Last week was my first time taking a train into the city while visiting Great Lakes. I was traveling alone and a little nervous about getting into the city and unsure about the area that the Ogilvie Transportation Center is in. Reviews made it seem like a confusing place to navigate. I boarded the Union Pacific North Train Kine from Great Lakes just outside of the Navy Training Center. I purchased my ticket on the Ventra App and I boarded the train and took a seat. There were several stops along the way and the Ogilvie Transportation Center was the last stop. The Conductor visited the car I was riding in just a couple of stops before ending at Ogilvie to check and/or sell tickets. The Conductor was polite and patient. When I exited the train at Ogilvie, I just followed the crowd to the stairway into the station and then just chose to exit the building at the Canal Street exit whit turned out to be just perfect for starting my journey into Chicago for the day. At the end of the day, when I returned to Ogilvie, it took me a few minutes to figure out the train schedule and locate the right stairways onto the loading platform. They have large screens at each loading platform stairway entrance that shows where each train travels to and what time they leave. There are stairways on each side of the train station to get you to the train. One important thing to note is that for some stops, the first cars of the train, the doors do not open. So it's best to find a seat towards the back cars or make plans to walk through a couple of cars quickly to get to the exit doors that open. The Ogilvie Transportation Center was easier to navigate than I had thought. read more

Why oh why does the sign on the Madison St entrance of this building say "Accenture Tower" when it's really just the retail front of Ogilvie Transportation Center?! That confused me so much the first time I came here that I went across the street to Union Station by mistake thinking I had gone to the wrong place, and I missed my train. Please make better signage indicating that this entrance is also for the train station, as Google maps is getting less and less accurate (it put the marker in the middle of the intersection between the two stations). Other than that, the station is fine. Plenty of ticket machines and display screens showing the train schedules. There are escalators up to the track area for disability access as an option besides stairs. Just expect a huge line for the bathrooms. The retail shops and food items are price gouging to the extreme, like an airport would be. read more

Clean, efficient, and easy to navigate. This train station gets the job done if you're heading out to the suburbs. Helpful signage makes it easy to find your platform. Plus, there are a few places to grab a bite if you've got time to spare read more

So to get my cards on the table, I am not a fan of having to take public transportation. I don't like being on someone else's timetable; I like getting to listen to my podcasts over the car's sound system. But I need to take Metra more often now and all roads for me lead to the Ogilvie Transportation Center, aka Northwestern Station. It's a good station, well located at Madison & Clinton and just a block or two away from Union Station. The trains come into the second level, and above that there are offices. I'd been here a couple times when the U.S. Department of Education was upstairs and the office spaces are nice. But most folks come here for the trains, or the food court. There's various restaurants on the second level and a a few on the first floor, as well as a few shops. Then there's also the French Market which takes up a large port of the first floor too, and has a little bit of everything so it can be a nice place to stop if you need to grab something on your way home for dinner. What would make Ogilvie so great is if there was a connection to the Clinton & Lake CTA station. If I take the train in, I generally take the CTA to my work stop and if I could walk from the Metra to the CTA without having to go out into the weather that would be great. read more

Oh Ogilvie, where do I even start?! I've been using Ogilvie Transportation Center ever since I was in high school. I think I've been to Ogilvie over a few thousand times - I'm not kidding. Literally I've been here so many times the last 10 years it easily has been over a thousand times. Ogilvie is BIG, and there are a lot of entrances, exits, and "secret" places you discover because it's just that big. This transportation center and Union are the two centers that house Metra. Metra is a whole other story, but I won't be reviewing Metra, just the center that houses it. First off, Ogilvie has tons of different types of spaces inside. There's offices, companies, restaurants, shops, bars, etc. There are TONS of food options on the ground level, from options like McDonald's, Popeyes, Sbarro, Mrs. Fields, Deep Purpl, Starbucks, and much more. There are some food restaurants here that I've literally never seen open which sucks because I'd like to try them. There's more upstairs and downstairs on the lower level, as well, but this is their main food court for commuters/riders. Downstairs, you'll find their Chicago French Market which reminds me of Pike's Place Market in Seattle. There's tons of food stations and shops. You can also access the tracks from taking the stairs up down there. There's bars and restaurants all around Ogilvie, too, on the outskirts that people can see from the outside. Ogilvie is kept pretty clean - there's always custodians cleaning the bathrooms and tables. It is pretty common for people to come up to you and ask you for money when you're chilling there. Also sometimes it's hard to find an Uber outside of it. The best part of Ogilvie is that a ton of Metra train tracks arrive and depart basically every hour that bring you all over the Burbs. Some Metra lines will go over to Union, the other transportation center that's super close to Ogilvie, and others will bring you here. This makes getting to and from the city super easy and convenient. Overall, Ogilvie is a great place to get some food, get in and out of the city, and stop for a drink after work! read more

