Just in case you haven't read the other 10 reviews here are the reasons to love the metra: 1. Quickest way to get downtown from Evanston 2. Only way to get north of Evanston without a car 3. $5 weekend pass; really only useful if you plan on spending the whole day somewhere and are coming back before 1am 4. You are allowed to drink on the train 5. You are allowed to DRINK on the train Enjoy the ride. read more

I rode the metra every day for a year from schaumburg to chicago. It got me there without sitting in traffic, but what keeps me from using it more often is the lack of express trains and the fact that after 7pm the trains leave only every two hours. did someone say wifi? if they had that i'd be more likely to ride so i could work on that 75 min train UGH. read more

Positives - Reliable - for the most part - Inexpensive - Fastest track into the city for surburbanites. Negative - Poor communication of delays. o BNSF line is frequently late with no explanation from the crew. o E-mail alerts are mostly useless - they tell you nothing. - Customer Service is long out the door here. Conductors and other train staff have no interest in showing any form of respect. Have even heard a few racist rants from one conductor in particular - over the PA! It's a necessity for work; I would never drive in for the plain and simple fact that my gas bill per month would easily triple -before parking. I will skip Metra for weekend events. There's no point in dealing with a train on the weekend for a random trip into the city. Metra sure knows how to screw up 2+ hours of your life when they have a major which happens at least 1-2 times a quarter. At that point you're stuck on the train while they figure out what's wrong this week with the engine, or peel some idiot off the tracks that doesn't know how to safely cross at a track crossing. Heartless? Yes. I have no regrets in that statement. read more

I take this train from Union Station out to Naperville a few times a year, and many holidays. I am writing this review as a rider who is not in a time crunch to get to work, but as a weekend rider. To start with, this line leaves from Union Station, usually from the same track, and usually on time (in my experience). The ride from Chicago to Aurora (the end of the line) is just short of 2 hours. BUT- if you can just relax and look out the windows, it is a charming ride. The old train stations from another time have been rehabbed, little train stop shops are reminiscent of the 1950s and make you think time may stand still in these areas of these suburbia villages. They all seem so clean and quaint and if you had the time- you may even want to hop off at each stop. The conductors are usually very friendly, happy to answer questions, have great uniforms and are fairly personable. If you take the train all the way to Aurora (the end of the line), the train stop is in the same building as Walter Payton's Round House. It's a great steak house and micro brewery. Huge place, has a Walter Payton museum inside, and a beer garden in good weather. This line is charming in the summer with it's tidy kept train stations and flowerbeds with kid on bikes riding outside, and just as lovely in the winter when everything is snow capped and old fashioned pine garland and lights are hung from train stations and shops along the way. read more

I'm a lucky, lucky girl. I truly have the world's greatest commute. I take the Metra from Ravenswood, just two stops, one at Clybourn, and then last stop, Ogilvie Transportation Center (OTC.) 15 minutes, tops. I walk one mile directly to work. Reverse it for the way home. I get some nice exercise, and keep my head clear. Some days I rock out with some music. Most days I have a delicious coffee. Life is good. But this review is for Metra - not my kick ass life! All in all, the conductors are great. There are the select few who are SUPER friendly, personable, loving life. There are one or two grouches, but that's true anywhere. The majority are just no-nonsense, punch your ticket, move along kinda guys, and I'm more than fine with that. The cars are so-so on the cleanliness, but I'm not one to use a train potty, port-a-potty, airplane potty, unless the alternative is death, so this means nothing to me. I'm not eating food off the train floor, so I think as far as sittin' and ridin', it's plenty clean. The ticket agents I find to always be nice. That's a job I WOULD NOT WANT (many people in the world are crazy stupid.) But I tend to treat customer service people in a cuddly manner, and they give it right back. Well, as much as you can cuddle behind a glass barricade. One of the main reasons I live where I live is because of the short walk to the Metra. And I didn't even touch on the summer months taking it to Ravinia! I'm telling you, life is good riding them rails. Especially with a nice glass of wine. read more

I ride the Metra when I visit my dad in the suburbs. If you know your way around it is an easy in easy out kind of place. I usually come from the LaSalle Blue line and walk up the stairs on the East side. Chase ATMs are on the north side of the platform. Employees that are selling the tickets are rude and have almost had me calling the police. Bathrooms inside are clean and convenient. The platform is covered and you are protected from the elements. Remember that you cannot bring your bike on the train during Taste of Chicago week....I learned this lesson the hard way. read more

