Hey, this train is pretty good! I took the Metra for the first time today (Union Pacific North from Ogilvie to Lake Forest). The train was on time, fast, and relatively cheap. I loved not having to deal with traffic and there were plenty of seats on the way up. On the return trip I went up to the second level, and unfolded a row of the side chairs to lie down and take a nap! Wonderful. Shout out also to the Ogilvie station, it's clean and modern looking with plenty of eateries. I picked up a burrito and rode the train, meaning I got to eat on my commute (something I hardly could do driving). One thing the station did need are big CLOCKS. Where are they? I feel that's the one thing a train station needs. Anyway, overall a good system. Would RIDE AGAIN. read more

Chronically late. Overpriced. Runs somebody over at least once a month. Technology stuck about 35 years in the past, with no will/ability/smarts to change it. The worst metropolitan rail has to offer. read more

After dealing with metra for the last 2 months it has occurred to me u can't trust them at all so I definitely won't ride their trains or feel safe coming to any intersections with train crossings either. My husband went to cross the tracks in round lake Ill and the arms came down as if a train was coming. No lights no signal right as he was driving thru. Broke the windshield of his car and caused other damage. Not to mention scared the heck out of him. METRA is not claiming any responsibility for this. They r stating "well our engineers say nothing went wrong so u r on your own". I am so appalled. I would hire a lawyer if that wouldn't cost me more than the windshield. Which I still might do. Be safe and always look twice. DO NOT TRUST METRA- EVER!' read more

My husband has been taking the same train and same time for 12 years from Evanston to Highland Park. On Monday, he gets on the train to find out that it doesn't go to Highland Park anymore. With the new schedule, there is only one train in the morning that goes to Highland Park from Evanston and it's two hours earlier than his old train. No notice, just switched schedules and when he went to get a refund for his monthly pass, it's not worth it because of the hoops they make you jump through. This has always been Metras mo. No service? Your problem. Train held up? Your problem. Trouble with the train you're on? Get off and find a way home. We are moving out of state soon and am so happy we won't need this ridiculous transportation company anymore! read more

Ahhh, things I do not miss since leaving Chicago, immensely rude and aggressive Metra Rail Employees. Mind you, I moved away 15 years ago and haven't ridden these trains since. Today, taking the train from Ogilvie to Geneva at 2:40 PM. First off, bought my one way ticket in the station about 15 minutes ahead of time and that was very pleasant, no issues. She gave me easy clear instructions on where to board the train and handed me the ticket. I climbed a full set of stairs with a backpack and 50lb bag, not fun. I look around where to board and the car to my right is empty. I am about 20 feet behind someone who opens the door and boards that car. I proceed to open the same door easily and drag my 50 lb bag up into the car and head left. There, sitting in the car on his phone was a line Metra Rail employee. Unfortunately, this car was not technically open to the public and this aggressive bro was going to make it his mission to be sure I understood that fact. My favorite of his rants was to make a comparison to my own home and whether I wanted people randomly coming in my back door. Not a great comparison, given I don't sell tickets for those people to come in my front door, nor my home at all,; If we try to follow his logic. While I was getting turned around with my backpack and 50lb luggage he felt it necessary, while standing in my way (all 6'4" 250lbs of him) to loudly tell me three times I'd come in a closed door and to go back to the next car. Eventually I've made my way back to an open car and sit comfortably on my way to Geneva. Now there's many ways this interaction could have gone, the only more unpleasant way would have been had he physically thrown me down the steps. Short of that, it couldn't be much worse. Customer service is indeed hard, I did it with a smile for over ten years. I ride Metra daily for years and generally had good experiences. And many times, doors weren't necessarily sittting open for boarding or exiting. I would venture to say that this guy find a new line of work. Metra, please allow for some extra customer service training across your ranks. read more

Started taking the train 4 weeks ago and not one day has gone by without an issue with the electrical, switching, power, freight, tracks, debris, weather, etc. it's pointless to have a schedule when I have never arrived on time to or from my destination. read more

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.com/story/?id=281917&src=5 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. read more

