charged for having to buy a ticket on the train? WTF?
3) Why don't the stations downtown meet up? Or, at least offer a free shuttle that goes between them? Hmf.
All that said, Metra kicks Caltrain's butt any day of the week (including weekends).
Ok....so I moved to Chicago and hoped that I could live without my car. Recently, events have forced me to actually attempt this. Because of Metra's actions, I am now regretting the idea. They do things that just don't make sense. Things like arrive on a track that they don't normally arrive on without any prior notice. This forced everyone to rush to make it to the other side. Now I am one for the slapstick comedy, and normally the sight of 50 commuters all doing the cold-faced shuffle with their wheelie carts dragging behind would make me happy. But when people are risking their lives by sprinting across the tracks because 5:30 is the LAST train going into town, that is ridiculous. We hear people trying to make us more "Green" and give up our cars, but Metra must have missed that memo and feels that it is OK to only allow one train to stop after people get out of work.
Most of the porters are really nice on the regular schedule though, so I can hand that to them. But really guys....try to consider the people you are hoping to make dedicated riders.
I love riding this! Its so nice and relaxing and very clean. This is because I rode the metra before and after the work hours. I avoided all the traffic and mess and it was nice. I wonder how it is when its packed, then yet again, I like it not hectic.
Metra has become garbage lately. It took my coworker and hour and a half to get to beverly on the rock island the other day and last week it took me an hour on an "express" train to la grange, because it came late and then we were stuck on the train for an eternity because of the same old problem - either "mechanical equipment problems or switch problems. Even when my train isn't late, some other train at Union Station is, meaning either all the trains get backed up en route or there are thousands of people cramped in union station waiting for trains. If there was a fire either of the last three times I'd been at Union, I'd be dead.
I never thought I would say the cta is better than metra, but then again I never thought Northwestern would beat two ranked teams in basketball. Miracles clearly can happen.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/1/2008
5 stars for the Metra BNSF. When I lived in LaGrange it took me 17 minutes to get downtown. Ran out… Read more »
Metra and I have a very limited relationship. First off, the only train I ever take is the BNSF, to visit friends in the western suburbs. The UP-North line stops not far from where I live, but it's only going to take me to downtown Chicago or downtown Evanston, and for that I can take the CTA without trying to figure out the Metra schedule.
I can see why people love the Metra. It's reasonably quick, and even moreso if you take an express trains. It's cleaner than much of what the CTA is running. Added attraction -- bathrooms on board. Note: if you have any interest in using the bathroom, make sure you get on a handicapped car. If I regularly commuted from the suburbs to downtown, I would much prefer Metra to driving.
My biggest problem with Metra is scheduling. It's a commuter rail, which means its schedule is most convenient for commuters. If you're traveling at off-times, you really need to hit that schedule, because there's not another train coming any time soon. On the weekends, that could mean two hours. If you're as absent-minded as I am, that's a hassle.
I'm staying in Riverdale for my two week stay in Illinois with Aunt Dodo. (FYI: a lot of people asked if I'm hanging with Archie and the gang and YES, we create havoc on the neighborhood everyday!)
She's not my aunt and her name is Doris. She is my best friend boyfriend's aunt and taken me in as family. I've taken the metra numerous times over the days. The rumbling of the rails and uniformed conductors manning the doors sends a romantic feel.
I like to sit on the top level because I can sit alone by the window and place my ticket on the clip so the handsome conductors can easily validate my pass.
I can already see Sugar from "Some like it hot" about to prance out from behind the curtains and sing.....(while playing her ukulele)
....don't love nobody, it's not worth while
all alone, running wild.....
(shaking her boobs, and then a liquor bottle falls to the floor)
The ride to Chicago is about 30 mins and always on time, a lot of time to sight see and daydream....
Marilyn? I don't play the ukulele, but I do play the guitar. Can I duet "I wanna be loved by you?" http://www.youtube.com...
and Marilyn, "I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop" too.
*see photos:
riverdale's station http://www.yelp.com/bi...
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I once saw a woman get on an early morning train out of the city in a robe and slippers, she emerged from the train 50 minutes later perfectly coiffed in a suit and pantyhose no less.
Ah the metra. I spend 100 minutes a day on those lovely seats, thinking of all the productive ways to spend my time. Usually I just do crosswords, or stare out the window half asleep. But someday I hope to learn a foreign language on the Milwaukee District North train... someday.
Unfortunately, there are no excuses not to come to work when you take the Metra. Blinding snowstorms, 50 mph wind gusts, rogue tornadoes- Metra will get you to where you need to go.
