I originally posted this review on June 5, 2008. Idiotically, Yelp moved it to a listing for Metra, a completely different train system that shares some of the South Shore Line's tracks and stations. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One thing I loved about living in South Bend, Indiana, was being able to take the South Shore Line to Chicago. So it wasn't the fastest way to get there, and honestly, if I were going to be tooling around Chicago, I usually drove. But when I had a flight out of Midway and didn't feel like being gouged for leaving my car at long-term parking, I took the South Shore Line there. The first thing you'll notice about the South Shore Line is how old school it is. From the trains themselves--which look like they were reupholstered in the '60s--to the conductors' uniforms to the tickets, you know you're riding something that has changed very little since the 1930s or whenever it started. Although it takes a long time, it's still a cheap way to get to Chicago and many obscure points between South Bend and the Loop. I would gladly give the South Shore Line five stars except for a couple problems. First, it's very easy to be on the wrong car of the train and get left somewhere far from home. Make sure when you get on that you're sitting in the correct car, as on some runs only some of the cars make it all the way to South Bend. Second, and this isn't really the South Shore Line's fault but it does make riding a little weird, a lot of the Chicago stations are sketch fests. If you're going to Midway, just go all the way to the Loop and catch the orange line from there. I used to go to the Roosevelt station and walk the few blocks to the Orange Line. I saved a dollar or so, but the walk is really annoying. And some of the South Side stations are really really really scary. I'm talking desolate scary. read more

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I love taking the train into Chicago. Relaxing, easy to use and currently only $20 round trip. Can't beat it! read more

South Shore Line - Tracks - Train Stations Near Me - Chesterton, Indiana

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Trains are always packed they only run 3 cars and when you ask about it they say the other cars are under maintenance which has been an excuse for the last year. Standing room only and the cars are dirty and the seats are all torn up! if you have another option to go to Chicago pick that option read more

I can't believe that in richest country on earth this is the train that is available in one of the largest metro areas in the country. The United Kingdom and France have way faster and more efficient trains, it's embarrassing that this is the transportation that exists for us. The infrastructure in the U.S. is a national embarrassment. read more

In all honesty, reliable, dependable, friendly staff, very good in general! Delayed by 30 minutes one time, and arrived on the dot, and the Electric Multiple Unit broke down once, and they had a train ready to have us come aboard! read more

This train is not half bad, on the off chance that it is on time. Been riding this train for over two years and it never ceases to fail me. I've been late to work innumerable times due to this train line. When it's normal for your train to be over 30 minutes late, there's something seriously wrong with operations. read more

South Shore Train Line From Indiana to Chicago is very un organize when it come to arrival times and stops. Not dependable for being on time for work. This train never on time on the weekend. Even when they don't have a special construction project going on. They don't accommodate you and send an earlier train when they know a special construction project is in effect. I am an agency healthcare employee. I catch the train from Millers to 11th Street Museum Campus. If I am not at work at 3pm there are other healthcare workers waiting to replace me. There are very sick people waiting to be care for. You can not depend on this train to get you to work on time. I should have been at my stop 20 minutes ago. We just sitting at high park on 53rd. I was told construction going on and other train need to pass by. My app say I will arrive at 11th street at 3:05 pm, but it's 3:05 now. I waisted $7.50 plus $7 Lyft not counting being cancel doubly fare to go back home no work. Because they are not organized with timing the train stops. read more

Left towards Chicago from Northwest Indiana to save time and not have to drive. The train was supposed to arrive to Millennium Station at 9:37am. The train got delayed on the tracks for over an hour and did not reach millennium until 11am when our arrival time was and hour and 30 minutes earlier.... On the way home. The train was scheduled to leave at 6:25pm. Was told there was not enough crew available and we would be stuck waiting. The train did not leave the station until 7:20pm when the next train began to fill with riders. South Shore Line was literally the worst experience I've ever had. I would not recommend it to anyone needing to travel from Northwest Indiana to Chicago. If you're not in a rush it's fine but I think paying a Uber would be worth more. Terrible service, trashy company, lack of employees. read more

DO NOT APPLY I applied to 3 different positions and no one ever calls. Maybe cause it's a beautiful black woman on the resume. So you see my face that goes with the skills. Must not be mixed enough... THEY DONT CALL YOU, they been needing ppl since last year and won't hire nobody!!! I'm honestly convinced they don't have recruiters and HR must stays on vacation . They won't hire people that actually need a job and will work they get family member jobs that don't show up. Also I don't know why they keep telling ppl that you need an IT degree for shit like being a ticket / cash collector for the train. But whatever. Don't wast your time. They a joke. read more