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. read more

Oh, Metra! How I have a love-hate relationship with you! I suppose it's not really *you* that I hate specifically - more so, I hate myself for choosing to live in a 'burb closer to Wisconsin than to the city. Your shiny train cars provide me with a reliable way to get there. And for that, I'm forever thankful because you could not pay me to drive to the city! I'm a piss poor driver, and I'm not sorry about that one bit. (At least I can admit it.) In my 5+ years of commuting, I haven't experienced any super crazy delays - save for a few notable ones where I sat in my seat a little longer than usual wondering when we could get moving. But, I understand - we did hit a car after all, the train in front of us hit a pedestrian, inclement weather reared its ugly head upon us, someone had a medical emergency, we experienced signal/mechanical/engine failure or we didn't have enough cars. Plus, my employers never get mad at me when I'm late, since I can turn around and blame it on you. And it's always *your* fault since I'm rarely ever late. I've never been late because I've chosen to adhere to my daily routine of tea and/or doughnuts/donuts no matter how close to 9:00 am I'm pushing it. Thank you for providing us with those super ambiguous slips explaining the reason for our delay. Granted, a phone call and/or text to my office admin usually suffices, but you provide me with more solid evidence, lest I need to ever explain my tardiness. And, while I'm showering you with praise, I have to say that I much prefer my comfy ride on your cushioned seats as opposed to the infamous "L". Not gonna lie, I'm absolutely 100% terrified of that thing. My line, the North Central, isn't as busy as the others (it offers no weekend service) so rarely ever do I have to sit next to anyone, which is nice. I enjoy my personal space. Pro rider tip: head to the upper level of the train car. Trust me, folks. That's where the cool people ride. You don't have to sit by anyone and if you're lucky, you'll snag a seat on the throne - the one where the seat in front of you can't be pushed back/forward and your stuff has its own separate spot. Oh, and if you've had a piss poor day at work, you can drink a beer (or two) to drown your sorrows away. You can't do that on the "L". And, if you're lucky, you can snag a seat on the quiet car, which is located in specific cars on the train (they will usually have a placard in front indicating that it's the quiet car). They are only on trains arriving downtown at or before 9:00 AM and Monday-Friday between 3:30 and 6:30 PM. If you're seated in one of these cars, be quiet. Don't you dare talk on your cell phone, blare your music too loud (no matter how good it is) or converse with a friend. Someone, most likely a regular quiet car rider, will kindly tell you to pipe down and a conductor may get involved if you don't zip it. But, do remember to buy your tickets ahead of time. Getting charged $3 extra simply because you didn't make time to buy them at the station is just stupid. At the station, they even have kiosks where you can buy tickets with your credit card. Lastly, you can travel from suburb to suburb if it pleases you - you may just have to pay a small fee to get to the other zone. For me, the biggest downside with Metra would be the lack of trains on my line (the North Central) past 8:30 Monday-Friday and no weekend service. It can be somewhat of a pain needing to take a train home on another line (the Milwaukee District North) if you've missed the 8:30 train. Plus, the wait times in between trains can vary from 30 minutes to an hour and a half depending on when you leave the city. The trains run less frequently than other lines. Other issues for me arise if we've had a string of days when the train doesn't run on time due to the problems I listed above, but that seems to be few and far between right now. It's more of an issue in the winter time when the signals freeze up and whatnot. But, honestly, I cannot see why one would choose to drive to the city if one can just take the train. The train is a far less stressful experience. Yes, the prices are somewhat high (my monthly sets me back $199.50, but my work covers some of the expense). You also don't have WI-FI, but my commute is only about an hour, so I'm not complaining. I'd rather you spend my money on making sure all your equipment runs properly. So yeah, not much to complain about for me - so let's keep it that way! *knocks on wood* read more

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. read more

Dear METRA, PLEASE announce the stops during late night trains. It's pitch black outside and passengers cannot see the names of the stops. Also, please don't have an attitude when asked which stop is next. Passengers wouldn't have to ask if you announced ALL stops at a REASONABLE volume, instead of a mere whisper whenever you do decide to announce. read more