Every train to get you home, however, will be delayed or cancelled. But at least you made it to work... and at least you can imbibe when you finally catch the 11pm train home after walking through 10 foot snow drifts towards the glowing lights of the local Jewel to get a bottle of wine to numb the pain of yet another weather related delay.
It was a time when the illusions of invincibility triumphed practicality and reason. Everyone deserves to run a muck at one time or another in their lives, right?
I was in Chicago for a very short time for a job training. Most of the fellow trainees were female and the men were mostly queens. At night, we would embark on our social mischiefs out and about town. The one particular night when we didn't go out, we stockpiled on bottles of rum and Coke and just giggled. My liver was bigger back then. I'm sure I was glassy eyed and red as Santa (a cursed Asian trait).
Chicago treated us well. The Metra was cheap, efficient, and safe. My fellow trainees and I made it from training central to clubs and bars, and then back as drunken, loud, and gleeful people. What more can you ask for?
I also wish you ran more frequently and also a little later than midnight on the weekends. I used to take the train every weekend the Union Pacific North for work. This train is often late simply because of this: most people that take Metra during the weekends are tourists from the burbs and have no clue as to what they've gotten themselves into (aka standing on the wrong side of the track and leaping for dear life to the correct side as the train comes or being so drunk they can barely board and many other hysterical gems). But I've never arrived to my destination more than 8 minutes late. The same can be said when I used to take the Milwaukee District North from Union Station to my house.
I'm easily amused so I like staring out the window especially from the 2nd floor. I love that I can drink on the train. And I love the seats.
I do not love the bathrooms on the train to Kenosha, but, I don't mind them either. I am irked enough to write about it here: these particular bathrooms never have any toilet paper or a running water in the sink. So if I or you plan on taking this particular train again, bring Purrell and Kleenex. Never had a problem with the Milwaukee District North bathrooms, just this one.
Me and Metra have developed a good relationship, and came a long way from years ago, when I used to have a weird petrification with trying to figure out how the fares worked. I've surprisingly gone a long way in a short period of time with becoming comfortable with their service.
Good:
-Clientele doesn't border on creepy, like it can on CTA and Pace.
-Timeliness couldn't be any better, and the latest any trains I've ridden fell behind schedule was around 10-15 minutes(they even properly announced on the PA system the train would run on a different track), which occurred once. Certainly wish the 'L could strive to be much more like this!
-Trains are mostly clean, and while dirty occasionally, are never anywhere near as dirty as CTA buses or trains, and Pace buses to a lesser extent. Great that the problem of spitting gum on CTA and Pace buses + trains appears to be much less of one on Metra.
-Seats on upper and lower levels can be positioned together so groups can sit together, or positioned if only 1-2 people want to sit alone.
-$5 weekend pass. (one of the bigger positives, if not the best one)
-The freedom to drink! (although not on 2-3 holidays a year)
-I don't know if this is still a secret anymore, or no longer one, but if you look hard enough in the downtown stations, you can find pocket-sized schedules for a limited number of routes. Unfortunately, Metra doesn't print these very convenient-sized schedules for most routes.
Bad:
-Bathrooms are usually ok enough to use, but I've had some bad instances of using them when they were very filthy.
-Time periods when service to further-out destinations are infrequent. A very great example alone(not the only example I could mention), is the service level of trains going all the way north to Kenosha on the UP-N line, instead of to Waukegan(where most only run to).
-Some city stations not having weekend service at all(i.e. Gladstone Park on UP-NW, Kedzie on UP-W, 95th St.-Longwood on RI). The fact that several lines have very limited weekend service, or none at all is another problem.
-The occasional impolite person(s) that won't properly let you get around them, or try to hog additional seat(s) to themself(-ves). This is mainly only an issue on rush-hour trains, and usually doesn't happen on trains running outside of rush hour, or weekends.
-Lack of credit card acceptance. Hopefully the rumors that Metra may change this in the future become true, but I have a bad feeling it'll be years before this occurs.
Despite its few problems, if Metra would finally begin accepting credit cards, and also improve service to Kenosha, I would be more than willing to give it 5 stars. It still easily blows away CTA and Pace, so I can't complain too much.
You would think that if one train into downtown was running behind schedule they would hold the other trains going outbound a few minutes, especially when they run only every two hours or so on weekends. No, not at all the case. At least they refunded my money.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/10/2008
Heading out to visit friends in what felt like Iowa this past weekend (fine, Huntley) and the 5$… Read more »
So, this is what public transportation is like! I've now ridden the Metra North line train to work for two days. Wow. This is literally a life changing experience for a guy that just moved from Atlanta and is ditching a two and a half to three hour daily commute. I got home today at 5:25pm after leaving my desk at 4:50pm. Better yet, I spent 20 of those minutes sitting on a train reading a book.