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Frequent this place alot. It has the metra stop but the food court is good too! Lots of options. Good to pick up something to eat if you have a long train ride or grab something to go post work! read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Trains leave 2 minutes early. PLAN TO BE AT TRAIN EARLY. Got to train at exact scheduled time. Missed it because it left before scheduled time read more

Olgilvie Transportation Center is a clean train station with a ton of Metra trains leading out to various locations of the Chicago suburbs - one train (Union Pacific North Line) even goes up to Kenosha, Wisconsin! The most unique store they currently have is called Amazon Go - it's a grab and go mini store full of drinks, food and small accessory items - much cheaper here than the convenience stores in OTC so I'd recommend getting those items there. They used to have so many more stores and restaurants like Bath & Body Works, McDonalds and a sports merch store, but there's still a small amount left upstairs on the 2nd level and 1st level. Trains are all on the 2nd level. read more

When I worked in the city I commuted out of Union Station but occasionally I have traveled through OTC. It has undergone quite a facelift. There are shops and cafes, clean bathrooms, and well marked signage with train schedules and platforms. read more

Chicago has a few big transportation centers. It of course all starts with Union Station, but there's another one that's almost as important. Ogilvie Transportation Center also has some great things. Lots of trains coming and going. There's Metra trains at the station and there's and nearby connections to Amtrak, CTA busses and trains, and others among the many ways to get around from here. First, it's one of the main transportation centers. It's a few blocks away from Union Station, and frequently travelers must go from one to the other. This is almost as big, and has just about almost as many trains. From here there's the Metra, which goes between the suburbs and city. The Union Pacific West, North, and Northwest Lines connect here. Also there's quite a few food choices. There's a food court and a few stores like Amazon Go. Also the French Market is attached. This is a market with lots of stalls. Getting here is also convenient by bus. If taking CTA, the Blue and Green Lines go past it. There's a lot of places to buy stuff inside like at the French Market and some other stores, and there's a few tables in and around to sit waiting for trains. read more

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This is the hub for Metra trains going to the north, northwest, and western suburbs of Chicago. It's not much to look at but it gets the job done. There are several restaurants, convenience stores, and newsstands located inside. There is one restroom in the main terminal on the first floor and one below on the lower level. This does not come close to meeting the demand. They really should add more. The trains load and unload on the second floor. The floors above are used for office space. The real treat is in the lower level. The Chicago French Market is a real hidden treasure. When you get off the train go down the stairs in between the trains. There you will find some fantastic food. There are different vendors, each offering a sweet treat. Definitely make this a stop if you're at Ogilvie. read more

It is amazing and impressive that this is still open, functional and operational. With just a few essential workers commuting, the station has agents positioned at the exit points after passengers are ready to leave the station. This is where they check the tickets. The French market is not really open, except for a couple of places, but Amazon Go is certainly open and selling hot drinks including coffee and hot chocolate. Really proud of Chicago for its tenacity #ThankyouThursday read more

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Lovely expansive food court. Well maintained restrooms. I mean, it's a train station. . . .

Ran right in and hopped on the Elgin line, no wait, no lines. Train schedules and tracks are clearly posted. I didn't see any staff members in the station, but there were a few open shops and a Jamba Juice. $4.25 one way to Oak Park is a good deal. The train departed 1 minute early, so don't be late, or even just on time. Give yourself a few minutes. Everyone is masked, which is appreciated. Enough room to distance as well. read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Even if I didn't have the CTA to compare against, I would live riding the Metra. Employees both on and off the train are kind and a pleasure to talk with. Never a hassle if I have questions. Trains are clean and the OTC is wonderful. I only ride the UPN from the suburbs to the city, but if my experience is any indicator, I would ride it anywhere and be comfortable. Riders and workers are masked, as are the people at the stations. read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - Just another ghost town... - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Clean place with a slim selection of merchants. They have your typical airport food like Amazon Go, Hudson News, etc. Due to the location you're going to be paying a hefty price if you shop here. There's a clearly mentally ill homeless guy that hangs out in the bathroom speaking nonsense to people while smelling worse than what is coming out of people's behinds though so be aware. read more

