Very convenient public transit. You can take it from the O'Hare airport to the Loop, for $5. For everything else, $2.25. You can even just tap your phone these days, instead of buying a special transit card. The train isn't the dirtiest, isn't the cleanest, compared to other cities' public transit, but I thought it was fine. Didn't smell any urine as other Yelpers had described lol. It was efficient, easy to take, and took me where we needed to go! Not bad!! read more

There should be a warning advising riders to avoid this train if you have neck or back issues. Today, It was like riding a wooden roller coaster. read more

Avoid if possible. Even during the day people high as a kite and filthy. I was ashamed to be a Chicagoan.

I never knew there's a page where you can review the entire blue line as a whole. Now I've only been the Forest Park branch once for a political meeting of some kind which was a waste of time but I've taken this from the loop to O'Hare on numerous occasions and back. There's alot of friendly people on here for the most part. If you're going to ohare from the loop. It's going to be a really long trip. There was a lady one time when I took the blue line to go to a bachelor party outside of Rosemont and on the way a woman made a scene about her flight being pushed back so she decided to get off at Cumberland and said to everyone "I am not waiting 5 hours I am going home". In my opinion, she could of got everything booted over to midway airport but that ain't none of my business. I definitely recommend the blue line. Please people at O'Hare that are heading to the loop. Please be nice to the tourists that don't know how the CTA functions and try to give you're city a reputation. read more

Does not update time even under construction. Waiting 30+ min for a train that was supposed to be here 25+ min ago CTA is shitty, believe nothing read more

If urine is your thing, ride this train. It always smells like urine in the waiting platform area. I don't mind it, nose plugs, so I ride this line often, as I think it's my only option anyway. read more

Hey Blue, Can you pick me up say around 8am at Logan Square Station? What's that? You can? You're Awesome Blue! I know you get crowded before you get to Damen, but don't listen to the haters, that's just a testament to your rising popularity! And I know people sleep on you and stink up the joint, but comfort is a sign the relationship is advancing! Door's closing? Don't worry, when one door closes, another one opens! You're my boy, Blue! read more

I know a ton of people like to piss on the CTA...both literally and figuratively. I see their point..there a ton of things wrong with it....however, it gets me to and from work..as well as to O'Hare.....as well as to the Wicker Park bars without any issues. I think only the red line is the other 24 hr line. One thing I do like about the blue line compared to the red/brown lines is the limited cell phone reception it provides as it heads underground. I once had to listen to a girl talk about how her boyfriend was cheating on her for a good 20 minutes in great detail while on the Brown line. As a friend called me, I made it super short stating that i was on the EL and didn't want to be rude to the other commuters! Call me evil, but I actually like watching the doors crush people as I am only a few feet away. Regulars should know about the blue crush. There are usually a mix of cars that you can use, so switch to a more modern car if you have huge luggage with you. Anyhoo...the blue line is A-Ok for me. read more

Yuck! This is the worst line I've ever been on. The trains are ancient and they usually smell like they're burning up or on fire. I give them two stars because they still get me from point A to point B. read more

I don't know if I have a favorite color line in the CTA network, but the Blue Line takes me to O'Hare Airport and that makes me a happy traveler. Architect Helmut Jahn designed the cool O'Hare station featuring serpentine glass block that is dramatically back lit. The design makes the commute on the CTA to the airport almost bearable. read more

Blue Line CTA - The O'Hare station was designed by Helmut Jahn - Trains Near Me

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Yes a fan of the blue line, and pretty much because it's my only way to work. I commute out to Rosemont on this line and use to get pretty much everywhere in Chicago. The only time I really notice the smells is during the winter when the homeless inhabit the cars. Yes it's frustrating to have track work, and slow zones and limited cars during hi traffic times but the Blue Line has saved me an unscrupulous amount of money over the last three years that I have been here I must admit it's easy to love something when you never had anything like it before. read more

Blue Line CTA - Blue Line Sign - Trains Near Me

Took the blue line from o hare airport to downtown. Had a guy try to flick my wallet out of my back pocket going up some stairs. Didnt see him when I started, felt him trying to get my wallet, turned around around and yelled at him" what the fu*k are you doing, he said nothing, I yelled back you are trying to grab my fu*king wallet, back the f up, he mumbled something and went the other way. Avoid it, shady as sh!t. read more