I'm sure the walk to and from the train in the winter is going to suck. And, I haven't got caught in a rainstorm (guess I should buy an umbrella soon...). But, this is the way to go! The crowd is a little more tame than my experiences on the El. But, that certainly is not a complaint.
I rented my particular apartment because of two reasons...fenced in yard for my dogs and the ease of commute via the Metra. Well, the Metra works just fine. Now, I just need to fix those gaps in the fence!
Edit*** Ok, so the day after I posted this glowing review, the trains were all running late! So, the one I normally get on never came. And, the next two trains went by the station because the were full. I wound up being late to a meeting with the president of my new company! But, I guess that it will happen every now and then. One more mess up and I am taking some stars back!
Oh regional transport - people take you for granted.
There are a lot of people who gave Metra only two or three stars which is sad! Seriously, we have a really great regional transport system here in the Chicagoland area and I love it.
I've always been a passenger of the BNSF Line that goes to Aurora. The train is always clean, convenient and cheap. It's convenient for all who live in the area because there's parking for those who can't walk and Pace buses for those who can't drive. I am a passenger of the Westmont stop, which has undergone a lot of renovation in the last several years. I know that a lot of stations along the Metra trains have received these same kinds of updates. The train station itself was remodeled and outfitted with new seating areas and bathrooms and the platform was completely redone and extra safety features added. It's really nice.
All Metra trains' ultimate destinations are Chicago. You can get to Chicago from almost anywhere in the Chicagoland area (including parts of southern Wisconsin and northwestern Indiana). Also, if you're in the city, you can get almost anywhere. You can get out to the suburbs to visit family and friends, go to Ravinia (there's a stop practically right outside the entrance) or go shopping (there's a lot of downtown areas with shops along the Fox river or buses that will take you to malls). Really, it's convenient for all.
And on the weekends - $5 fun pass! You have unlimited rides on Saturday and Sunday on the Metra. Perfect for people going downtown to weekend festivals and fairs.
The BNSF line has been a part of my life since I was a wee willy little tyke. As it is 1/4 mile from the house I grew up in, the sound of the train rolling by at any given time a day was always a mechanical lullaby of sorts. A diesel songstress belting out her one lone song. The train tracks were a constant source of adventure when we were kids, and a constant source of worry for my ma for the same reason. Can I interest you in a flattened penny?
As I visit the ol burb and take the BNSF into the city it reminds me how much more I like the trains here more than Metro North in NYC. The double decker aspect is convenient for single passengers as is the flip direction seats so you can open up a two seater into a four seater if you are with a group. Plus none of the forced socialization that Metro North provide with their shitass 3-seaters, with the angry arm rests that tear open your pockets.
And today I witnesses TWO acts of kindness as single people gladly (without being asked) switched seats to make another couple's journey a bit more comfortable. I have yet to see that in NY. Maybe it happens on every other train I am not on. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that is what happens.
Express trains rock during the week, but the 2 hour lapse between trains on Sundays combined with the endless local stops is a bit much.
Metra's jingle from years ago still plays in my head: We're on track; sit back, enjoy the ride. Read or work or watch the miles go by... you're on Metra, the way to really fly!!
Remind me to get some new jingles. I have a good memory for goofy things.
But hey, Metra, can you get some automated ticket machines? It is almost 2009.
I think Metra is about as good as it gets in this country when it comes to Suburban Commuter Rail. It pretty much blankets the entire Chicagoland Area, ticket prices are reasonable and trains are on time probably 95% of the time. Unfortunately it's the other 5% which brings the rating down to a 4 Star. When Metra is running well, it really runs well. Trains are all on time and I can get from far outer suburbs to Downtown in 25 minutes. However, when something goes wrong (hit pedestrian, mechanical problems, switching issues) Metra isn't delayed just a few minutes, Metra will be delayed a half hour or an hour or even more. It doesn't happen that often but when it does it can really destroy your commute that day. Other than that Metra is great!
Metra, I love you. You pick me up in a suburb and have me in the heart of downtown in less than an hour. And did I mention that you're rather cheap? (In a good way; I swear!) Your riders are less shady than those of PACE or L. The first time my roommate showed me that the seats are convertible it just about blew my mind. 2 people to a row - whoa, 4 to a row?!?! Clever.
You would get 5 stars if you ran more frequently, say every half an hour, instead of about every hour. I'd even consider 5 stars if you would consider not skipping from 12:44pm to 2:44pm. But I'm still sad that you apparently stop running from about 10:30pm to 5:30am.