Train station + food court + mini mall = Ogilvie They had me at Bath & Body Works. As a regular at the Union Station, the first time I set foot at Ogilvie I was amazed at the stores that were available along with the size and the abundance of restaurants to choose from at their food court! Besides from getting from point A to point B, you can kill a couple of birds with one stone here and get some shopping done. There is even a bar to get yourself a nice drink. The place looks nice and modern and appealing to the eye with plenty of glass walls and some sunshine coming through! Definitely not a shabby way to ride the train in to downtown. read more

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Ogilville always makes it easy to navigate your commute, and there is a lounge area near the train boarding where you can sit, charge a phone, etc. I've sat in it, and honestly I preferred waiting in the food court area instead. They have a nice array of restaurants and shopping options if you're looking to kill some time before your train leaves. Aside from being a great station that makes commuting easier, it's got a variety of options in case you're going into the city and your partner is heading out - allowing for a quick meal together before you each have to continue on your journey. read more

Good station... the trains seem to run on time, the building is nicely maintained... and I like the convenience of the overpass in colder weather. There are also very tasty, fairly reasonable food options in the building if you want food before or after work. I like Pret a Manger... which if my high school French does not fail me... is "Ready to Eat" read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - Fancy Seats on the one newer car... - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Taking the Metra from the 'burbs into downtown couldn't be easier than this. Purchase tickets for the train at whatever station, board the clean train, sit back n' relax on your ride to Chicago while watching all the stopped rush hour traffic outside your window. Arrive at Ogilvie, get off the train, and follow the clearly marked signs to the station. Once inside you're greeted with soaring ceilings, a good array of goods and services, and a nice food court. Whats not to like? read more

I love coming to Chicago on the Metra a good stress free ride. It got a little bit on the pricey side to just go back & forth. It is actually cheaper to drive because the trip cost.me.more.money on the Metra train but it was during rush hour and heavy rain it is about the same price. Next time I will just drive and be stock on traffic it will be cheaper. It was a good experience for me since I always drive . I only like to ride during the day when it get dark I can not see outside the window. Even if I couldi just will make my self dizzy read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - Waiting for clearance - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Everyone thinks of a train station as big, dark and maybe a little seedy - not Ogilvie Transportation Center! It is bright, clean and almost feels like a shopping mall. There are stores, restaurants and bars. If you need to pick something up before or after your commute, it's possible. Quick fast food options are available and sit down restaurants are there too. If you have time to wait, you can hang at one of the bars or if you are racing to catch your soon departing train, you pick up a beer to go. The station is well laid out and easy to navigate. For people who get nervous traveling, this station will put you at ease. Upstairs near the trains is the ticket counter. The staff is helpful in directing you if you are unsure where to go. The best little secret if the French Market connected to the station. Stop by there if you have extra time. Happy Commuting! read more

I will warn everyone first, I've only taken the train 2 times, so it's about food - a variety of fast food under one roof. My coworkers and I would come here twice a week at least because it had a variety and we could still eat at the same table with what ever they wanted! Arby's, McDonald's, Popeye's, Taco Bell, Panda, Subway, Pizza Hut and if you are in the mood for a taste of Chicago they have Garrett Popcorn and Fannie May, read more

I love this train station! It is so convenient to come to the city from home and it's clean/organized! There are so many places to eat- brownie points for a Taco bell since there is not many in the city :) and if you go upstairs there is even more places like Starbucks, Corner Bakery, and a bar. There are even shops to go to like Claires! You can even get your nails done and a haircut at one of the places. It's like a mini mall with a food court! This station is one of the easiest to navigate around and the Ventra app is a lifesaver when the ticket lines are too long or you are running to catch your train and don't have time to buy one. The rates have gone up a little since Feb 1st but the greatest deal is the weekend pass that covers Sat and Sunday- unlimited trips! Very modern place being the newer station and compared to Union. The weekends can get really crowded when there are major city events or during any holiday time. I think there is a hidden French Market place underground as well! The big windows definitely bring in sunshine and once in a blue moon you will see someone playing the piano which is a nice touch. read more

Of the two main stations in downtown, I prefer Ogilvie over Union for the layout, nice restaurant selection (particularly the french market), newer feel, and less confusing entrances/exits. It doesn't have as many train lines and it doesn't run trains as often, but it's also easier to navigate during busy commute times and has fairly spacious common areas for waiting for your train to arrive. read more

