MetroRail helps me save in gas and staff is friendly, I just wish they would be more assertive and tell passengers that like to put their stinking feet up on the seats to please put them down. I mean, you're not in your house, you're using a public transportation! Who likes to sit down on a seat where dirty shoes have been?! Imagine if he has doggo crap on them and he doesn't know! Disgusting! Please be conscious of the space you're using and other people using it! read more

Metro Rail Downtown Station - Stinking feet up on a seat on a public transport. Ewww! - Train Stations Near Me - Austin, Texas

Experienced the Metro Rail for the first time, and it was a fantastic journey! Having been in the Texas Austin area for seven years, my family and I decided to take the train from Leander station to downtown Austin for the first time. The day pass for adults at $7 each was a great deal, especially since kids ride for free. The interior of the train was impressively clean--seriously, spotless--and well-ventilated, making the ride comfortable from start to finish. The conductors were friendly and accommodating, adding to the overall positive experience. The children particularly enjoyed the ride, making it a memorable family outing. Highly recommend the Metro Rail for a convenient, clean, and enjoyable transportation option in the Austin area! read more

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The southern terminus for Austin's Red Line, it takes about an hour to travel the 32 miles of track from here to the northern terminus at Leander. Trains from here depart every half hour, more-or-less. This station is handicapped accessible with automated ticket vending machines. There are some bus connections here. The next station northbound is Plaza Saltillo, which is 3/4 of a mile to the east. [Review 10176 overall, 1762 of 2018.] read more

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Support public transportation in Austin! Do the green thing! This is the downtown terminus of the red line. I'm not sure why it's called the "red line" since it's the only line. But parking in downtown Austin is difficult, and traffic is a mess, so why not park out in the 'burbs, and ride the train in? It's not very expensive, and you can sit back and relax and let the train do the job. I just wish there was more options for riding the train. If only you could ride it from San Antonio to Austin, but nope. This transit stop is right by the convention center and a nice little park right downtown. It's a great jumping off point for getting around downtown, since it's close to lots of things going on around here. The transit station has ticket machines, or you can purchase tickets with an app. From the times that I've been, this place is usually well patrolled and well-lit. It's handicapped accessible and bike friendly. Riding the train sure beats paying for parking downtown. It seems that the locals don't use this nearly as much as they could! read more

I want to give this 5 cool factor stars and 1practical star...the trains are very cool looking but there is only one line and it pretty much only goes north of downtown into the burbs...I hope that eventually Austin expands what could be a cool feature but right now I think it's perceived as something of a joke. Oh yah, it doesn't even run on weekends... read more

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I've been wanting to see where the commuter rail actually went. I've been held up at the railroad crossing watching that little train pass by and I just started to wonder what that experience would be like. Did it on my day off. I live north so I parked at one of their park and ride locations and hopped on. The two stops downtown have their own options to eat near by within a block, so that was awesome. The best part it was so relaxing. When has a drive down town ever been relaxing lol. read more

Metro Rail Downtown Station - Train Stations Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I think this is a an amazing asset to the city and for $7 you receive an all day pass, this is about as close as I'll ever get to winning the lottery. The metro rail takes you from downtown all the way up towards the Domain area and even further if I'm correct. This is the means of transportation for the brew tour across town and it's super fun! They're very well kept and ample amount of seating. Please don't be a cheapskate btw... If you get caught being a shady and didn't grab a ticket you'll get fined by the officer up to $400. TRUST ME I WITNESSED ONE! If you're excuse btw is that you don't have cash, lucky for you they have an app for that lol. read more

Some things have improved about the MetroRail service since the first reviewer (Hi, Patrick S. from Denver!) made his post, so it seemed appropriate to go ahead and post a public service announcement along with my two cents from a local's perspective. MetroRail *does* have weekend service now, starting with SXSW Music in March 2012. You can catch the commuter rail service until just after midnight on Fridays and from 4pm to midnight on Saturdays. They also run other extended service during special events such as Pecan Street Festival, but you need to check the schedule page and Twitter feed to confirm before you go. Austin's MetroRail is a *commuter rail* system, which means it was funded and designed for a very limited purpose: to get people who live on the north side of town to their jobs in downtown (generally a weekday, 6a-6p proposition), which (in theory) keeps their cars off the roads and reduces traffic for everyone. The trains run on tracks that they share with a profitable pre-existing freight service, and the cars holding people aren't allowed to be on the tracks at the same time as the cars holding freight (per federal rule), so the City has to balance any extended commuter service hours with a loss of the freight service hours. The long range plan (which of course depends on voter approval & funding) is to link up the MetroRail line with other local and regional rail systems as they are developed. It just ain't here yet.... So, what about the Downtown MetroRail station? I love that it is one of the few stations along the 9-station line that drops you off in a pedestrian-friendly destination that you would actually intend to visit (rather than a midpoint stop before you must get on a bus or cab to reach your desired drop off). Within 1-10 blocks in any direction of this station, you can eat, drink, and be educated or entertained to your heart's content. Generally, if I ride MetroRail from my north Austin base, the Downtown Station (or Plaza Saltillo, the one before it) is where I get off. Also good to know: - Trains are clean & almost always run on time. - You can bring your bike. - You can drink from a spillproof container, but food is not allowed. - There is free wi-fi on board. - Ticket kiosks take cash, credit, and debit. - Download the CapMetro app to have the easiest time with advanced order ticketing. Check out the How to Ride Guide for more info: http://www.capmetro.org/metrorail/ read more