3.5 stars. I feel like people will either LOVE Metra BNSF or hate it. Hardly are people middle of the road. I'm going to be in the middle. I haven't experienced other major metro train systems on a daily basis to comment, but BNSF is not bad. Sure you'll have delays, but I would say 90% of the time, it's out of BNSF's hands. Every once in a while, somebody walks or drives in front of a train and it'll hold up the line. The appropriate people need to conduct their actions and document the scene. It's not pretty, but you have to deal with it. Look at it this way, how much would it cost you to drive to work on a daily basis? How much work/reading/sleeping do you accomplish by taking Metra? It's a lot. So every so often they're late, but in the grand scheme of things, my alternatives are not pretty. read more

Yes Metra's cars are more comfortable than CTA cars, but the trains are not always on time and the conductors can be rude. Service was better back in the day when ticket prices were cheap and service was friendlier. The train does have bathrooms, but I wouldn't step inside them as they are super dirty. Hovering over the toilet will probably get you some kind of disease. Metra has also been subject to investigations involving scams and schemes against riders. (local news media) 1. ex-CEO Pagano committed suicide after stealing millions from the company. 2. Employees were told to stamp incorrect dates on backs of tickets to make them last only a few weeks instead of being valid for a year. and many more controversies.. read more

We rode the Metra out to the Brookfield Zoo while visiting Chicago. It was fairly easy to navigate. If you don't want to stand in line for tickets you can purchase them on the train from the conductor but it will cost you a couple extra bucks and they only take cash. read more

Pretty decent experience on the Metra after this weekend. I took the Metra to and from Evanston-Davis to OTC: the fare each way was $3.50, which was definitely reasonable for pretty fast service between the two stations. The seats were decent enough for a commuter train (much better than any Amtrak seat I've been in). The leg room wasn't that great, even for a short guy like me. If you're tall, you should probably take a seat facing the sides of the cars. Also, be weary that if the originating station has attendants, you'll be charged $3 extra in fees if you buy your ticket on board. Luckily, I saw some people boarding with tickets, so I ran out to buy one before the train left. read more

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. read more

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." read more

I'm putting in another vote for using the metra instead of CTA. It's cleaner, a hell of a lot faster for getting downtown (especially useful when I have luggage and am trying to get to Union Station), and not very much more expensive considering the convenience. One of the only downsides has to be the infrequency that it runs, which means you're a little screwed if you miss your train, but as long as you plan right, having to be a little more stickly about being on time is worth it for the much much shorter ride. read more

I took Metra (UPNW line) for 3 out of 4 years of High School. Overall, I feel that Metra is well run and a good value for the money. Service is significantly better and more dependable than CTA. I've also noticed that Metra security is better than CTA too. Metra seems to be fairly handicap friendly. The new rolling stock has really helped. Likewise, the large number of station improvements as well as construction of new stations also helps. read more

My commute to work has gone from a 30-45 minute drive to a 13 minute metra ride. You CANNOT beat that! My time is not wasted any more. I can read, listen to music and no longer get angry at bad drivers. I also signed up for their metra tracker online and they send me an e-mail when the train is running late and what the estimated time of arrival is. It's also a very easy ride up to Ravinia and they never charge you on the way back. :) read more

