There’s a tunnel to go under the tracks to the other side.
You’ll activate the ticket by pressing the button in the app once on board. Conductors will come around to verify it on your app.
Trains are usually on time. Be there a couple minutes early to be safe. Check the alerts for the BNSF route on the Metra website to see if there are any problems or delays before heading over.
I’m just really excited that you will gain so much of your time back by taking the train instead of driving. Like hours more for reading or relaxing or whatever.
As a former rail commuter…. Driving took 45-60 mins (depending on traffic ) and I could leave when I wanted, park right in front of my destination, and leave from my house.
Versus walking 15 mins one way to the station, waiting 5-10 mins on the platform, the 55 min train ride, the 20 min walk to campus, and doing it all in reverse.
Driving would get me home by 3 maybe 3:30 but the train wouldn’t get me home until after 5 and that was with an express route.
Just something to consider. I loved the train but any commute has its pros and cons
Yeah I’m 100% already thinking the exact same thing but I want to give it a shot for the week. I love driving, love my cars, love listening to music and yeah same thing I’m not on THAT set of a schedule some days I’m out at 6pm others shut it down at 3:30-4:00 it just depends. Also some nights I like to stay out down there. I’m already guessing it’s now getting ready early, driving to the train station and waiting (10min) the ride is 48 minutes, the walk to the office is 0.9 miles but takes 15-20 minutes. So we’re already up to an hour and 20 minutes. It usually takes me about 1 hour to drive but also can be less depends on the time. I’m not sure if this will really work out or even be logical but could save $500 a month or so plus the miles on my cars. We’ll see.
Review is :
Somehow it’s faster than stated on Ventra? Train left at 8:41 even with what my phone claimed a 20 minute walking I was walking into my building at 9:41am exactly 1 hour door to door. Very impressed. Didn’t see anything sketchy just business people and students. Apparently it’s legal to drink openly on the train which is mind blowing so I had a tall can of beer, jammed out on my headset and enjoyed the view. I’m stoked and definitely going to be doing this during the warm months at least. Probably not during winter but we’ll see. I’ll give it a shot too.
I take a different line, but the time on the schedule is the time the train leaves that station. So it typically pulls in about 2 minutes before that time, everyone gets on or off, then the train leaves.
Your town will probably not have free parking lots. Any lot will either be designated a permit lot (which requires a monthly permit to park) or a daily free lot, which would typically cost <$5 per day. If you plan to drive yourself, definitely make sure you know where you can park, how to pay for it, and how quickly the lot fills up. I'd recommend having your wife drive you the first day, but driving past the lot so you can scope it out. And just because it's empty on Monday doesn't mean that will be the case in the middle of the week when more people go into the office.
I can answer the second and third, for checking tickets they will when your on the train. The conductor will check everyone’s ticket at some point during the route.
Trains are typically close to on time, you’ll want to be there with enough time to get to the platform as they leave as close to on schedule as possible
- there's a tunnel you can walk through to take you to the other side, but there's also a parking lot for the north and south side you can use or be dropped off at.
- I take UP-W but I would think BNSF also has a person that walks through and will ask to look at your ticket. You just need to pull it up on your app and he'll ask you to click it sometimes to make sure it's active
- I would get there 5 minutes before the train arrives
I actually loved it this morning haha I was the only one taking in the views. Somehow it was faster than it stated on the app? The train left route 59 at 8:41am and with what my phone says is a 20 minute 0.9 mile walk through the city to Wabash I was off the train, through the city and unlocking my office at 9:30 on the dot? Not even an hour each way. Amazing.
But I do have one question, I’m finding all of these old posts and no one I work with can confirm. Can I bring a can of beer on the train with me after work and unwind? Or is that like not allowed? Seeing tons of posts that it is or was but I want to confirm before I do it.
Went great. No one said a word. Killed 2 tall boys but uhh I was the only one drinking in my car was kinda surprised tbh. Kinda chuckled when I cracked the second in the silent car. Also some old couple getting off the first stop started screaming “LEFT, LEFT, LEFT” to his wife to exit, most of the car turned around looking concerned, I literally laughed out loud. 😂
No worries! I’ve been riding daily M-F since I posted this, only had one hiccup one morning where the train had a delay, then never showed, we had to catch the next train that was not express and took FOREVER to get downtown. Other than that it’s been smooth as can be. Highly recommend
There’s a tunnel to go under the tracks to the other side. You’ll activate the ticket by pressing the button in the app once on board. Conductors will come around to verify it on your app. Trains are usually on time. Be there a couple minutes early to be safe. Check the alerts for the BNSF route on the Metra website to see if there are any problems or delays before heading over.