I primarily used this line between O'Hare and Clark/Lake, where my hotels were. Relatively easy to figure out, and transfers to the different lines are easy to navigate. The transit between O'Hare and Clark/Lake is about 40 minutes. read more

Title: Deep Thoughts by Candice G. Subtitle: My first time on the Blue Line Yay! it's not crowded! We can sit together! Hmmm... I think my seat might be wet. Or maybe it's just cold? Please let it just be a cold seat. Jeez it smells like pee in here. I'm sitting in pee, aren't I? The end. *** *** *** I left it open-ended to add interest for the reader, but if you're the type of person who likes closure in stories, I was later able to confirm that it was, in fact, pee that I was sitting in. Thankfully, I wore my extra thick underwear that day. I did try to be optimistic about the mysterious wet-chill of the fabric seat, but it became clear throughout my evening in the city from how much my buns itched and how every time I moved legs a faint to moderate wafting of urine smell would be present in the air. Well, damn. Damn, damn, damn. Even though my experience with the Blue Line left me a little worse for wear, I have to give props to such a convenient vehicle. For me, the Metra is def the easiest way to get into the city, but it takes a long-ass time and doesn't operate at the impressive frequency that the blue line does. A train running 24 hours a day with boarding every 8-10 minutes sure as hell beats a Metra train that runs once every 2 hours with no service past 11pm. Plus, even though I sat in piss, I still found the people who ride the Blue Line on the weekend to be 10,000 times more tolerable than the average person who rides the Metra on the weekend. read more

The negative reviews here are hilarious. Yep, we've ALL had bad days on the CTA. I've been taking the CTA my whole life, so I know your pain. I almost passed out at the Damen Blue Line stop because it was so crowded. I was pushed against the door and felt so woozy that I had to crouch down to the floor. And let me tell you, that's not an easy task when you're pushed in like sardines in a can. But this is my main source of transportation in this lovely city. There's no way in hell I'm paying for parking downtown. And who even drives to O'Hare anymore? Just lug your bag onto the train and tough it out! Prices for CTA passes have risen, but it's still a lot cheaper than taking a taxi. I have to admit, though, I miss the old days when we used tokens. They need to bring those back. Just kidding. It's runs 24 hours a day, every single day. The moral of the story is... TOUGH IT OUT, NOOBS read more

For tourists (like me!) arriving at O'Hare Airport, the Blue line is the cheapest way to get to downtown Chicago. The CTA station is well signposted from the airport but the ticket machines are very confusing for newcomers. Fortunately, I had read up about them in my guidebook and was able to get my ticket. As there was no CTA attendant around, I helped quite a few other newly arrived passengers to use the ticket machine. CTA are also very naughty in not making available the one day ticket at O'Hare - so you have to get a one way ticket to your destination and then buy another one day ticket if you intend to explore Chicago with the El on the same day. Tourist gouging isn't cool and leaves a bad impression! The train journey itself was fast and hitch-free. The trains are nicely air-conditioned and the stops are clearly announced , always soothing for those of us who are unfamiliar with the town. The Blue line doesn't go above ground in the style of those iconic shots of the El, made so familiar in shows such as ER. The stops in the downtown area are underground and getting to street level involves carrying your luggage up and down lots of stairs. Again, I had to help some fellow travellers with heavy bags. Good train service, bad station design and naughty tourist gouging! read more

I gotta tell you, Blue Line ... I don't- I don't relly know how to say this, but- I rode my bike to work this morning, Blue Line. There, I said it. You know things haven't been working out between us. You know that. I don't mean to keep bringing up shit that happened in the past, but do you remember last week when I got out of work early and I was all excited to get home at a decent hour but then the door got stuck open on my car so you made everyone get out, after being stopped for 25 minutes, and try to squeeze into the next rush hour train? Yeah, selfish move, Blue Line. You remember when you took 45 minutes to get us to Logan Square from Damen on Jess' birthday? Pretty shitty. I've been staying with you because it's cold in the winter, horrible as that sounds.I don't even care if it makes me an asshole. I'd like us to be honest for once. You don't really care about me. You just want me inside you and you want my money. You're just like all the others, Blue Line, and I haven't loved you for a long time. Don't get me wrong, and don't take it entirely as an attack, OK? We had some good times, you and me. Some real good times. It's over, though. I've moved on. Don't look at me when you go by anymore. It will be easier for both of us. Goodbye, Blue Line. I hope you work out your problems. I really do. read more