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? read more

Living in California, we have trains that go all over the place, but they don't really meet up or *join* together which would actually entice one into taking public transportation. That's why everyone in California drives. Someday we'll have our BART extension in early 2025 or so and we'll have bragging rights like Chicago. I was ecstatic when I was able to download the *Embark Metra* app on my phone a do a trip planner to get into Chicago, and I also found an *Embark CTA* app for the *L* also. What is nice about the Metra UPW line that we took, you are able to pay the conductor once you've boarded. Upon our return to suburbia, the departure screens told us which track that our train was on. (You may think this is funny that I am pointing something out as simplistic as a labeled train track, but I dare anyone to go see if they can find their way out of San Jose Diridon by reading the non-existent signs.) Very punctual, not overly crowded, and relatively clean trains. I was a bit surprised that the windows are still tinted green. I thought that was put on there in the 70's so you didn't notice how dirty Chicago was back then! read more

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. read more

Ah Metra - you are a 5 star service but for one man... Metra Union Pacific North is my ride from the city to the parents up north and back, usually a pleasant journey. As I travel most of the time on the weekend I take advantage of the Weekend Pass for $7.00, it is a ridiculously great deal for two days of unlimited rides on the Metra system. Fun Fact for Ravinia goers if you do not want to be herded like cattle to the train after a concert wander one stop south to Braeside . It is only a few minute walk and hardly anyone is there so you get to hop right on board, sure you may be packed in like sardines for the run south but you will not have to wait for a few trains to get home. In fact my only beef with the system is the new, to me, conductor who treats the riders with contempt. He roams the cars collecting fare's and if you don't have your money out he barks at you, if you ask for change in a specific way he barks at you, he barked at a kid who was about to get off and was trying to pay his fare ( like the kid had anything to do with the other riders that did not make Mr E.E. Sutton's life easy) it was like he thought the kid had something to do with the other riders who may not have been as up to paying protocol snuff telling him that he should not be so worried he would make it off the train as he slow counted the guys change, he barked at a guy who was I presume running to catch the train when he sat down telling him how lucky he was and that next time he would not hold the door for him, when he found out a customer was planning on returning the same day on the weekend he gave them a bit of an eye roll for not asking for the weekend fare. His overall demeanor is not a positive message for the line... unless the company line is "PAY UP!" Over the past two weekends I watched him shake down fares, I know Metra collects fares and it is not a literal shake down but he certainly makes you feel that way. Like I said this would have been a 5 star review but that man is just so, well, off putting. read more

I'm not a fan of the Metra BNSF line. As a commuter, I dread taking the train solely because of the terrible customer service Metra conductors have. It's like being bitter and having a terrible attitude is a job requirement. I've witnessed a conductor close the doors while people were still running to catch the train, and then that same conductor hold up at a stop because she forgot to have a student pay for his ticket. I was appalled. A conductor has tapped his hole puncher on my foot before to grab my attention. Or they will continually press the hole puncher. EXCUSE ME. If I did not hear you the first time, try again. I am not a dog that responds to tapping sounds. What kind of customer service is that? If I go to a restaurant, the waiter doesn't bang a spoon on the table for my attention. No one ever says "ticket please", they just literally demand "ticket" or say thank you. A majority of the conductors don't care and spread the misery of their jobs to the people on the train. I've probably only met one or two conductors who were pleasant. Also, if the train is delayed, they still make you pay. "Sorry for the inconvenience" is all they can offer. When a train is packed and you are squished in the corner of the staircase, they don't care, you're still paying. Whatta joke. read more

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. read more

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. read more

I used to ride the Metra every day from Berwyn to downtown Chicago. Boy, those were the days. I'd be downtown and at my desk in less than an hour. I no longer need to do that commute, but I wanted to do a shout out because Metra is truly what mass transit is all about. Comfy, fast, efficient and affordable. What else could a transit rider need? read more

We had a disturbing and dangerous incident occur as we were trying to depart the train after arriving at our destination. There were a lot of people getting off at our stop, so it took a little extra time. Of the 5 people in our group, 3 were at the back of the line of people getting off. As they approached the exit doors, the doors started closing before they had a chance to get off. One person was sandwiched between the 2 sides of the door and just managed to squeeze out, but the final 2 people in our group got stuck on the train with no way to open the doors. The train left and our group was split up. Thankfully, the 2 people left on the train were teenagers with phones, and we could contact them and rendezvous at the next stop. However, the fact that we didn't have enough time to depart the train and one person almost got stuck in the door as the train was leaving is absolutely unacceptable. I could easily imagine something like this happening to a family with small children, creating a nightmare scenario. The people responsible should be ashamed of themselves and fix this terrible safety issue immediately. read more

