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!

Smaller Metra station compared to others in the area; have never seen the coffee shop working in…read moreyears of coming here and bathrooms are in desperate need of attention. Train schedule is also very limited as there are no trains on weekends or weekdays later at night. However, train is always on time and provides a pleasant experience.

In my opinion, one of the better Metra stations that I have used in the Chicago suburbs. It was…read moreeither built or refurbished recently, everything looked neat and clean to me. I noticed that the waiting area is open 5 AM to 8 PM which is somewhat later than other stations in the NW suburbs. There is a good deal of automobile parking available but it is broken up into smallish lots around the station. The parking payment kiosks are sheltered either in the main station or one of the satellite shelters. I was only able to spot one bicycle parking rack and it probably holds 10-15 bicycles. It is a bring your own lock or security device type of rack; coverings are not available. Unusual for Metra stations in the 'burbs- the BG Station has both a Coffee/Snack shop open mornings and a vending machine with drinks and snacks in the station waiting area that is available for use during station hours. Prices for both the vending machine and snack shop seemed reasonable to me (example being a Hershey's chocolate almond bar in the vending machine for 75 cents which I feel is less than you would pay at a convience store or gas station). There is one fully enclosed and three semi-enclosed satellite shelters that are separate from the main station. Platform 1 is fully handicap accessible, handicap access to platform 2 is possible but may require more time and care. Pace suburban bus service for routes 234, 272, 581, 582 and 626 stop at the nearby bus shelter.

Right in the heart of downtown Palatine, which makes it super convenient. Step off the train and…read moreyou're a short walk away from restaurants, shops, or home. Solid location for easy access to everything!

I visited the Metra Palatine Station on a Sunday to go to the Conscious Cup Coffee Shop, which is…read moreinside the train station. I appreciated that they had a mailbox. I had a letter to mail, and it came in handy. I found this train station to be clean and inviting. The bathroom was much cleaner than the Starbucks that I was just at. I will be happy to come back and use it again.

Fairly good for a train station in the suburbs. This is generally kept relatively clean and tidy…read more The building itself is fairly standard for what you expect to see for commuter train stations in the suburbs and the temperature is kept at a comfortable level. One of the big reasons to take a ride at this or the Palatine train stations is that trains stop by here more frequently both inbound and outbound (especially on weekdays), and this is one of the stops that trains from the city will stop in later in the day (be aware of the last train out of the city if you head in from a smaller station).

This has been a trustworthy train station for many years. I've been going to this train station…read moresince I was a child to take the Metra to go to Chicago. The most frustrating part is that the hours that are posted often don't match the hours that the train station is open. On this Saturday morning, I was pleasantly surprised that the station was open. My husband and I were able to wait for the train in the warmth of the station instead of the cold and windy platform. The Metra Arlington Heights Station is still one of the most used stations on the line. The profitability of the train and the growth and success of the Village of Arlington Heights have always been closely linked. William Dunton sold part of his land in Arlington Heights to the entice the train line to come to Arlington Heights and help ensure the future of Arlington Heights. The train brought many people to the village to settle. People found the train a convenient way to live in the suburbs and still work in Chicago. Close to 200 years later this is still the case. With the Chicago Bears moving to Arlington Heights, the train will become even more important to the success of both the village and the football team.

Nice and safe and easy parking and station next to many stores so it's a very walkable town. Inside…read morethe train it's two levels and even charge stations

This is a great station to take the train to or from. It has clear signage, lots of parking, and an…read moreindoor waiting area. It gets very busy for the AM and PM commute!

Good amount of parking spaces, if you get there before 8am... for weekdays anyway. You're going to…read morelog a few thousand steps otherwise... Convenient and has machines accepting debit or CCs for the parking fees. Helpful to get and keep the receipts...

Nothing like riding back to the city Inebriation style!!! What do you get when you have a bunch of…read morepeople drunk from hours of drinking and betting on the ponies and the Kentucky derby..............you get this! A train full of drunk people in their 20's and 30's wearing funny hats and drinking out of flasks! AWESOME! This train is a great time! AND it is steps away from the racetracks entrance! Look out for me next year after the Derby im gonna be on the 6:30pm train back to the city! good times! Shake & bake seal of approval! Hipster infestation level: ZERO!! (no body odor in this train)The train was full of the hipsters arch enemies..................the Wrigleyville crowd! hell yeah Bro!

We decided to ride the Metra train to downtown Chicago to go to the Art Institute of Chicago. The…read moreMetra train is the way to go. Since I was a tourist in my hometown, we went inside to buy train tickets since I don't have the app on my phone. If I was a regular rider, you can buy cheaper monthly passes, etc. The lady in the ticket booth was very friendly and helpful and loved her job. I love that! We bought two one way tickets for each of us for a total of $27, so that works out to just $6.75 one way. You couldn't drive there for that! Just from passing by all the other stations, I think the Roselle Station is one of the biggest and nicest. The conductors on both legs of the trip were nice. On the afternoon return trip, we didn't know it but we sat in the quiet car. Hubby thought the conductor was joking but I took a pic to show him it's a real thing. Upon our return in the afternoon we were surprised to find a white envelope marked "Violation Notice." Bummer, we hadn't seen any signs or kiosks telling us we needed to pay for parking. We saw some front spots with numbers on them and thought maybe regular riders paid a small fee to have a spot up front but had no clue everyone has to pay. Upon going online to pay for my parking ticket I found out that if you pay cash at the kiosk it's $1.50, or $1.80 by credit card. My ticket was for $35.00 if I paid it before the due date or $70.00 if I paid it after the due date. Ouch! It's so fun to ride the train!

It's a train station. You wait, a train arrives, and you're whisked away…read more The few times I've been here were on the weekends when the station building wasn't open, so I can't really review the inside of the station (yet). I hear there's a pretty decent coffee shop inside and I've been waiting to check it out, but now I'm confused as to whether or not it's still open (note to self: I probably should have checked before I posted this review but it was sitting my drafts for months and I just wanted to post it!). Trains are usually on time. Scrolling marquee signs work well. Parking isn't too ridiculous -- you enter the parking lot from Lawrence Ave. and it's a short walk across the tracks to the platform. You can also drop off in the front of the station off Irving Park Road. I live incredibly close, so I just walk here when I need to use the train. All aboard!

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.

Harvard Metra is a small station that's easy to get to if you want to take the train in to Chicago…read moreinstead of driving. It's small but offers a fair amount of parking, including overnight parking in the far lot. Off-street parking is only $2 a day and payable at machines near the station. On our last visit, only one machine was working, which caused the line to backup when the train was already waiting in the station. There's not always a ticket agent on duty (if not, you can buy yours on the train), but in my experience the building has been open if you need the restroom. There's also a small coffee stand if you want to grab a beverage on your way to the city. The station is pretty small, so if you arrive early I'd recommend either hanging out in your car or walking over a couple blocks to the shops if they're open. Bring cash because you'll need it if you have to buy your ticket onboard.

The Harvard Metra Station is such a great option when wanting to head down to Chicago, but not…read morewanting to deal with Chicago traffic, (or tolls!). The station itself is small, not a lot of room inside. If taking the train during winter months, you'll most likely want to wait in your car until the train arrives. There is plenty of parking and it's a very reasonable price. The train tickets are very reasonable, as well. I've never had a late train or any issues what-so-ever. This is commuter train line. That's one thing to keep in mind if you decide to take this down. It will stop. Over and over and over again. But even with the stops you make good time, and it's WAY less stressful than making the drive yourself!