I realize that there are number of Yelp sites for different Metra lines, but I'll post mine here as I was a frequent rider on the BNSF line for over ten years. The best aspects of Metra were the most obvious -- you were spared a (sometimes horrendous) drive into downtown Chicago and given a couple of nice time slots during your morning and evening commute to read, relax, or otherwise just "watch the miles go by" (like the jingle used to say). Compared to driving, it WAS the way to "really fly". Having spent about a six month stretch driving into the city on a daily basis made this all the more obvious to me. However, there were a few downsides. For one, the reliability of the BNSF line seemed to have declined as the years went by -- delays due to a variety of reasons became more or less a regular occurrence. Now, I understand that some of these were beyond Metra's control ("incidents" involving pedestrians or motor vehicles, bad weather, mechanical problems, etc.) but as time went on these just seemed to be ever increasing in frequency. The one thing about riding Metra that I really came to hate was the fact that you were forced to sit at close quarters with annoying and/or inconsiderate people. The loudmouth cell phone talkers were the worst of these. A few years ago, the BNSF line introduced "quiet cars", which were an improvement. However, more often than not you had one individual who would succeed in making a "quiet" car anything but. I don't know -- maybe 12 years of riding Metra on an almost-daily basis made me a lot less tolerant of things that I would have been able to just blow off earlier. I never had a problem with conductors myself but have observed the surliness that other reviewers have mentioned. The station where I usually parked (Fairview Ave.) had ample metered parking right by the tracks for a 25 cents an hour. I was also within walking distance to the Clarendon Hills stop. Some BNSF locations, however, have insane waiting lists for parking (e.g., Naperville). Because I was a consultant who was never sure of how long I would need to ride the train during any given stretch, I never bothered to apply for a parking pass at any nearby location. All in all, despite Metra's drawbacks and recent hefty fare increases, I'd still consider them to be a hands down better alternative to driving into the city each day. After doing it for as along as I did, however, you might find that riding it on a daily basis will start grating on your nerves. read more

I use this train weekly and I love to be able to bring my bike on the train. So awesome way to be able to get to work. You can read, sleep, so work or just zone out. Much better than sitting in soul crushing traffic. I do wish they offered wifi that would probably attract more riders. Very friendly conductors and always clean Much appreciated Metra! read more

One of the train conductors who happens to be the supervisor, as shown in the picture attached to the email, in the 12:20pm train headed from Aurora to Chicago on Sunday, 12/31/2017, was very unprofessional during an attempt in requesting for my ticket.My internet connection was not working properly so I was trying to ask for additional time when waiting for the connection to adjust, and after finding out I just had to switch on my internet connection from the settings tab on my phone.Prior to doing so, the train conductor asked if I could come downstairs so he could see the ticket, but I clearly showed him the ticket from the second floor of the train that I was on and told him I was not feeling too well. The train conductor had an attitude with me by literally using the words, "I do not give a ***" after I told him I felt like I was going to faint. This train conductor is the most unprofessional, disrespectful authority figure I have come across in your METRA services. Ive never had any issues with other train conductors. Other conductors have been patient in waiting for my internet connection to process efficiently.But the supervisor conductor, as shown in the picture below, was the most unprofessional person ever.He also told me he has been working there for years and that he can never get fired, as a way to attempt to use and take advantage of his authority status. Reason of review: Uncomfortable and inappropriate interaction with supervisor conductor . Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution. I didn't like: Supervisor using status to use swear words against me, Crap-smelling breath from conductor, When drooling over my phone impatiently, Conductor literally telling me he cannot get fired, Because of his status. pic of supervisor conductor is in link in review below: https://metra.pissedconsumer.com/ read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

I only took the metra once before recently, to an Osweego Thanksgiving. No complaints, the totally midwestern faire wasn't Metra's fault. Or maybe it was trying to warn me with all the green light and bell sounds... I recently discovered that you could walk on with an open 24oz of Miller. But curiously no cats, dogs or snakes. Hmm Also Metra helped confirm for me that I don't like teenagers on transportation in the city or the burbs. Thanks Metra! I'll now move back to California to rear my young. Wheew! Glad I got that cleared up years in advance. A group of kids were sitting near me. They were at that age when they all look the same and the girls look older than the guys and theyre starting to drink but clearly don't drive yet. Anyway, one of them asked what people from the Bahamas were called. One girl said they were called Bohemian, she "learned" that on her recent trip there. I laughed at them and then woried about the future generations and then wondered why they were asking the whole train instead of looking it up on their fancy phones. Clearly it was a long trip. At least the train was on time and I got to tell some teenagers that people from the Bahamas are called Bahamian. But not until i was almost out of the car doors. I'm small, they might confuse me for one of them and I didn't really want an invite to their suburban shindig or explain that I was in no way inclined to buy them alcohol. Bottom line: try to be the last person to sit down in a car of commuters if you want to avoid hearing 13 year olds discuss in length how much they are willing to pay for a pill of Xanax. read more