I live in the magical, mystery tour land of Uptown and work in Mount Prospect. (And yes, they make you spell Mount). I take the Union Pacific NW line to and from each day. Morning service from Jeff Park is great. However, coming back into the city these days from my Cumberland stop? The train is NEVER on time anymore. Never, ever, ever. Ever, ever. Ever. It's the train that is supposed to hit my station at 4:55. All I can say is thank GAHD for a certain other yelperlicious co-commuter that turns that frustration into tons of 5-year-old behavior. With Sunshine....
As for them taking credit cards at the stations or buying tickets on-line, I like the idea, but I shudder ot think to the complete state of utter chaos that would devour the system should they attempt that transition. It would be like a new big Bang; a completely new and utterly different set of physical laws would emerge making it impossible for us commuters to understand. Like: "Northbound trains will now arrive at the Ravenswood station at the following times: Sashimi, the square root of -1, pen, and 42."
Just sayin'.
The way to really fly? YES.
Never did I think that I would miss the days of commuting from the burbs to downtown via the BNSF line. But you know what, I do. I'd show up, no makeup, with maybe some yarn and a crochet needle or book or magazine or whatever the hell I felt like bringing with me that day and put my makeup on before work or maybe even take a nap. It was glorious. And I didn't feel bad about carting my workout gear with me because THERE WAS ACTUALLY ROOM FOR IT.
And never could you find me on the platform at Lisle looking hopelessly down the track wondering where the train was. Know why? Cuz they'd friggen tell you where it was and when the hell it was going to show up.
Metra, buy the CTA and show 'em how it's done. And be sure to include various workshops on "Work Ethic" during the transaction. Thx.
It's hard to get everything you'd want in a regional rail system, and Metra is no exception. Despite that, I have to say that the Metra system is one of the more practical regional rail systems that I've seen.
First, the negatives. It's a highly commuter-oriented system. If you're not headed downtown, forget it. Because it is built on existing rail lines, it is generally impractical to transfer from one train to another, even where the lines cross, and due to multiple endpoints in the downtown area, it won't be practical to transfer there either. Further, trains are timed according to commuter demand, and you might find yourself waiting an hour (or even much more) for a train if your transit needs don't meet the expected rider profile.
That said, Metra offers a reasonably clean, relatively fast, and completely stress-free way to get into the Chicago Loop area from relatively far away; trains are available as far north as Kenosha, WI (probably about 50 miles). Seating is plentiful, prices are reasonable, riders tend to be professionals, and the experience is fairly enjoyable. Anyone looking to avoid the driving stress of Chicago downtown driving should look at Metra and Amtrak options.
So, don't do what I did...which is take the Metra out to a friend's wedding in Palatine without knowing the last train back into the city on a Saturday. Silly me, I looked at the outbound schedule...which said 12:40 a.m. was the last train. Well, when I showed up on the platform at 11:15 p.m. and there was no ticket agent or schedule...I waited and waited until 1:00 a.m. until I realized...ain't no train a- comin!
Well, if I had read the schedule the right way (7:15 p.m. was the last train back to the city!!!), and the ticket man on board had listened to me and actually given me a correct answer (me: Hey, Mister, 12:00 is the last train back from palatine, right?... him: uh, yeah)...then I wouldn't have had to pay for an $80.00 cab ride from Palatine to the Cumberland Blue Line stop, wait another half and hour, and take another cab from Irving Park Road straight to the bar, which is then closed because it's now almost 3 a.m. Wow. I need a chaperon. Good thing I'm rolling in the big bucks, too.
Holy smokes--up until this weekend, I've had no need to ride anything but CTA which is what it is. I've gotten used to the rhythms of public transportation in this city based solely on the Red Line. Who knew there was the joy of Metra sitting there so close.
Bought a "weekender" for $5 (SERIOUSLY...mile per mile, this far exceeds anything CTA has to offer!) and schlepped all the way out to Geneva and back. I felt like it was a steal. Any other form of transport out that way would have been way more expensive and likely would have involved some level of road rage.
Everything was really nice: people, environs, and time schedule. Of course, this was a one shot deal for me so I can speak nothing of consistency or longevity. What I know is that I'll never hesitate to use it in the future. SO, SO EASY.
I'm from Cleveland, Ohio, where public transportation is something people laugh about as a joke...this "other" rail system here to the 'burbs just blows my mind. Well done, Chicago.
It's almost always late by at least a minute or two no matter which line you take, and almost never arrives on time by a minute or two, but the price is right (even with the recent raise) and it's comfortable. The main stations are easy to maneuver and most of the suburban stations have been upgraded for shelter and safety - which is a plus, not having to stand outside in weather.
The $5 weekend passes are pretty nice as well. I need it to get to Elgin and back to visit family, and it's much better than driving during rush hours.