The Blue Line got me to & from O'Hare in one piece. Minus stars for the person/people who use(d) this train as their bathroom. Just plain foul. But for $1.75, using my Chicago Card, it sure beats taking a cab for $40+. read more

I have a love/hate relationship with the blue line. I've lived on it for 17 years, and no matter what it does to me, I can't escape it's creepy embrace. I've seen people poop on you, urinate on you, vomit on you, spray paint you. I've been felt up on you, watched surly 25 year old guys refuse to give their seats up to pregnant women and the elderly/infirm on you, endured endless "rehabs" and yet, we keep going. Going where I need to go, no matter how much I want to stay away from you - I've remained faithful all these years, damn you. I've turned down jobs because I would have had to change trains, lost friends because they went to other lines....I know I should leave you, but here I am, a scant block and half from you - but you knew that, didn't you? It all revolves around you, doesn't it, Blue Line? What about me? Huh? Damn you and your convenient ways, blue line! I'll just say it now -this relationship is unhealthy. I'm co-dependent, I enable you every time I get on you. I'm enrolling us in family therapy, blue line, but, don't worry, I'll make sure it's convenient to you. Show up this time, or I'll do something drastic, I mean it this time...I'll...I'll...be really mad at you or something. Yeah. read more

Fuck you "Blue Line". I love days like today when I stand in the station watching empty train after empty train running north (where no one is going during the morning rush) promptly every 2 minutes or so. Meanwhile I stand staring blankly at the quiet southbound tunnel just PRAYING that when the train does come, I will be able to force my way through all the Bodies and be ONE of the lucky few of the HUNDREDS of people who have been waiting for 30 minutes to get on the FUCKING train. Then on those days when I am FORCED to take a cab after 30 wasted minutes in the station so that I don't get FIRED, I am inclined to ask if it is in fact you, Blue Line, who should be responsible for reimbursing me for that extra cost. Fuck you. read more

How can I not like the blue line. It drops me off less than 1/2 a mile from my honey's place. In August it will drop me off less than 1/2 a mile from home. It can get me anywhere downtown relatively quickly and it could get me to any of the other lines relatively quickly too. All of this convenience 24 hours a day. I understand that you are going through some growing pains right now. You still have your slow zones and you still have your single track operations which have pissed me off on more than one occasion and made me late for work on more than one occasion. For these reasons I feel that I have to deduct one star. I also understand that you are the CTA and you will let anyone ride who has the money, so I can't hold some of the other riders against you. I still like you because you can get me places at 2:00 am if so needed. read more

Overheard* conversation between two recent--and very drunk--high school grads on an unnecessarily long 30-minute drive from the Western to Clark/Lake stops: "You know what I'm thinking about?" "What, dude?" "The stock market: now's the time!" "Yeah, brah, we should get that shit." I can't make this stuff up. (*"Overheard," as in screaming. Apparently, GM is not a good buy.) read more

So I just got into the office two minutes ago.... Not a big deal... normally... but I left @ 7am this morning in an attempt (fated to be vain) to arrive early. I walked to the Blue Line train and waited like normal for the train to come... then I waited longer... then longer still... NOTHING! 45minutes go by.... NOTHING!! Nearly 1000 commuters; mostly dressed in business attire, everyone struggling to seem unaffected or better yet unbothered by the inconvenience. Whether listening to their I-Pods or reading the latest pop book or perusing this morning's copy of the Redeye; they all look up periodically in a futile effort to gaze off in the distance for the smallest, faintest, meekest glimpse of a far away train coming forth to save them from this humdrum existence thrust upon them without warning... Then the 21st century voice of God spouts from the loud speaker.... "ATTENTION BLUE LINE RIDERS! ALL LOOP BOUND TRAINS HAVE BEEN REROUTED! AGAIN ALL TRAINS HAVE BEEN REROUTED! YOU WILL HAVE TO EXIT THE PLATFORM. BUSES ARE IN ROUTE TO SHUTTLE TRAIN PASSENGERS TO THE LOOP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. Fear is replaced by hope... then hope is supplanted by confusion which as we all know leads back to all the darker emotions. The questions are many and the answers few. "How are all these people going to get on a freaking bus? What about all the other train stops and their passengers? Are we all going to use the same god damned buses? Where are all the fucking cabs? Why didn't I charge my fucking cell phone last night so I could at least call into work and tell them where I am? Why me? What the fuck?.....................FEAR IS BACK, WORRY IS HER SOUL MATE, ANGER IS THEIR LOVECHILD... I AM THEIR CATALYST... Over three hours after leaving my apt, I now arrive in my office... IN 3 HOURS I HAVE TRAVERSED 2.5 MILES... I paid just over $12 in cab fair... read more