Lets give many thanks to the city, state and whoever else that believes in public transportation. Or that the world will end by gas consumption and the driving force of erratic drivers. Not going to lie, I am one of those people who look forward in taking public transpo to get from Point A to Point B. -You don't have to worry about traffic - unless a train/bus/rail has been delayed -There is no such thing as road rage, the time spent traveling is a time to relax and do anything but stress. Unless of course you're waiting for a delayed train/bus/rail. Since moving out to the suburbs, there is no way in hell I'm setting up shop with public transpo as it just isn't the same as in a city. But to get into the city that's a whole other ballgame to which I say-game on. Riding the BSNF or CTA-that is a whole other monster. I love it. It's comfortable, efficient for the most part, pretty safe and clean. Coming out from Naperville to Union Station the fee is only $5, that not only beats the cost for parking wherever you do decide to go unless you're a cheapie like me and park it on the side of a street and walk 18 miles. Depending on time of day/week there's going to be an hour or five with a surge of people, it's called public transpo for a reason. Be thankful and stop bitching. Wouldn't you rather pay the minimal fees that have to deal with sitting on the IKE for god only knows how long and the perfect wrist shot you've mastered in tossing out bank overdrawn statements showing the steady increase in gas and parking fees. With the BSNF the schedules are constant and you can get into the city in and around 1 hour, with the express time is cut shorter which is perfect for the commuter and for those who are heading in for a special event and can't deal with the hassle of parking. Massive love affair with the mode of transportation especially with the way gas prices are leaning and look forward for the summer to get better use out of it. read more

This review is specifically for the Southwest Service line. Metra, I don't know why you started this line if you didn't know how to do it. Apparently, you didn't think about how the freight trains having right-of-way on these particular tracks would turn your so-called schedules into loose guidelines on when trains may or may not depart or arrive. Even your recent changes to the morning train times have made little difference in the delays that plague this line morning after morning, evening after evening. Now that the weather is getting chilly, we are once again facing the constant failure of the heating system aboard your trains. How can it be so complex that some cars are boiling hot while others are freezing? Why have you no system in place to check that temperatures are comfortable and appropriate to the daily weather? Are you not familiar with the changing of the seasons and the inner workings of train heating equipment? If not, please remove yourself from the business of running a train line. You're blowing it. I could go on and on, but my blood pressure can barely take the twice daily rage I am forced to experience as a result of this ridiculous train line and its many shortcomings. read more

"Metra train, don't leave yet... I have to go to Hogwarts to tell Harry Potter the trains on the CTA has been bewitched and turned into crap!" I've been a CTA hoodrat all my life. And by hoodrat, I mean I live in the hood and by rat, I mean.. I've seen rats on the tracks. It was my first time boarding the Metra to go to Great Lakes Naval Base. I thought riding on the train was amazing. It has 2 floors, and ther are seats with cushions on the bottom. The neat part was that the seating rotated so it would sit 4 or even 2 people. It was a pleasant and enjoyable ride without the screaming kids, the conductor announcing delays or standing upright for 30 minutes. It was basically a lap of luxury for me. This was 10 years of waiting for the Metra and I was going to live it up. Note*** The conductor comes by and hole punches your ticket. You can leave the ticket on the clip behind the top of the seat if you don't want to hand it to them. They automatically know what the dealio is. Plus, you can also directly buy the ticket from him. Inside tip since I've never been on the Metra. Now, "Abracadabra" CTA begone! read more

I ma so happy to be in a city with real transportation !! ok so we just moved here and even though it feels like we are on vacation I start work monday, and the bf is looking for work and we are looking at apartments and neighborhoods but in the mean time we are staying in the burbs with my brother and his family, so we have been taking the Metra into the city to job hunt, food hunt and play around you know it isn't perfect and yes we had a huge delay the other night and didn't home till 3am, but you know what when it is working right and 95 percent of the time it is, it is a great way to get into the city and back to the burbs or if you want to go see a baseball game, or to hit up a parade or festival and don't want the hassle of driving and parking then take the train read more