Bah! I haven't written a review of Ogilvie, mainly because it's one of those you get what you get kind of places. Well, with my last little experience here, it was the last straw. I'm sick of people telling me how great the Chicago train system is. It's a mess, a stinky, nasty mess. Several times the men's restroom was literally overflowing with water from the urinals. More often than not, something is broken and out of service in the restrooms. It very well might be the cause of the putrid stink of urine that permeates all of the Ogilvie Transportation Center. My last trip, while waiting for my train back to the burbs, not enjoying a drink at the bar, because that is closed at night on the weekends... yeah wouldn't want to have that open on a Saturday... I enjoyed a nice show from a huge rat that was hanging out in the ceiling rafters. Just up there jumping around headed over to the Subway restaurant. This place is, I'm sure, infested with vermin. Just nasty. The trains are almost always late or breaking down. I was stranded when my train broke down midway through our trip. I was told send an email with the train number and you "should" get refunded... I got a response that was the typical Chicago Bull, something like, sorry, we don't have the money to keep our trains running properly. Rigggght, we all know how underfunded and taxed Chicago is. We are in a time that we can do better people. This is just pathetic and a bad example of what the city of Chicago has to offer. I beg, I plead, please see how bad this place truly is. Stop telling me it's nothing more than a disgusting example of public transportation at it's worse. read more

As much as I love Union Station, Ogilvie might actually be the station I prefer. Actually, yeah, I think I love Ogilvie. It's the perfect train station, in my opinion. The first thing you notice when you step off the Metra in the station? No funny smells! Yep. This station is pretty clean, very easy to navigate, and small, but not crowded. Stuck here for an hour or so, waiting for a train? No problem. There's a spacious food court with multiple fast food options, as well as many shops through the rest of the station (bookstore, gifts, clothing, etc.). This station is also a bit more of a direct walk to State Street shops and other touristy Chicago attractions, which is nice. So... Union is definitely bigger & crazy, but this is the sweeter station. read more

Really cool train station, super clean and well designed. Not difficult to navigate at all. They have some good food outlets around the perimiter and a great French bakery. Came here on the Metra from Arlington Heights 40 minutes. read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I recently visited this station because I went to the Billy Joel concert at Wrigley and we took the Metra to Ogilvie from Elburn. The station itself is nice with lots of shops and places to eat. There are also a ton of restrooms. We didn't spend much time in it though since we were on a mission. When we got to Ogilvie from Elburn, we bought our return tickets right away so we wouldn't have to worry about it when we got back from the concert. When the concert finished and we got back to Ogilvie, there was a guy that approached my dad near the ticket area saying he was $7 short for his train ticket. My dad being the nice guy he is, gave him some cash. We went to see if we could get on the train but it was locked till closer to the departure time. We walked back into the station and headed to the restrooms. When we walked back towards the train, I saw that same guy asking more people for $$ so it appears he scams people to make some extra cash. It was disappointing to see. I hope the station will keep a better eye out for people like him so passengers don't get taken advantage of in the future. read more

Public transportation in the middle of the city that feels safe and clean to tourists and daily users alike.

I mainly go here to take excusions up to Ravinia, since I live in town, but I don't take advantage of the connections to get all over the city quickly and smoothly. It's always crowded but there aren't too many bottlenecks other than the too few doors on the front of the building. If you don't come often, the noise and speed of the crowd and the unwritten rules of where to go are a little daunting but the employees are nice to point the way. The ticket lines aren't too long since most regulars buy online. It's nice to have the old-fashioned ticket checkers which adds a personal touch to the Metra trains. Things generally run on time and it's clean, there are some nice food options in the building while you are waiting. read more

This is my Metra destination five days a week and our love affair has not gotten stale nor are we looking longingly at other possibilities (there are none to be had anyway). It is what it is, and with such an easy train-to-street interface I don't really know what more one could want. The food court has an Arby's, a McDonald's (ugh), a pizza slice joint, a bagel place, a Subway, a Dunky's and a few other choices so the fast and crappy food option is covered. The restrooms are industrial strength and designed for pee'n run speed so there are never any lines. Plus they're clean, so that front is covered too. I really can't think of much to complain about. There's no clock upstairs so that's annoying, and the information booth is always hard to use, but these are normal things that are nothing more than minor irritations to me. All in all this is a great train station, better than Union Station and MUCH better than Grand Central Station. read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - The PeopleMovers - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Glass building as a train station ! The OGC is such a prominent building on Madison street which is hard to miss. It is basically passenger terminal a for commuter rail lines of Metra's Union Pacific District, which approach the terminal elevated above street level. It's a very clean and well maintained train station.There are corporate offices too, Citibank occupies some floors too. There are a couple of good options here when it comes to food. Right from fast food to fine dining OGT has it all. read more