I must be going crazy. I am giving the Blue Line 5 stars and I can't believe I am saying this..but I miss you, CTA. Everything about you down to your uriney smell. Chicago folks, don't take your public transportation for granted. read more

The best el line, hands down. But why, you ask? 1) I have never gotten on a blue line train and seen puke on the ground. At 8am. That would be the red line. It also doesn't smell like piss. Again, that's the red line. 2) This puppy is FAST. So fast that sometimes I wonder if the cars are going to fly off of the tracks, yes, but if it gets me to work on time or home quicker afterwards, that's a-ok with me. Fly away! 3) The people are interesting (good and bad), and not obnoxious (I work a 9-5, so I don't see the hipsters at Damen too much because they don't work 9-5s!). The red line is full of creeps and the brown line full of boring white yuppies. 4) IT RUNS 24 HOURS. That's right, 24 hours. I can stay out all night and not have to pay for a cab back home. 5) It takes me to O'Hare. Sometimes I like to leave Chicago. Sometimes. read more

My blue line stop is halfway in between downtown and O'Hare, which means that it takes 20-30 minutes to get to either destination. It is really convenient for me. It seems to run on time, with trains every 5 or 6 minutes 24/7. It's quick and safe...mainly people going to the airport or to and from work. It seems like the blue line has less homeless people begging for change and it doesn't smell too much like urine. UPDATED 8/3/06: Minus three stars!! I don't know what has happened to the blue line, but ever since the addition of the pink line and the fire in July the blue line has sucked!!! I typically take the blue line during rush hours between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning and between 6 and 7 in evening. It seems to me that lately there are not enough trains. I used to be able to get on at Logan Square and find a seat (about 60% of the time) or at least an area to stand. For the last three weeks the train has been too packed to even get on. Even at 7 p.m. I find myself waiting on a very busy platform when there was once just a handful of people. In the past, if I missed a train I would wait no more than 5 minutes for the next one and still make it to work on time. Now it takes 10 and sometimes 15 minutes for the next train to come. And when it does come there is always a delay ("Attention folks, we will be standing momentarily.") or the train runs terribly slow. I have been timing it and my normal 20-25 minute commute has become 45-55 minutes. There may be some of you saying that this is normal...maybe the blue line spoiled me. I don't know. I hate the blue line so much now that I'm going to start taking the bus. If any CTA people are reading this please tell me what is going on. read more

So I wrote this really prickish but (I thought) witty letter to the CTA about the Pulaski viaduct under the Irving Park stop on the blue line. I equated the pigeon shit that was scattered all over the viaduct to Jackson Pollock's Convergence painting. I sarcastically applauded the CTA and the City of Chicago for leaving the organic work on the viaduct walls for an unprecedented six month run. Apparently, the letter reached someone important- because one week after writing the letter, the pigeon shit is now gone! Now, I miss seeing it every day. I realized that it drew me further into an organic connection with the rest of the city. The smell. The sight. The smell. Drat. Oh well. Sometimes, a clean canvas is just what an artist needs to feel inspired. The "artists" are working rotating 24 hour shifts in an attempt to develop another scintillating masterpiece. read more

