Dirty, but easy way to get around. Took it from the Chicago station to the brown line and again from wriggled field to downtown the grant st station. It seems cheap enough, but it seems nicer than the NYC subway system. I have heard of robberies on the trains though, so be careful. It also seems like it gets stopped a lot. read more

I have been using the cta, buses and trains, for over a year now after living in the UK. Lets get one thing straight, the cta can't touch the London Tube and the Metra can't touch anything Europe can offer in terms of high speed rail. Some stops of the cta remind me of gotham city, graffiti everywhere, dirty platforms and trains. No attention on appearance, technology or innovation. Some stops not all. Just this is the stop, there is nothing really covering you, the bridge you walk under to get to the platform looks like it is going to fall apart and steps are in disrepair. The CTA is average in my opinion. Only now they decided to break the bank and buy a new fleet of trains. Can't believe we were still riding those ugly, dirty and ancient carriages from 30 years ago and we are in 2013. Now they have put up electronic boards and signs telling you when the next train is coming. But only on certain stops. Howard is one of the main stations but has no electronic information boards or nothing. I am comparing the CTA to european public transport and that is why i am super critical. All you have to do is increase the price of a ticket, spend money on construction and redevelopment then people might actually consider and be proud of taking the train. That is what sky high taxes and expensive public transportation are for. I would rather pay $3.50 than the measly, $2.25 and sit in a clean and new train, wait at a newly repaired or developed station and have adaquate signage telling me when my next train is coming and actually hire employees that are friendly and helpful. What happen to American customer service? Things are improving slowly, slowly but some stations and platforms look like they are going to fall apart. One of the reasons why America is so behind Europe is because they refuse to invest in infastructure and especially public transport. Like America doesn't have the money. Overall, i would say it is very good if you get to ride on the new trains, get off and get on at the new stations and not have to experience the mess, smell and some annoying people. read more

To and from Medill's downtown newsroom every morning/afternoon winter '13, Loyola to Monroe (if you go up the stairway by the conductor, pull open the gate next to the turnstiles and take the SE escalator up to Adams, you beat the morning crowd by a mile and can say hello to the friendly ladies upstairs). August 2013: Saw Man or Astro-Man? at the Empty Bottle and took the 66 to Chicago/State when my U-Pass suddenly expired and I had to make change at McDonald's for a real transit card. Later that night, a guy threw up Cheetos and a woman yelled, "IT'S JUST FOOD." Three stops north and a transfer to the purple line all weekends fall 2012 to fall 2013, a part-time job in Evanston. I saw my first Chicago rat at Wilson. October 2012: Tipsy at 5 p.m. on my 21st birthday, my only drunk train ride. Later that month, after seeing Swans at the Metro, I walked over two miles home with good company when we had "technical difficulty" at Thorndale. This summer I sat next to someone I love and got a couple of pages of a weekday Red Eye stuck to my platform wedge sandals on the way to Union Station to break up with him. We're still friends. December 2012: A guy peed into a red solo cup in the back of my car. I walked to the other side. "Sorry, sweetie." November 2012: Around Jarvis, I thought my car was empty and danced to "Symphonia IX" by Grimes. March 2013: Waited 20 minutes for a northbound train at Loyola before a job interview, in a blizzard. I was late for the interview. I got the job. April 2013: Waited 30 minutes at Morse for a northbound train on the way to work. I was late for work. I wasn't fired. I fought about misogyny & Low's Christmas album or something meaningless with a boyfriend and missed my stop. I picked him up from Union Station and somewhere around Clark/Lake gave him tickets to LA for our 3-year anniversary. Three drunk girls puked. We got off at Granville. We broke up a month later. We aren't friends. Addison was closed when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. I was coming from a boy's house and I started walking to Sheridan instead but I ended up walking 5 miles home down Broadway. I got a lot of high-fives. 12:30 a.m. on Friday nights (I saw a lot of puke), packt like sardines. 9 a.m. on Mondays north from the Loop, whole place to myself. Perfect window gazing for every Red House Painters album any time. Cold in the summer/warm in the winter/every ride felt like a movie. read more