Easier and usually cheaper than Amtrak or CTA. Always on time and clean, I always get a seat since I'm the first station on the line. WARNING: Thing that bothers me is when I take the early 5AM train, I have to buy my ticket from the conductor, and they always seem to charge way more. It says $6.75 on the schedule, they demand ~$9.25. Can't exactly argue it either or you get booted off the train. Saw it happen to a guy. Try to buy your ticket before you get on. The conductors are practically thugs and are probably pocketing a good amount of money this way. -----UPDATE, 4/26/14------ Okay, turns out they actually have it posted that they can charge you an extra $3.00 if you got on at a station that sells tickets (but didn't have time to go in and get them, or if they weren't open) Shifty, but whatever. I tried getting a weekend pass from the conductor the other weekend, and the guy was furious that I didn't have a smaller bill than a $20 so he just went PSHH and walked away. Gave me the pass for free. That helps! ;) read more

I've metra'd to Glenview from the Loop since April 2004. Couple of pointers for the driving community: 1) Buy a 10-ride. You'll use them eventually -- it's cheaper by 20%. 2) Get a schedule from www.metrarail.com a few days before you're going to go...better to plan, especially when it freezing outside 3) Sit UPSTAIRS. Yep. It is the best seat in the train - better view, less congested, a bit more private, and if you plan on working, way more space 4) Be ontime. The trains NEVER wait for passengers. 5) Bring work -- it's the most productive time you'll ever have (no internet, no desk phone, no colleagues, etc). 6) Bring food -- yep, you can eat on the Metra. Steve read more

You can pee on Metra without getting arrested or some kind of fungus. So why are you driving? read more

Ooooooh Metra I so want to love you unconditionally. You get my carless self to so many special times with family & friends. My beef is with your notification on loading on which side. I understand putting up a sign would be perhaps costly for a minor track change or even putting a note on the line map page. However it would be super simple to implement a canned message like the arrival notice... "attention metra passengers Inbound train will be on the opposite track usually used for outbound trains" or vice versa or center track. I am sooooooo annoyed as are a ton of other people as we waited on the "to chicago" side only to see the inbound train on the outbound side the other day. Once everyone saw it, it was too late to cross & it's not like the train driver knew to wait for everyone to cross. 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. read more

Rode the train today from Palatine to Chicago on my mobility scooter. Getting on the train using the handicapped lift was easy as the Conductor was so helpful. The ride itself was very smooth also. Don't let a mobility issue keep you from enjoying downtown Chicago. Use Metra! 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! read more

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. read more

Zero stars for not salting the thick layer of ice this morning on Xmas eve at neither the Harlem nor North Glenview platforms when it was warm enough for said salt to do the job it does. J O B.....job! Two stars for almost always being on time, and you were, even after the ice storm we experienced here. If I slipped and fell and broke my coccyx, what would you have done? Buy me a trinket? Give me a $3.27 gift card to Taco Bell? Kick my cat when I'm out of town? I dint kick the cat I dint own, but Metra might since they dint believe that salt melts ice and at least Cameron has a car. John Lennon was the walrus according to Ferris Bueller (tho we who know the White Album know it was Paul). Doesn't change the fact that I dint have a car and have to ice skate to the fucking train on the Metra platform. Thanks, Metra. But I'm still alive to say THANKS, RIBS tonight at Xmas eve dinner! Thanks, Dave Chappelle for making me laugh... read more