When I lived in Peoria, I worked with a nice lady who reminded me a bit of my mom in looks and personality and would sometimes stop by her post for some banter. One time, I was wearing a French blue shirt (this was the 90s), and she said, "Blue is your color." Why, yes it is, thanks. It's my favorite color. That's why I like the Blue Line. I'm like a girl. Well, not really. I like the Blue Line because it's tres convenient for me and I usually don't have to be on it for more than 10 minutes at a time (knock wood). I'd take it to Marshall Field's if it were still there. I can even take it to and from Richard's if I so please. I'm lucky enough to never be on it long enough for that El funk to become attached to me. Four stars. read more

BRAVO!!!! Your subway system totally kicks butt and is pretty fool proof. Parked @ O'Hare long-term and took the blue line over to downtown. I found the rail system to be very clean and easy to navigate. The PA system was also helpful in announcing the stops (you would be surprised to see (or hear) how many mass transit systems have no P.A. System. read more

Public transportation is cheaper, more green and relatively more efficient than automobile transport. It is also inconvenient at time and the clientele can be challenging. But, you know what? I'll take it ANY day over siting on LA's freeways or taking the buses and few trains there. Ya'll are spoiled. There, I said it. Yeah, you Chicagoans .... oughta try living in LA and getting around without a car. Yea, it can be done. But who the hell would want to? You think these trains area bad? At least you have them. I live in an area of the city where every day, I have so many options on how to get where I'm going, it's like a game to figure out which is best. Often, I can just catch the first bus available out of 3 and get to my destination just that quick. Or I can take the train, the bus. The train or the bus. I got so I hardly went anywhere in LA because of the traffic. I pretty much started staying in my neighborhood. Guess what that is? Isolating. Boring. But every time I got into my car to go somewhere, I'd get so aggravated, it just wasn't worth it. I just gotta say -- the fact that I can get to O'Hare Airport for $2.50 is just ---- the most awesome thing ever! read more

So conflicted. On one hand, there is no cheaper way to get to O'hare. And cheaper by a bucket load. $2.75 vs. $30+ for either a shuttle or a taxi. On the other hand, it was one of the noisiest and most rickety rides I have been on. Was reminiscent of those amusement park rides, where it's supposed to replicated an old train on rickety wooden rails that you're afraid will give out at any moment --- had to keep on shifting to sit back on the seat because would get shaken off. And the drunk man in front who kept talking to himself until he fell asleep was... entertaining. Overall, if you're looking to say some money on your ride to the airport, might be a good deal. Just know that it ain't the usual subway ride... read more

The relationship in the beginning: The blue line and I used to have a very healthy and happy relationship. I guess as with all new relationships, we were polite and eager to please. Leaving my apartment out the door, the Division/Milwaukee stop-- Down town to Clark/Lake stop used to take me 15 minutes DOOR to DOOR into my office. Yes, we were happy... I would listen to tunes, read my book... just a few pages, because, you know, the ride was THAT fast. Our relationship now: I wake up doing kegals knowing that I will have to curse the entire walk to the blue line. Sometimes on a good day... it takes me 30 minutes for me to get ON a train.... I feel like a psychic goes through all the cars to determine which one i'll board and then finds a homeless person and says, "This one... she'll be on this one." And then said homeless person will pee/and or vomit in that car. With some of this said, people who know me will agree I love life, I'm pretty funny, and will positively find humor in everything around me. So, although I am loyal and believe in monogamy, I now have adopted an open relationship and polyamorous transport lifestyle. I have chosen the following alternate ways to get to work. Walking, cycling and driving. Oh yeah, I will not walk 1.5 miles to work, nor do I have a bike... so that leaves me with paying 26 dollars each day to Sterling Parking Garage... to leave Ruby in there. Oh yeah...don't think I won't yelp about that. So with that said, blue line, I hate you. I really do. read more

Worse train ever! Maybe it's because I am from NYC, and find NYC trains better designed (but then again, mostly everything in NYC is well designed and well thought out!). Having spent the past 3 months here for a job, I had to use the Blue Line to get to Rosemont and every morning, without fail, the trains were packed! No one moves to the center, but now I understand why. There are no overhead bars/rails to hold onto or vertical poles either. The only hand rails are concentrated near the doors and that is where most people hang out. The center is where most of the seating is (theatre row style) and every seat is usually taken, so if you are caught in the center, you can hold onto the "head rest" rail behind a person's head if you are lucky to grab on (and a person's head is not already pressed up against it!). To my discovery, the other lines, like the Brown Line and Red are newer trains and NYC style (with face to face seating) and have hand rails all over the place. Those were nicer. But if I had to do this all over again, I'd get a car! The only nice thing is that the train is pretty consistent in schedule and clean. I don't know why others on here complain about it being dirty. NYC trains in my opinion are dirtier (even if better designed!). :) read more