I've seen a lot of reviews for rail lines lately and thought, hell I will contribute my experiences. This line is the reason that after law school, I had to move within walking distance to my job. You see, it was on this line, which I used to take from my apartment (at the corner of Waveland and Sheffield...a not so pleasant place to live if you are a girl who is not all that into baseball), that I discovered I am severely claustrophobic. I lived there a few years back right after undergrad. I thought, hey, the red line is right there. The red line lets me off right near my office. This is a good place to live. I was very wrong. This line is PACKED. Now I'm sure all lines are at rush hour. But seriously, if you are claustrophobic, this line is definitely not for you. Cuz you know, it becomes a subway far too long before it hits the loop. And people are not very nice. If you are a small girl they can smoosh, they will. I spent many a morning with my face smashed into the window while standing (oh sitting is out of the question if you get on the train this far south) next to dudes who you'd think would be a little more chivalrous. I once (ok twice) came close enough to fainting that I had to sit on the floor and only one person, a girl who informed me that happened to her a lot too, probably from the lack of oxygen here, bothered to ask me if I was ok. Karma people, karma. Now for the good. Well it provided me with good stories. I once was so fortunate as to get a seat during rush hour. It was next to someone who I can only guess was homeless because he looked like he had made himself pretty comfortable. He was also passed out. So I figured, ahhh what's the chances he'll wake up before I get to my stop? Oh my friends, the chances were good. He woke up as soon as the train started moving again and proceeded to take a small brown bag out of his coat and take a swig. Ok, I can handle drunk homeless guy. Not a problem. Until said homeless guy took a razor out of his pocket and started shaving. I kid you not. By this point I couldn't stand up if I wanted to. I can tell you, my ass has never propped me up so far on a seat ready to bolt in my life and never will again. That was probably enough glut strength training to last a week. I also once had a lady pet my haid while saying "yoooouu'reee prrreeeeettttyyyy." well that was just nice I guess. Hehe. The point of all this? Not much really. Just to warn you about the insane (both mentally and in terms of size) crowd on this train! Don't hate me too much that I can walk to my office in 20 minutes now, I get my punishment from the blizzards as well as heat waves. read more

If we ever see a cross town world series (yeah, I know wishful thinking, because hell would freeze over first.) the Red Line would be perfect for the subway series. Yeah, it runs twenty -seven, 365, but as of late, a lot of malfunctions. Just last night, on a trip that should have taken twenty minutes took over an hour, that was while physically on the train. You gotta love the recordings about the delays. Last night we heard the " we are waiting for signals ahead", "we are waiting due to work on the tracks ahead" and the ever so popular "we are waiting for equipment problems on the train." all ending in "we hope to be moving again shortly. All I know is that I was waiting for the "We are waiting for a pack of pygmy, albino, ostriches to cross the tracks. We expect to be moving again in at least the next day." recording. At least that would have made the trip at least a bit amusing. All I really can say, it's a lot cheaper than a taxi. read more

A reliable way to go north-south, but be aware that a lot of homeless use the red line (as well as the blue line) as an escape from the brutal cold. They do not smell good! A few nights ago, the operator made an announcement that he would wait at Fullerton for a few extra minutes to allow passengers to change cars to escape the smell. The smelly homeless guy changed too! So now, 2 of the cars are reeking and I mean REEKING!! So bad that, even with my scarf over my nose and breathing through my mouth I could hardly tolerate the ride to the next stop where I changed cars again. read more

it sucks. You get all the weirdos and crazy people. It is always dirty and smells like pee and pot. How come nothing has been done? I never feel safe on this one since I work late at night. How is the Jackson stop at midnight? Any suggestions on avoiding crazy people come up to you? read more