I got a new job in the 'burbs, which in and of itself was a poor decision. But Metra is making the situation a lot more tolerable. I now take the train from Western Avenue out to Glenview. Instead of being on a train for 10 minutes into the city, I'm on it for 28 out to the 'burbs. Sounds like a downgrade, but it's so easy to read/eat/sleep while on the train that the time flies by. And there's an express train in the afternoon that gets me back to Western in 15 minutes or so. If I'm gonna be on a train, I have to say that I'd much rather be on a Metra train than a CTA train. I can really only think of two downsides to Metra. It's on time 95% of the time (and by on-time, I mean within 5 minutes of when it is scheduled to arrive). But when it's late (once a month or so), it tends to be catastrophically so. Last week, I had to wait over an hour on the first really cold day of the year for a train back into the city. That leads into the other problem - the announcements about the status of a late train are piped in from Chicago, so the guy at the station house has no idea what the problem is. Given that the announcement system was installed in 1749 or so, you generally can't hear what is actually being announced. My hour wait for the train last week would have been no big deal if I had known I was going to wait that long, as I could've gone to the bar down the street and waited in an indoor place. But since I couldn't hear the announcements, I had no idea when the train was coming, so I had to stay near the tracks. Still, I love not having to drive to the 'burbs most days, so that alone will allow my crush on Metra to continue. read more

The one star is for the generally polite conductors. And the downtown Naperville station is nice enough (actually - great coffee truck too). The rest of the place is a complete sh*thole. It is LATE EVERY DAY. You'll hear reports of people like my dad who had great experiences taking the train 30 years ago. Right - when ridership was 20% of what is is now. It is disgustingly crowded everyday - we had 4 people jammed into a tiny stairwell last week. I'm surprised no one's gotten ebola on this thing, with the amount of crowding that goes on. It is CONSISTENTLY late. Every single day. Sometimes it's so late that they just "skip" a train to catch up - which means that the 1200 people who were on your train are now a total 2400 on the next train. It gets pretty embarrassing regularly explaining to your boss that you've been up since 5:15am, but can't manage to get to work by 9:15. If you want to breathe, you have to sit in one of the last cars, and then walk probably at least 1/2 mile (probably longer) from the end to the entry to the station. This would actually be fine...except you're walking in depressing silence in an underground chamber filled with train exhaust, people who hate their jobs, and with the ceiling dripping water & rust on you (seriously). By the time I've just ended by morning commute, I already feel disgusting & totally annoyed, and I haven't even gotten to work yet. It's true - Metra lists the express trains @ around 35min, which is great. If it was true. By the time you factor in lateness & delays, it's closer to 50 minutes + @ least 15 minutes to walk from the train just into Union Station with the crowds. That's 65 minutes - not counting your walk to the office or your time to get from home to the train. Oh, by the way, if you forget your 10-ride/monthly pass, or if you're buying a single ticket...it's $8.75 each way from Naperville. Seriously. Also - the suicides are incredible - probably at least every other month on just this line. One span a few years ago was literally 4 suicides in 3 months. Typically men in the 30-60 age range in the west suburban area of the tracks, no doubt totally fed up with riding the awful Metra daily to their jobs while their teen kids spend money on $150 Juicy Couture shorts & their wives pop around town in the brand new Audi TT, spending their money. What this unfortunately means for you, is that you spend 2 hours waiting while they scrape off the tracks enough for you to move forward. It sounds callous & awful - but believe me, once you've been delayed six times @ 3-4 hours each, you'll start thinking they need to put up electric fences around the tracks as well. If you're considering moving to Chicago... DON'T. If you're already here & REALLY want the way to fly, I recommend getting up @ 4:15am & drive in to miss the traffic @ 5:30. I can guarantee you early-bird parking in west loop for $15 or less, a peaceful non-ebola commute, & your coffee & radio with a nice sunrise thrown in. But don't leave after 5:30, since what takes 25min on a Sunday will take you an hour & 40 minutes to go 30 miles. DON'T DO IT. DO NOT TAKE A JOB IN CHICAGO. Also - it's true, you could move to the city. IF you want to duck bullets. Gross. I'm getting out of here as fast as possible. read more

The Metra took my mom and us kids downtown to visit my dad at work. And today I take the same line out of the Chicago to my own job. I feel lucky being able to commute to work via the UP North line. Actually, its SO easy commuting to and from work that I have been less gung-ho over finding a new job that may not be public transit friendly. After a refreshing 1/2 mile walk to the stop, the express train gets me there in 18 minutes. Yes I said 18. The ride home is only a half hour and I can read or eavesdrop. I can always find a seat (even if that means sitting on the stairs to the upper level.) Just don't be an asshole and try to take up a whole 2-seat bench. Maybe you can get away with that on the CTA but you better believe someone, such as myself, will be there looming over you to take that extra seat. read more