I love not having a car, so I can't complain too much. However, it's annoying when I wake up on time and I'm usually late for work; which is generally due to "standing due to police activity" or "unauthorized person on tracks." This is basically an everyday occurrence. It gets old seeing three forest park train to one Ohare train go by. It's also a night and day difference versus the summer and winter. Nothing is never enforced on here, so you'll have homeless or mentally ill people just smoking all the time; whether it be weed or cigarettes. It's a daily occurrence. So to be honest, I hate taking the blue line and avoid it whenever I can. I'd much rather take a bus than take the blue line. I only take the blue because I have to for work. read more

Noisiest, noise-polluted rickety, ricketiest, crappy, crappiest way to go anywhere; except for getting to O'Hare it's one the best urban conduits in this country. Oh well, nothing is perfect. read more

Definitely the best 'L' line in Chicago! It's one of 2 lines that run 24 hours, along with the Red Line. Better than the Red Line for many reasons: - Cleaner, less bums, smells better (as in not like urine) - Overall quicker, even with the delays both lines have been experiencing - Most of the stations are in better condition - Not as packed during rush times - Neighborhoods served are more interesting (OK, that's an opinion I guess, but whatever) - Expanded in the 1980s to O'Hare, whereas the Red Line can't even get expanded to 130th Street In all, the Blue Line is far superior to its older, stinkier brother to the east! read more

The two star rating has the color of urine. Much like the way you smell. Extremely convenient and usually makes good time. I don't think I've waited more than 10 minutes for a Blue Line train. I only give 2 stars because the smell really is horrible. And I have a super sensitive nose. read more

Apart from working downtown several years back, I now average public transport only a few times a month and the Blue Line is the one taken 75% of the time. Usually pick up at Division or (more recently) Cali, depending if i'm O'hare bound or Downtown. More than anything, it has "character", and that can mean "by character, I mean dirty and gritty" or just character in the sense it's established its utilitarian, work-horse self in a big city subway system over the many, many decades it's been in operation. As w. any public trans, you're going to encounter some delays, a breakdown here and there, perhaps a minor fire, and, of course, the general sloppy, drooling, unkempt, leering, objectionable character from time to time too...but that's half the fun now isn't it, and speaks again to the character of the Blue Line Train. Aside from the aforementioned, the time and cost value of this Line is clearly A-ok in my book. read more

this is my main source of transportation.. It is somewhat reliable.. although I do wait up to a half hour sometimes for trains.. breakdowns and delays are common lately.. slow train drivers trying to rack up the OT SUCK!! And the increase in rates is getting absurd. These trains are full all day everyday at 2.25 a person.. where is the money going?? My biggest complaint about the blue line is the cars are old and vibrate like crazy and the freakin dirty disgusting BUMS!!!!! Get the freakin dirty stinky psycho dangerous BUMS of the trains!!! Apparantly there is nothing wrong with letting nasty bums sleep on the trains back and forth all day. I have watched bums urinate on themselves, this is very common, it gets on the seats.. they vomit on the seats.. threaten passengers, one threatened to kill a passengers baby the other day if it didn't stop crying.. they are horrible, you cant even sit in the same car next to them because of the horrid smell.. get some kind of security to deal with this!! The blue line seems to be one of the worst lines. read more

Over priced for the quality of your transportation accommodations, but hey, it gets the job done. And quite frankly, I'd rather pay $2.50 to get ORD with a 29 inch Tumi Vapor in tote than $38.00 for a taxi to Terminal 5. Only reason I won't give it four stars is because there are more attractive people on the Red Lines and Brown Lines. Ranking the CTA Lines (people watching only): 1) Red Line 2) Brown Line 3) (a distant 3) Blue Line If I didn't need a car the CTA would be my life. A lot cheaper than gas these days isn't it? read more