I've had a good experience using the Metro Rail at this station, because the train is always on time. It's usually not too crowded. It's clean and the service is great. Definitely a nice alternative to sitting in traffic driving your favorite your car. You can use the train buy purchasing a ticket at the vending machine or using the app. read more

A fan of the Metro Rail so far :) +lots of seating but gets crowded (as does everything else) after work +decent stops... goes all the way out to Leander +easy to buy tickets at this station... just follow the directions - wish there were later times on weekends - wish pricing didn't jump up from $1 to $2.75 once you pass out of Zone 1... - would probably help to have more park & ride stations read more

After coming from Switzerland I have been having public transportation withdrawals, especially rail options. I just tried the light rail this past Saturday and was VERY excited, and very pleased. The light rail I read is only about 1 yr old, and I like they have started out small, and have great plans to grow, with one of the next routes going to the airport. On Saturday there is a great little station outside the Domain area (closest to me) that has a closed business on the weekend that you can utilize their parking for the rail. Super convenient, free wifi, inexpensive ($1 -one way), clean and safe (there were security guards on in the evening), and bikes are no extra charge (better than Switzerland!). Plus, a quick 20-30 minutes to the Downtown station. The payment system has a few kinks, as the credit card didn't seem to be functioning well, and it was rejecting my friends new one dollar bills from the bank. I trustingly put in my 5 dollar bill hoping I could get change, and was happy to receive a change card towards future uses, which will definitely be happening after my positive experience. I am looking into getting the re chargeable cards. Improvement idea: Besides extending the system throughout the rest of Austin, also add some additional park and rides for those living outside downtown and want to drive a short distance - park and go. TIP: The station doesn't have bathrooms, but you can easily access the bathrooms in either of the lobbies of the nearby hotels. read more

I live off Highland, so I started taking the train downtown when I go out for drinks. I drive 3 minutes or walk about 15 minutes to the HIghland station and then take the train to downtown. It's always so nice! I'd make this a 5 star review except I am unhappy how it stops running at 12 am on the weekends (and 7 pm on the weekdays) and that people in Austin don't know how to ride it! STOP CROWDING THE DOORS! Everyone will get it! read more

Pros: It gets you downtown. It gets you home. It has a ticketing station. There are seats! Don't put your ticket up too quickly because they're scanning them somewhat regularly now. Cons: Watch out for the bike lane that you are required to cross, especially during heavy traffic! Be a good pedestrian and make sure not to get run over. read more

Maybe my expectations are too high, but coming from the Northeast, the rail system here is very barebones. It's great that the route takes you from the northern burbs into town and back. But the stations all lack some basic amenities. The "park and ride" stations need to have actual parking garages, not just a lot, to accommodate the volume and provide cover. There should be a building at each station with restrooms, seats, ticket kiosks, monitors showing the schedule, and a coffee shop. They need to prevent people from getting on without a ticket by having passengers go through turnstiles where the ticket is scanned. They could pay for a lot of improvements with the $ they're losing by using the honor system. I'm glad to hear they are working to get trains every 15 mins. I hope the stations will get some upgrades soon. read more

Compared to San Diego's "Trolley" (so stupid that they call it that), the Austin Rail is pure luxury. There are spots to hang your bike, and an overhead space for storing larger items. The seats are new-looking and comfy. It is only a measly $1 each way to ride in 1 zone...or is it zone 1? We took this bad boy from downtown to Black Star Co-op Brewery. Everyone should do this, I can't recommend it highly enough. read more

Love the train, though I wish it ran a lot more often. It would be great to ride it on weekends to go downtown for fun, or in the evenings for dinner, but there aren't that many trains running. I'm sure it's cost, but still. Anyway, I rode it with my son just for fun when he was off school last week, and we had a blast. Just a great way to get downtown and back and spend time with the kiddo. Trains are clean, tickets are easy to get, and kids 5 and under are free. You can whine all day about where the stations are, etc. But all in all, it's a great train ride, and that's all my son wanted. He still talks about it with a big smile on his face. read more

