I commuted by train to Chicago for many years. Like NYC, the transportation system is convenient to…read moreuse and reliable. You don't have to deal with traffic on the Dan Ryan or Ike here, and you can read or knock some work out while relaxing. I have a meeting in the Loop today so I'm headed to the city on the express train which has very few stops. Not all of the trains are express only the ones during rush hour. You can purchase a monthly pass or round trip ticket. Since I do most of my work from home, I buy tickets as needed. My tickets today total a little under $7.50 round trip. For a comfortable and relaxing ride, hit the rail to the Loop!

Metra is totally the only way to FLY! however there has been…read moresome rudeness on the 705am train People taking up 2seats because they don't want someone sitting next to them.... The trains are packed. No one wants a headache early in the morning dealing with that. We all pay a hearty fee riding this train. Do better people!

Long platform warning! So know your stop and know your Metra Electric schedule!…read moreIf you are visiting the Museum of Science and Industry or University of Chicago, this is your stop. Some trains stop at 51st/53rd which is technically Hyde Park stop or exit the 55th end of platform. 59th is technically University of Chicago and usually only "South Chicago " trains stop there. So, exit and walk toward the 57th street end. We walk everywhere in Hyde Park, you just need to know where you are going...and where the train stops.

I didnt get out, I was riding througg... I was unable to check in at my stop 211th street! Its…read moreMonday though, and we are all looking like we need our beds! Lol Thanks for the ride to work Metra!

Nice. Clean. Easy to get to. Although parking can be rather bothersome. On some days there is…read moreplenty to go around and on others not so much.

One of the smaller Metra stations you can easily miss it , but it works awesomely nonetheless …read more It's clean and does what Metra does best . Getting you from point A to point B in a snap .

The train conductor actually waited for us...Thanks…read more This is the reason I gave this station 3 stars but I only usually this line because its the closes one to me. Many of the stops on this line need an overhaul unfortunately the commuters don't seem to know how to do their part. The employees have always been semi kind...because I have ran into a few that have been very helpful and others that seemed like they hate their job but I guess that is anywhere you go these days.

Well...it's the south side of the red line and it's pretty sad. People are mostly quiet and keep…read moreto themselves, unless they are the unstable ones who you kind of wish didn't talk at all. The ride is a little jerkier than on the north side, and it moves a little slower, too. Who knows what the work on the line will bring?!

While this is not the worst red line stop in Chicago, there are sometimes some characters around…read more It is, however, the perfect location for a stop, near lots of tourist points and 2 blocks from Michigan Avenue. I wouldn't recommend being there alone as a woman super early in the morning or super late at night.

Another CTA station, an underground one, is on Chicago Avenue. It has a whole lot to see around…read morehere. Kind of a bad atmosphere with all the homeless people but still not among the worst. Feels safer than many other stations but that's not saying a lot. There's never a long wait for trains. It has an incredibly busy location at Chicago Avenue and State Street with all the commuters and tourists coming and going. It serves the Red Line. This is between the Grand Avenue and Clark/Division stations. Inside there's kind of a bad odor and there's a few sketchy people but that's typical stuff around. There's plenty of other stations you can get to from here quickly. Has a shitload of shopping as if you didn't know. It has some fast food like McDonald's if the hipster food is too high brow for your tastes. The best thing about this station is no long waiting.

This Mexican store is one of cleanest stores. Great quality and service. Fresh Mexican products…read more Nice bakery and hot deli.

Clean train station with easy access to the downtown area. Plenty of parking nearby. Definitely…read moreideal for commuters.

For many commuters, this station is not very far from the Pingree station, also located in Crystal…read moreLake. That said, unless you're coming from the east, you should really be using this station. I value the Crystal Lake station for several reasons: * Ample parking spaces, whether adjacent or right across Main Street * Convenient automated payment options: cash, credit, or commuter card * It has an agent who can answer all your questions and sell you the ticket you actually need (plus you pay less if you buy from the agent) * It's close to the end of the line, which means more seat availability inbound to Chicago * It has several convenient scheduling options to and from Chicago * And lastly, there are two coffee shops within 50 feet of the station: Trax, which is in the station itself, and Grounds Coffee Bar, which is immediately north of the station One other note is that the conductors who run these lines have been really friendly, and I have really been on every train in the morning from the 606-636, and outbound from 625-663. If you've been a loyal Pingree user, or if you're thinking about commuting, you should definitely try the Crystal Lake station!

As with all CTA Train Stations it gets you from point A to Point B . It also will take you where…read moreyou can connect to point C-Z. In a nutshell it works . At the end of the day it is public transportation. You can get the worst smelling and also the best smelling in the same ride . Just mind your business and you will be cool. Most of all know where you're going on CTA and it should be a smooth process .

I am glad we now have the Borealis to add some flexibility to trips between Chicago and the Twin…read moreCities. I have taken the Empire Builder before and it was always nerve wracking to try to make the early morning departure, that is, if it was on time. Sadly, the Borealis is much like the Empire Builder in that you can't count on it being on time, despite having fewer stops. That makes connecting to another train a lot more difficult. So we ended up missing the BNSF train we had hoped to take and only just barely caught the next one an hour later. It was nice to have wifi on the Borealis though it was a bit weak for some purposes. Cafe car food on both trains is the same, adequate, but nothing special. The few times I have been able to use the dining car on the Empire Builder were better experiences, restaurant quality and good service. Another difference between the trains is the lower level seats on the Empire Builder- these are a bit more roomy and comfortable. I will likely take these trains again, but with realistic expectations. If you have a whole family heading to the Chicago suburbs, it is probably more economical and less hassle to drive. A single person or a couple heading to downtown Chicago for the weekend would be better off taking Amtrak, especially if you have someone who can pick you up at Union Station.

Imagine boarding the Amtrak train at nearby Naperville and essentially traveling anywhere the train…read moregoes, from coast to coast. Don't miss the California Zephyr awesome trip from Denver into the Rocky Mountains. Truly amazing