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. read more

The reviews for Metra are hilarious, so many people griping about one off situations, when in reality they transport thousands to and from work every day without incident. So we have that going for us, which is nice. Are there occasional delays? Sure, but they've gotten a lot better about communicating when they happen. People need to bear in mind that Metra shares the rail with freight trains, which are operated by the railroads that own the rail that Metra operates on, plus Amtrak traffic as well. Trains will be late sometimes, but you'd be late to work just as often if you drove instead because people wreck and mess up traffic there too. The only gripes I have as a daily Metra BNSF commuter would be first, the rare occasions my train in to the city arrives at then leaves my stop a couple minutes EARLY which has caused me to miss it. Luckily, I live close enough to the city that I can hop on the CTA or drive and still be downtown within 25 mins. The other gripe is conductors who make a huge stink about people putting their feet on the upper level railings. Those seats need that footspace, I know that the conductor I call 'Big Hoss' certainly wouldn't make it sitting up there without putting his feet up, so he should stfu about us doing it. read more

It's a little bumpy! And sometimes, Metra doesn't really fly... I would say, 80% of the time, Metra is on time... I have been taking the train for 10+ years, and not just the BNSF. I've been on multiple Metra lines. Some lines are a smoother ride than others. The UP-NW is probably the smoothest Metra ride I've ever taken. However, the BNSF, also the most traveled rail of all 11 lines, it the bumpiest ride I have been on! True, it is relaxing to not have to worry about traffic and other cars, but you will get jostled a bit! As for timing, I would advise signing up for Metra alerts via email. At least they are fairly good about warning you that the train is delayed due to track construction, mechanical issues, personal shortages, pedestrian incidents, etc... Even though have been unlucky enough to have sat on the train for hours, delayed because of a pedestrian incident or mechanical issues, I would still recommend taking the Metra to and from the city. Even with all cons, I would still recommend taking the Metra. I beats bumper to bumper traffic any day of the week. read more

In today's commuter world, the real question isn't about whether your commute to downtown has traffic or expensive gas prices. The real question is - how long is my nap from the suburbs to downtown and then vice versa after I get off work? I had to Yelp about my ride on the Chicago Metra! This is my third time riding on the train. Not bad. Just like home in the Bay Area with the BART system. I caught a twenty five minute nap from downtown Chicago to Elmhurst. I can totally understand the benefits of taking Metra (during the heavy commute hours): - Catch a power nap before and after work although you still have a few riders that won't stop talking about work on there cell phones. - Avoid the stress and aggravation of sitting bumper to bumper traffic. - I'm on vacation so I did some people and suburb watching. So this is what the other side of the world is doing at 5:00PM. Useful Tips for Out to Towner's and Visitors: I strongly recommend taking the Metra if you're going to meet up with family or friends in the suburbs. Since I was staying in the busy part of downtown Chicago, I didn't want any of my friends to travel from the suburbs to come get me. So I opted for the Metra. There's plenty of pick and drop off points in the suburbs. Plan your trip accordingly and visit the website (www.metrarail.com). There's enough information to complete your journey. Avoid taking a cab or using the bus system. You'll just waste time and money. No major worries here. It's clean and safe during the mornings and afternoons. I wouldn't take the Metra at night unless I'm traveling with my friends or in a large group. The conductor takes cash payments only. So if you're rushing and can't spare time at the ticket machines, bring cash with you onboard ($10.00 cash). My ride fare was $3.25 (one way). Not bad at all. read more

Metra - Metro Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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. read more

Hey CTA, you are nice and everything but I'm seeing someone else. I take Metra every day to work, and I really try to take it any time that I need to get downtown. Metra wins in every category when you compare it to driving or taking the CTA. When I take Metra, I don't have to pay parking fees or worry about how long CTA will take or sit in the dirty CTA trains. I can just relax on a nice clean train and take a quick ride downtown or out to the suburbs. Plus, you can't beat the $5 weekender tickets. I cannot recommend Metra enough for July 3rd. After the Independence Day fireworks at Taste of Chicago, Metra will line up all their trains, fill them up with people, and send them off when full. "Convenient" does not even begin to describe this. As the masses of people are heading for CTA and waiting forever just to get on a train and probably stand for the whole trip, Metra riders can just walk right on to their train, sit down, and it will leave as soon as it fills. read more