Doesn't take credit cards and doesn't tell you until afterwards that it doesn't give change even though there is a "bill return" slot read more

Metro Rail Downtown Station - Train Stations Near Me - Austin, Texas

I have had two experiences with Austin's Metrorail train, both left me extremely dissapointed and confused as to how it is run. We live in the burbs, and generaly have no need to go downtown as we do not work downtown, and the places the train does stop, has little appeal otherwise. The first time we tried to ride it, several years ago, we had a train nut toddler, and thought it would be a fun experience. We went to the Lakeline stop one Saturday, only to find after buying tickets, there are no trains until the evening. My fault, I should have checked. Today, a Monday, I took the kids on a fieldtrip downtown. As of today, the ticket machines state they are ceasing to accept cards, but will accept cash. There are two machines, neither would accept either of my brand new 20 dollar bills, luckily the credit card readers were still working. The machine are difficult to use, you cannot purchase different types of fares in one transaction, the kids qualify for a reduced fare, but the machines would only process one ticket at a time. So it took 3 separate transactions to get the three tickets. It wouldnt even process the two reduced fare tickets at once. Two tourists from London near us also had difficulty. On our return trip from downtown, there are no credit card readers. Again neither machine will accept either bills in my wallet. There are two Capmetro employees there that are clueless and absolutley no help. One suggests I walk down to the Hilton to ask for other bills. Also the machines do not give change, just a remainding credit receipt. Two other parties couldn't get the machines to take their money. Then they suggest I download the CapMetro app to purchase tickets, which I do otherwise be stranded downtown. The app is terrible, and there is no reduced fair option for minors, so 3 tickets purchased full price. By this time, my phone is down to about 10%, I ask the manager that showed up by then, how do you verify your purchase. "You must show your phone purchase screen if asked on the train." I asked her, "so what if your phone dies while on the train?" She responds, "maybe you should go buy MORE tickets with cash. Again, the macines will not take the bills. Austin wants to increase the mass transit usage, but it is extremely unfriendly and difficult to use. I can see people being stranded with this system. It isn't worth the cost and hassel for use Metrorail unless you commute for work. read more

The train was convenient and comfortable and it ran on time. It's a great way to get to and from SXSW. The downtown station is conveniently located near 4th and Trinity. I wish the SXSW train schedule was year round. read more

This is the WORST transit system EVER. My ride out to Leander from DT was delayed 45 mins. Had to keep waiting for the other train to pass. 15 mins at a stand still at least 3-4 times. Even worse on the way back. Got on the train an hour ago and have gone 1 mile. Sat at a stand still for 40 mins twice. Totally late for everything o had planned. Never again. read more

The train itself is fine and everyone I have encountered that works with Metro has been great , but everything else that goes with it is half-assed. Departure schedules should pop up on the metro home page, I shouldn't have to search. No credit cards use to buy tickets at the stations, and no notice that change is not given. Schedule is a joke, 1 train an hour after 10am, no late night runs on weekend and no Sunday service. read more

Great date night. No traffic frustrations. No parking hassle. A/C & wifi. My only wish is that it ran more on the weekends - late night & early morning. It would be a great drunk driving deterrent as well as a great way to get to the Farmer's Market. There's a great opportunity for it to be geared towards event goers as well as commuters. read more

The location is really great. Walking distance to 6th St., right by the convention center, and plenty of great restaurants nearby. Not much to say as there's not much here. read more

Having just used the metrorail during SXSW, I was appalled at how uncomfortably packed people were, due to the city's neglect to schedule more frequent trips. I heard that a major reason for this decision is the concern that many people don't pay when incoming. A phone app being the only way to pay (when incoming) is not a viable solution. Is this the reason there's no fare enforcer on the incoming train? (Let's not enforce the fare since there's not really a way for people to pay when incoming anyway?) The ticket machine's lack of change (at the downtown station) is also a joke. This is another example of how the city welcomes the money and notoriety coming in, but is weak in accommodating it. My hope is that there are enough complaints to add more trips and/or trains during the festivals, at the very least. PS: give the fare enforcers a raise; they're the ones having to deal with the consequences (understandably frustrated patrons) of poor decision-making on the part of city-planning. read more

I use the metro rail twice a week to go to DCI in Highland. It's great and terribly convenient, only taking 15 minutes between here and there. I can't wait until they expand it. I would use it all the time if it went to more places. read more