Since the tracks were "improved," none of the trains run on time. I keep getting emails asking me to be patient as they iron out the wrinkles, but I also keep getting places later. The train tracker sucks. There are 3 columns: Station, Time and Status. Can't f--- up the station info so that's accurate. One would think the Time column would list the scheduled time. It doesn't. I don't know what time is displayed. Train due at 4:42 today is listed under Time as 5:13 (which has changed every 5 mins or so since I started monitoring it.) its status is 6:02. A message on web site earlier said passengers were being put on shuttle buses around the problem, but about 1/2 hr ago that changed to say that there were no buses available and trains are moving to the next station and waiting there until "released" to get around the problem which is evidently a gas leak. Oh, and BTW, time column now displays 3:02. Huh??? I was so looking forward to a reliable transportation option between NW Indiana and Chicago. read more

Max and Will. hands down so cozy! such a friendly train ride. if you're looking for an adult baby sitter to keep the party going.....daddy got it covered!!! #raise read more

This train is late almost every morning. They had new trains (double deckers), however they are rarely used. They charge full price, but the cars half way work. This is an essential line to and from Chicago, there should be more of an investment in the trains and getting more employees, so there are more cars for passengers to sit. read more

help - can a paying passenger bring food and drinks on the train from SB to Chicago?

Great train ride into and out of Chicago for a weekend anniversary trip. Conductors keep the peace and are helpful, train was on time, seats and luggage space adequate, bathrooms available, and best of all:: we saved hundreds $$ in parking fees and got dropped off right in the middle of downtown at Millennium station!! read more

Been riding this train since I was a kid and gets slower and more unreliable every year. Ride a few times a year to visit family and always problems. Train is ALWAYS late, sometimes overcrowded, and more than a few times end up getting bused due to downed lines or construction. Today we checked website and app and no mention of any problems until 2/3 of the way to South Bend from Chicago and they start asking who's going to the end of the Line. No explanation until someone asked and "oh wires are down and you'll need to board a bus". Turns out wires down since previous day. Why not inform people before they take your money? I know now why my colleagues from Indiana hate this train so much. read more

South Shore Rail (NICTD) seems to have difficulty being on time in the morning. Train 108 is late more often then not. Also, they don't announce it is going to be late until at least 5 minutes after it was to have arrived at your station. And the collectors never apologize for the tardiness. We, the customers, by purchasing a ticket, have entered into a contract with South Shore Line that they will take us to our destination at a specific time. However, South Shore struggles to keep their end of the contract. Maybe they should change out the crew or lower the ticket prices seeing as they cannot stay on time. read more

Did exactly what I needed it to do, which was get me to South Bend. Caught the 5:28 PM Friday train at Millennium Station (and it left PROMPTLY at 5:28 PM). The website says they have luggage size requirements, something we learned only AFTER planning our trip around flying into Chicago and then taking the train to South Bend. We had multiple large bags (and our one piece of luggage that did meet the written size requirements for fitting under the seat still didn't), so we were left with multiple pieces of luggage on seats. However, no station/train personnel ever said anything to us, and our car never even reached 1/4 full. We did switch to a charter bus for the last leg of the trip (something that was announced on the website and app, but it would be kind of easy to miss). The changeover was fast (probably only took five minutes to disembark and get loaded up and head out). Bought tickets using the app, and it was easy and straightforward. read more

The South Shore is the primary way for commuters in NWI to get to Chicago for work. In the five years I've been riding I've experienced poorly announced schedule changes, surly conductors, drunken riders, overcrowding. Lately its gotten a lot better with the addition of the bike car on weekends and quiet car during rush hours but the one remaining issue for me is the STANK. The train scars frequently smell of feces - inside and out. Yep. Gross. And we get to ride of those cars every day. read more

There needs to be a negative star rating for this joke of a train system. Schedule is the worst possible. Conductors are so rude, nasty, and terrible I can't use the words here in polite company. Do they announce the stops? No they usually don't. This makes you miss your stop, because they don't bother to tell you that the car you are in, well the door wont open. Now you must walk 6 miles to work. Thanks for that one. It is so over priced not even funny. The afternoon trains leaving Chicago are so full you have to stand. But wait there are empty cars that they will not unlock. So thanks for making me pay to stand when you have open cars and seats. Customer service? Well don't bother with this company. they are all so rude, don't care at all and are un-willing to help. I won't even comment on the people that ride this train line. The company can't help that but the conductors don't bother to attempt to do any thing about them. Rude, nasty, block the isles and get nasty when it's your stop and you want off the train. Oh and they love to play loud crappy music, yell on the phone, use the seats for their suitcases, and on and on. And these people think they should get our tax dollars, get to steal private property to expand this joke train line?! I think not! Thinking of taking the South Shore Train Line to Chicago? I say don't bother. read more

Hi ! I'm a rider ..... and i am mad ! You keep changing the schedule on the south shore line . We riders need to know what's going on. Every other month i go to Indiana , the schedule has change . Than i have to way 45 to 2 hours for the train to arrive, that not fair. I have updated my shedule 5 time in 2010 . That is to much , pkease get it together. Thanks! P.S I'm still mad. read more