I have lived in Chicago most of my life, but like Danny said in his review you have to really be alert because of the crazy stuff that happens on the train. One of the more entertaining things is the mentally ill who spend all day long riding the trains and talking major **** and acting a fool which gives people the opportunity to film some of this to upload to YouTube. What I have a problem with is the constant presence of solicitors selling everything from wash cloths to candy. You can say that the local corner store has now taken up residence on the train offering you everything you need for low discount prices. Do watch out during high traffic periods where it gets really crowded on the train because that's an opportunity for pick pockets and criminal activity to happen. Whatever you do don't fall asleep and don't do it holding your phone or IPod either. Tourists who are not familiar with Chicago culture do need to really be mindful of the elements and plan trips accordingly. CTA however is a rescue from the high gas prices many Chicagoans are tired of paying and want to get around without paying too much money. They do however need to lower the damn fare and put it back to what used to be which was $1.50 and also consider lowering the fares for the VENTRA (which still needs some work to getting it to work right) card so you can ride the train. How about cheaper monthly and weekly passes since a lot of us are not making a lot of money to afford the ridiculous prices. It also makes NO sense to see the homeless using the CTA as their personal vehicle to transport their junk all over the place. read more

Once I decided to take the Red Line from work during rush hour, and witnessed a woman sitting nearby pee her pants. The puddle flowed away from her, yet she insisted she did not urinate on the train. I guess the lesson is watch out where you sit. read more

Another great Chicago experience, of course many lines have that but the red gets you through all my favorite parts of the city. Always polluted with smells, not necessarily trash, the red line provides great transportation for a commuter. Having moved from the city, I can tell you, most of the country does not have this luxury. Read, sleep, sit, and wait until youre at the destination you need to be. Heres a few tips. If the car is getting more crowded and you don't have to get off for a long while, sit or stand in the MIDDLE of the cart you won't have to shuffle around seats or standing room. Do avoid using during Cubs home games during rush hour(Sox OK.) If you are near the Roosevelt red line stop your train cart will likely be close to or nearly empty since downtown STARTs there. The most crowded stop is Lake both going to in the morning and departing from (going north) at rush hour. I recommend using the nearest Brown line going north. read more

Best line of the cta because it gets you almost anywhere downtown and it is fast! It comes every 10-15 minutes..which a lot of them dont. It is a little dirty and could use a good clean up. read more

this is a good stop. sometimes there is someone playing music. the downside its its hard to find no signs tell you how to get there. it does not take the long between trains witch is good. for me its good because i can take the dan ryan from the Addison stop by my place to my brothers. read more

red line is often busy and often arrived late, with a loud noisy/irritating express siren, kick a person in the face with foul urine odor, and filthy with chip bags, chocolate wraps spreading on floor and seats. Overall this train is convenient for individuals to connect with Chicago's magnificent history. Beautiful night and twilight views. Love Red Line, but truly wish commuters are more respectful toward one another by cleaninng up after themselves and please don't urinate on train...Yuck!!! read more

ok have read some of the other reviews and think people do not know the rating system here on yelp good enough to rate red line . one means bad any thing above means you like what you see . the red line use to be ok bake in the 80s when it took you only 25 min's to get to loop from north side now takes 46 and this is in rush hour . if you like whats going on the red line i can tell you nothing good at all . 1. they are now sending police for the people who sleep and eat and drink beer on train . not to mention thos who smoke and do drugs on them . and i have to breath that stuff on the way to work . none of them are handy cap ready like they should be . they are braking the laws all the time by this. the elevators smell like people use them for a bath room. some trains smell same way . i see police riding them to pick up and take to jail people who brake the law or rules of cta . that is the only good thing i have seen on red line. read more

Took the red line "el" train last night and I would just like all the late night people riding the train to know that service is not reliable. The train was supposed to be making all stops but paused for 10 minutes for construction (which I understand). After 10 minutes of repeated waiting, the train started moving again and the conductor decided to change the train (because of the time waiting presumably to get back on schedule) while it was already moving to an express train from Wilson to Lake. This caused us to miss our designated stop and was a complete inconvenience. I have lived in Chicago since 2005 and many people think our transit system is great (the bus system is much more reliable than the el) but it is terrible (the red line is the worst). The el is dirty and not safe during night hours, the CTA needs a complete makeover. If you go to Boston you can see a much more efficient and reliable transportation system. Last night was an example of a failed transportation system that is over priced and does not function properly to suit individuals' needs. I would advise any and all tourists to avoid taking the red line and take the bus or another line because the red line is a horrible experience that keeps getting worse year after year with no improvements. read more