Metra-Rock Island District Line

Access to the platforms, location of the ticket agent and even the parking lots have been very well hidden. There is almost no useful signage and absolutely no one to ask for directions. The conductor was extremely rude and unpleasant and had an attitude antithetical to the concept of customer service. Regarding the train carriage itself, the last time a saw a car like the one we were in was at a railway museum. It was easily in service since the late 80s or early 90s, judging from the anemic performance of the air conditioning. Metra is not the only way to fly… we would much rather drive.

I take this train into the city almost every time I need to go downtown. It’s clean and pretty affordable. I recommend it to any one who hates traffic. During rush hour it takes about 45 to get from one end to the city. No too shabby for rush hour!
It’s about $ 6 one way but prices depend on where you pick up the train. Monthly passes are good for regular commuters. The Ten-​ride pass is nice for ppl like me who take it often but not everyday. They last for up to a year and buying in ‘bulk’ like that gives you a discount. Also, make sure you buy your tickets at the station! The single rides are over $ 10 if you pay while riding! The station ticket sales people are only there early in the morning. They close shop after rush hour (5 am to 9 am) so make sure you get up early!
Only thing is I wish they sold food and drinks on the train. They would make a killing too. I realize that it would need to be a pretty big remodel but that would be so cool! Coffee and pre baked stuff… Starbucks-​esque.

Been taking the Metra for almost 9 years it’s saves me so much time, definitely a lot less headache from driving, and it sure is much more safe dealing with road conditions such as slippery roads from snow during blizzard and heavy rains. Traffic is also something you don’t concern your self about because this train always arrives on time. So I’m never late for work.

In mid-​March, I used a $ 7 weekend pass to explore Metra and its service. On the first of two days of my weekend pass, I rode this route, from its terminus on LaSalle Street in Chicago to its terminus at Joliet Union Station in Joliet. The trip to Joliet was great, the only thing being that the terminus was JUS, that horrible health hazard I wrote a review about like, two months ago. This is why this line gets four stars instead of five, because it goes to that pothole! However, there’s another reason why it gets four instead of five, and that reason occurred on the return trip.
A Joliet native, obviously a former Chicago hood native for the way he talked on the phone, sat across the lower aisle from me and chatted with a buddy on the phone about visiting some people downtown on LaSalle Street. Oh my gosh, talk about the profanity he used, and the Metra employees walking from car to car heard him I’m sure, and didn’t do anything about it! The things he repeatedly said included, «It’s some greedy a** mfs in Will County man,» and «Felix is a lazy a** mf.» I’m thinking, is all of this cursing necessary? I don’t think so. A little bit later, he lost a straw between the seats and tried to get it saying, «Damn, I can’t get that mfing straw.» Then a minute later he said, «I don’t need that mfing straw.» And more than five times throughout the phone conversation, he said to his buddy regarding the passengers on the train, «It’s some sorry a** mfs on this train.» In my mind, I was thinking, «Hey pal, you’re the one who’s the sorry a** mf with all that highly unnecessary cursing you’re doing!»
And that stupid fool would have the nerves to try to talk to me when the train reached LaSalle Street, calling me «sista» as everyone exited. I instantaneously threw my hand and arm in his face, only to hear him say, with fright, «Allright I won’t mess with you then.»
Yeah, you better not mess with me… you sorry a** mf!