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. read more

PROS: Metra is pretty much always on time. The seats are super comfortable. It's not very expensive. Compared to other train systems I've ridden from CT to NYC, the Metra is really fast. CONS: Can be a bit confusing once off the train if you don't know where you are. I'm not sure if this is a Metra thing or an RTA thing...but annoying nonetheless. No more drinking on the Metra! Depending on how long of a route your on, the people who board can be really obnoxious. _____ For the most part, I've had okay experiences with the Metra. It's a pretty solid system. One of the main reasons why this won't get anymore than three stars is the fact that the Metra wasn't so Gay-friendly when we were on it last time. I'll keep that story to a minimum, though, and say it wasn't fun. Anyway, fair system. read more

I applaud Metra for making space for bikes on their trains. It extends the range of your bike manyfold, and that's a good thing. But folks, be sure to bring a bungee cord to secure your bike, even though requirement for same is not mentioned on the Metra website. I did not have a bungee cord on an inbound Milwaukee District train once and the conductor gave me such grief. Even though I offered to babysit the bike, Oh I had to secure it anyway, even if it's with shoelaces. Shoelaces?? I wanted to ask him if he knew how ridiculous he sounds, but I did not. It seems from these writings there are many complaints against Metra conductors, and I wonder if their training in common sense is adequate. Or like Mindy below says, it's just behavior that comes out of monopoly. Why we don't want the entire food chain controlled by Amazon. read more

I often take the train to the city and end up at Ogilvie or Union. Not a scary experience- public transportation at its best, guys! You can hang out at the stations when you miss your train, too. Great for concerts and parties when you might be a little unfit for a drive afterwards. One star off because of the bathrooms on the trains hardly being clean EVER. read more

Yesterday was only the 2nd time I took the Metra from the burbs, and the first time I did it all by myself. AT NIGHT! But the one-hour ride didn't feel long at all. Nor was it crowded cuz I planned to ride it 1/2 hour before the rush crowd. Anyway, the smooth ride brought on an epiphany -- I may actually apply for a job downtown afterall. Of course, then, I may need to get a kickass mp3 player that's NOT an Ipod. read more

Metra's a strange beast, cause it's really just a conglomeration of a whole slew of privately owned railway systems that handed over operations to the state in the 70s. That's why the names of the lines are so arcane ("UP-N") and there is pretty much no connection between downtown stations. And really, little has changed since Metra ordered some new locomotives and cars in the 70s and came up with their ditty. They've pretty much been chugging along ever since Old-school. Cajun-style. Ok, maybe not cajun-style. I kind of imagine Metra's board of directors being a group of old railroad men in striped conductor hats who sit around and say things like "doohickey" and "whippersnapper." Metra's last major investment in technology must have been their website that was live until late 2009. It was clearly designed on Geocities (R.I.P.) as someone's kid's 8th grade project. In 1996. Yeah, so there's a sleek new website now, but it's 2010 and you still can't buy tickets with credit cards (who uses those doohickeys, anyways?) They bought a bunch of new cars, but they're the same design as the ones from the 70s, just less rusty but with the same post-apocalyptic green-tinted windows. The PA system in stations sounds like it's underwater. There's no information whatsoever on the platform. They rarely even put a system map or schedule out. But for the things that really count, it's not like Metra's doing a bad job. They run a pretty large system, the fares are pretty low, and it's mostly on time. Those are the things that count. Still, it wouldn't hurt to at least THINK about incorporating some modern conveniences. It's not like we're asking you to run your fleet on electricity or anything. read more

I don't have anything too negative to say about Metra. Without a car I have to use the train a lot for getting around to work and other places in the Chicago suburbs. When I first went to Union Station there was a trade show going on inside the main floor, so I did not get a chance to fully appreciate the beauty and and interesting history. Now that I seem to be visiting Union Station on a daily basis, it is very convenient, mostly clean, seems to always have police on patrol, and is generally very crowded during peak business hours. For the Metra rail cars I have found them to be in good condition and very durable. I heard from a friend that it wasn't that long ago that Metra used to include a separate area on each train to actually sell beer and other drinks. That sounds strange and kind of amazing at the same time. These days I see various NHL fans coming downtown for the Chicago Blackhawks games with beers in hand. So even though they are not selling drinks, you can still BYOB if you want to, unless they make an announcement to ban drinks like they did in 2011 for Chicagofest. The best deal is to buy your tickets ahead of time, if you want to avoid an extra fee from an onboard purchase from the conductor. Cash only has been my experience on the train, but you can pay with a card at the ticket window at Union or certain other stations that have ticket agents available. I actually just buy mine online from the Metra website and use a pass so I don't have worry about carrying money. I generally feel safe but it is obvious when you see a passenger who is going to be a problem, because they are acting drunk, or have some other issues. The conductors are pretty good about monitoring loud behaviors and radio playing, and yes they will eject you at the next stop if you argue. My suggestions for improvement include adding more ticket agents at Union Station who are at their window and ready for service; adding more trains on the weekend so you don't have to wait two hours for the next one; allow free wifi onboard so you don't have to rely on your phone to reach the Internet; and get away from paper tickets in favor of an electronic ticketing system so the conductor doesn't have to manage a book of paper tickets, and hopefully would allow him or her to take credit card payments onboard. read more