I love the stores and restaurants but there is nowhere to sit while waiting for a train beyond the seating in the food court area. Upstairs, people are seen laying /sitting on the floor. read more

It was our first time taking the Metra to and from Kenosha. The station looks pretty neat and clean (compared to the Amtrak at Union Station) The cost couldn't be beat compared to Amtrak either. It was $28 for the four of us to get there Friday (two reduced fares and two adults) on the way back it was around $23 because my 9 year old rode free, my student daughter got on at 1/2 price, and two adults. I am not sure if being a crabby ticket attendant is a requirement? Other than that it was a good experience. We got there super early because we just beat the line at the Willis tower. We sat at the tables in the basement. I found a table with a outlet underneath so I could charge my phone. You really have to look hard. The place is beautiful with white subway tile throughout. There are an assortment of restaurants and shopping but most were closed because of the weekend. One store was charging $3.80 for bottled soda. Stop at Walgreens before you come here. The cheapest thing we could find was noodles at Panda Express. Soda was $3.00 at Mrs. Field's as well as a cookie at the same price. Garett popcorn was also open and we snagged a bag of popcorn. The trains were clean and easy to catch. We sat on the top deck both times. The person taking our tickets on the train was very friendly. We did have the occasional panhandler come by to ask us for money but it really wasn't that bad. It's right across from Union Station too. The bathrooms were nice and clean but you had to time it just right in-between trains or there was a huge line. read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - Looking outside - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Beautiful station, very large, clean, and easy to navigate. Food courts have plenty of bar and table style seating options. Restrooms are clean as well. My first time taking metra and was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and convenient it is! read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - Check your track number before boarding! - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ogilvie is my beginning and end of line station, and it's also my destination for lunch (more often than not), so please excuse the "woo-hoo-ness" of this review. The station is very pleasing to the eye. It's in the CitiCorp Center building on the corner of Madison and Canal. Can't miss it. Just look for the cabs lining up outside or the hordes of people running from it (in the morning rush) or to it (in the evening rush). It has a food court, a Verizon Wireless, a couple of shops, a bar (YES, a BAR - I won't talk about that), a hair salon...basically a mini-city within the city. The only quips I have with this station are: - The FIRST OF THE MONTH: If you're not like the rest of the world and purchase your monthly tickets through your employer or get them early, you will have to enter "the line of hell", which means you're guaranteed to miss your train waiting in a VERY long line to purchase a monthly. (Why do people continue to do this?) - The dirty restrooms. I could stop right there. In fact I think I will. Use your imagination. - The food court. There really isn't too much that can be done about the lack of seating between noon and 2pm. Some of the fast food establishments charge more than they should for their food (and I won't name any names, either, but you know who you are). I like this station, especially since I see it twice a day, Monday through Friday, except holidays. read more

Ogilvie Transportation Center - Train Stations Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I prefer Ogilvie transportation center to Union station. The location always looks cleaner, and there are numerous food choices in the food court. The French Market is wonderful when it is open- and I would highly recommend checking it out. I also appreciate this station because there are tons of locations where train info is posted. I also want to remind everyone to make sure you buy your ticket at the ticket counter because there is a fee on the train if you make your purchase there. Overall, great location for transportation in the city. Oh- make sure you don't sit on the ground- it is against the rules and security will yell at you! read more

Arrived in Ogilvie from Arlington Heights using the Metra. The station is, as others have mentioned, quite clean. If you have time to kill, there's a food court on the street level along with food stands and coffee shops on the second level. Staff are very helpful should you have questions. The location is a little away from all the tourist spots, but it's not chaotic with a large number of people. I'm always in awe of transit systems in America. It's a well oiled machine! Good for: ground transportation read more

As someone who travels from Union Station daily via the BNSF, I'd just like to state that I am jealous of all those that get to go in and out of Ogilvie. It's like the Yin to Union Station's Yang. It's like Midway vs. O'Hare. It's like s**t vs. Shinola, Ogilvie is 1000x better in every way. It's a very clean modern station with a lot of vendors I'd actually buy things from. Beers at the stand are a lot cheaper than Union Station- a big plus. The whole station is a lot less crowded and doesn't feel like you are in a basement of someone's 70s home. It's just better in every way, and I am jealous. read more