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). read more

Yes, another bad review from me for Metra. Every day seems to be a new adventure. I'm not sure why this stuff keeps happening to me lol! Today - train was late 30 mins. So of course the escalators were jam packed when we got to Union Station. I ended up missing my bus. Grr. Isn't the railroad supposed to be known for being efficient? Anyway, the reason I decided to post YET AGAIN is something that happened during the commute home last night. I was standing in the stairwell on a VERY crowded 5pm train. (Metra urban rule: 2 people can stand in the stairwell) A man comes up the steps out of nowhere, gets in my face, DEMANDS that I move, and starts getting aggressive. Then, pushes me out of the way and sits where I was standing! I'm standing in the aisle now & really angry now that the shock is wearing off! That's assault! Next thing I know, his friend came up around me and took the steps so I lost my spot where I was standing for 10 mins! WTF! Other passengers look away as I engage in some very solid self-control. I ended up standing in the vestibule in 90 degree heat all the way to Rt 59. Seriously! Men - act like gentlemen! I hate the train. I really, really hate the train. I am going to start driving. This is ridiculous. read more

I can understand why some people like Metra - really, I can. And there are some days that I enjoy it, but those are few and far between. I LOVE THE CTA. I miss the CTA. Here are my top ten reasons why I HATE (my) Metra 1. People who think that the seats are reserved - you know who you are, you give those of us who dare to sit down in "your" seat a dirty look when you board 2. The people who take a four seater for themselves and their crap 3. People who talk LOUD on their phone (on the CTA you are drowned out by the noise of the train, or told to shut the F#$% up) 4. SMELLY NASTY BATHROOMS. I would rather burst my bladder than use one - so close the darn door when you get done doing whatever nastiness you've done so we don't all suffer. Seriously, if you live so far away that you can't wait, you live too far. 4b. Closely related to smell is the inevtiable loss of air on the one car that has seats - largely because of people in #2 above hogging seats in the cool cars. 5. The fact that those of us who live in the city are totally shafted by Metra - I have 2 whole choices for after 5:00 trains while people in the K zone (is that CO????- Jesus!) have special express trains and tons of options. 6. Being tied to the stupid schedule that makes no sense 7. TOURISTS WHO BLOCK YOUR PATH TO THE TRAIN EVERDAY!!!! 8. The fact that Metra has no machines to buy your tickets or passes 9. Adding to #8 - why do you open a special counter for people who live 7 million miles away to buy their passes, but those of us who have a 20 minute ride have to stand in line with the dumb people who never have their checks made out ahead of time and seem to never know what the fare is for their monthly that they buy EVERY MONTH!!! 10. The lovely irony of trying to use ticket by mail only to have a 3 WEEK TURN AROUND on the tickets you need, obviating the purpose. I love you CTA, I switch to you as often as I can to keep my sanity and to escape the suburbanites. read more

I've been a Metra commuter for about 3 years now. I travel the BNSF line from the burbs to union station almost everyday and I hate commuting with a passion. Metra is not an incredibly reliable service like they want you to believe. The way to really fly is probably to take the PACE. They've raised prices to be a significant amount higher than what they were but they have yet to improve the service. Sometimes the conductor skips people when collecting tix and I don't feel bad because Metra does not deserve any extra money. This line, especially, has constant delays and some of which are serious enough to make you have to find an alternate way home. Most of the time it seems like the train can be late for no reason and I honestly believe they make up excuses to passify us, like "this train is running approx. 8 minutes late due to 'track construction', or 'waiting on other trains' (and the best one) 'due to late arrival of equipment'..." If I haven't seem any construction I believe they're making stuff up, to me all of these sound like bs, they have more than one train per line to operate and more than one operator there should be no excuse for these things... During my second year of commuting I ran across some pretty rude conductors. I wrote Metra a letter who then wrote back basically saying they're passing the buck to BNSF to handle and I haven't heard anything since, but I haven't run across anymore nasty conductors which is good I guess. My best suggestion is try to live close to where you work... Or get a hybrid vehicle. read more