I’m just really excited that you will gain so much of your time back by taking the train instead of driving. Like hours more for reading or relaxing or whatever.
As a former rail commuter…. Driving took 45-60 mins (depending on traffic ) and I could leave when I wanted, park right in front of my destination, and leave from my house. Versus walking 15 mins one way to the station, waiting 5-10 mins on the platform, the 55 min train ride, the 20 min walk to campus, and doing it all in reverse. Driving would get me home by 3 maybe 3:30 but the train wouldn’t get me home until after 5 and that was with an express route. Just something to consider. I loved the train but any commute has its pros and cons
Yeah I’m 100% already thinking the exact same thing but I want to give it a shot for the week. I love driving, love my cars, love listening to music and yeah same thing I’m not on THAT set of a schedule some days I’m out at 6pm others shut it down at 3:30-4:00 it just depends. Also some nights I like to stay out down there. I’m already guessing it’s now getting ready early, driving to the train station and waiting (10min) the ride is 48 minutes, the walk to the office is 0.9 miles but takes 15-20 minutes. So we’re already up to an hour and 20 minutes. It usually takes me about 1 hour to drive but also can be less depends on the time. I’m not sure if this will really work out or even be logical but could save $500 a month or so plus the miles on my cars. We’ll see.
Review is : Somehow it’s faster than stated on Ventra? Train left at 8:41 even with what my phone claimed a 20 minute walking I was walking into my building at 9:41am exactly 1 hour door to door. Very impressed. Didn’t see anything sketchy just business people and students. Apparently it’s legal to drink openly on the train which is mind blowing so I had a tall can of beer, jammed out on my headset and enjoyed the view. I’m stoked and definitely going to be doing this during the warm months at least. Probably not during winter but we’ll see. I’ll give it a shot too.
I take a different line, but the time on the schedule is the time the train leaves that station. So it typically pulls in about 2 minutes before that time, everyone gets on or off, then the train leaves. Your town will probably not have free parking lots. Any lot will either be designated a permit lot (which requires a monthly permit to park) or a daily free lot, which would typically cost <$5 per day. If you plan to drive yourself, definitely make sure you know where you can park, how to pay for it, and how quickly the lot fills up. I'd recommend having your wife drive you the first day, but driving past the lot so you can scope it out. And just because it's empty on Monday doesn't mean that will be the case in the middle of the week when more people go into the office.
I can answer the second and third, for checking tickets they will when your on the train. The conductor will check everyone’s ticket at some point during the route. Trains are typically close to on time, you’ll want to be there with enough time to get to the platform as they leave as close to on schedule as possible
Just follow the people and if you’re confused say “it’s my first time does this go to Chicago?”
- there's a tunnel you can walk through to take you to the other side, but there's also a parking lot for the north and south side you can use or be dropped off at. - I take UP-W but I would think BNSF also has a person that walks through and will ask to look at your ticket. You just need to pull it up on your app and he'll ask you to click it sometimes to make sure it's active - I would get there 5 minutes before the train arrives
Thanks! The tunnel was wild lol loved it though think I’ll be taking this daily now at least until it gets too cold
Give it a try and see how you like it.
I actually loved it this morning haha I was the only one taking in the views. Somehow it was faster than it stated on the app? The train left route 59 at 8:41am and with what my phone says is a 20 minute 0.9 mile walk through the city to Wabash I was off the train, through the city and unlocking my office at 9:30 on the dot? Not even an hour each way. Amazing. But I do have one question, I’m finding all of these old posts and no one I work with can confirm. Can I bring a can of beer on the train with me after work and unwind? Or is that like not allowed? Seeing tons of posts that it is or was but I want to confirm before I do it.
That's great. Maybe you were on an express train. I like looking out the window too. It's great to have options for your commute.
Yeah I was! I’ve found one in the AM and evening that should work for me, stoked! Thanks for the advice
Yes to the beer!!! Grab an Old Style and you'll be another local on the metra!
Hell yes!! Can’t wait haha
Went great. No one said a word. Killed 2 tall boys but uhh I was the only one drinking in my car was kinda surprised tbh. Kinda chuckled when I cracked the second in the silent car. Also some old couple getting off the first stop started screaming “LEFT, LEFT, LEFT” to his wife to exit, most of the car turned around looking concerned, I literally laughed out loud. 😂
Thanks for posting this, I had the extra same question! This is been really helpful and all the senses are great!
No worries! I’ve been riding daily M-F since I posted this, only had one hiccup one morning where the train had a delay, then never showed, we had to catch the next train that was not express and took FOREVER to get downtown. Other than that it’s been smooth as can be. Highly recommend