The train costs me $239.25 a month, that is almost $3,000 a year and rising every year. And what do I get for that price? A train that is late more often than it is on time. I understand occasional delays and delays for emergency situations but frequent long delays for basic maintenance and planning is inexcusable. An unenjoyable ride. The cars are old, dirty, and smell bad. The seats are crazy uncomfortable and most are concave and worn out. I can feel myself getting back issues with each passing day. Seriously, there is no way to sit in those seats with good posture unless you want a serious workout. The ride isn't smooth, frequent bumps and jerks will jolt you awake if you were lucky enough to doze off. They are loud as hell and even noise cancelling headphones won't save your eardrums. The max speed my train travels is 60mph, I still have to debate whether or not it's worth just driving to the city. The climate control is straight out of the 50's. In the summer cars are so cold you have to wear a coat. In the winter, cars aren't warm enough. Some of the time you get nothing at all so it's a sauna or their is frost on the windows. There are little to no amenities. Want to charge your phone or laptop? Nope. Want to sign into WiFi to get some work or homework done? Nope. Want to pull the shades down so you aren't blinded by the sun? Nope. Want to turn off the obnoxious overhead lighting early in the morning or late at night? Nope. I'm not even going to talk about the restrooms which are a sad joke. The stations are non existent or outdated not to mention depending on where you work Union Station or Ogilvieis are over a mile away from your work place. They say ridership is down but my trains are standing room only. It's a sad state at Metra, avoid if you can. read more

Ah the Metra. For several years I've taken the Southwest Service. It always seemed as if the train was running late on days I actually needed to be somewhere. Freight trains were usually a big problem for Southwest. They had the right of way, which sucks on days when you just want to be at home eating dinner (which is everyday). Now I take the BNSF. My ride is about 20 minutes to and from work. It's really not a surprise how much more I like the Metra now that my ride is no longer an hour. It's been a blessing, but it still only deserves about 3 stars. I've had way too many issues in the past to give it anymore. Honestly, how much I enjoy my ride is pretty much based on the people who ride the train. They should really have it their own page on Yelp. If we all followed a few simple rules, the Metra would be much more enjoyable. 1) Don't talk loud on your cell phone. 2) Don't eat super smelly food (Chili? Really? Now?). 3) Don't blow bubbles with your gum or chew it obnoxiously loud (Just gross). 4) Don't sit on opposites sides of the top level and scream across to your friends. 5) Don't blare your music (Attention white iPod earbud users: we can hear everything you listen to!) 6) Don't let any kids run wild or scream at random things. 7) Cover your mouth when you cough, sneeze, etc. I think these are pretty standard rules. Or really there should just be one rule: Be courteous. So simple, I know. You'd be surprised. read more

A good line, but one that needs updating at its city stops, and (like the entire Metra system) more automation for fare purchasing. Since the rails between riverside and western were redone the ride has gotten a lot smoother. Nevertheless the heavy freight traffic encountered on this line has caused some headaches at times. I'm still waiting for the a major north-south line as an outer connector and give residents of Downers Grove or La Grange easier access to the northwest burbs without depending on cars, but that's wishful thinking for now. read more

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'. read more

What can I say about the metra? I take it only when necessary.. the only poor experience I had was the day it was super crowded and the air turned off right after the Hawks won the stanley cup. I will say that you should buy tickets before boarding b/c they do charge a fee when you buy them from the attendant. The seats aren't ideal to sleep in but they could be worse. They get me from point A to B without a hitch. They could benefit from offering WiFi - not too much to ask for honestly. 5 years ago? maybe but let's get with the times guys. read more