How to Ride the Chicago Metra train system #chicago #chicagotravel #metra
Metra is part of the Chicago area public transit system. It is the rail system that connects chicago with the surrounding 6 counties. In this video I will take a closer look at Metra in terms of fares,where it services and how to pay.
This video discusses Metra is part of Ventra,which is the name given for the system used by Chicago for payment for it’s public transit. ventra can be used to purchase tickets for Metra as well as can also be used for the other divisions of public transit such as the cta and Pace.
I hope you find the video useful and informative and thank you for checking out my channel.
#TheTravelGuideChannel
Metra Rail to Chicago O’Hare
Did you know, CTA Blue Line is not the only form of public transportation that is available to and from Downtown Chicago?
Metra, Chicago’s commuter rail system, can also get you from Downtown Chicago to Chicago O’Hare .
It’s fairly simple:
- Take Metra’s Antioch Line from Chicago Union Station to the O’Hare Transfer Station
- Take a free shuttle bus to all Terminals
As of 2020, service on the Antioch Line has been severly cut back due to a huge drop in ridership. Currently, there is only one inbound train to Chicago in the morning, and one outbound train from Chicago in the evening.
Metra Complete Morning Rush Hour
I have had many people ask me to post a video showing the Metra rush hour at real time. I decided to go back and film the morning rush hour and post this video! The timelapse version is coming soon!
I notated all the trains that are in service. The trains that don't have text next to them are out of service trains, or deadhead moves. This is the morning rush hour so most trains inbound towards the city are full of commuters. Many of the trains outbound are headed to the yard empty to sit and wait for the evening rush hour.
South Shore Line - Chicago, IL. to Gary, IN. [WINTER 2016]
Front view footage from South Shore train # 109 from Millennium station in Chicago, IL. to Gary, IN. (Broadway)
Metra's New Railcars: Inside and Outside
Metra is fitting these seats to the 7400-series Amerail coach cars that have been rehabbed or are being rehabbed. Currently, no cab cars have these new seats. I prefer these seats to the old ones, they feel more comfortable and the cup holders they include are really nice. While most people don't like how these seats can't be flipped, I really don't mind that you can't flip these seats. Overall, they're really nice.
Amtrak Southwest Chief meets Metra!
After seeing the Union Pacific 4014 we were able to catch the Amtrak Southwest Chief meeting a Metra Outbound at Downers Grove Illinois.
Please rate, comment, and subscribe!
Dashcam Video from Metra Train - Chicago Union Station - CN Service - March, 2019
This is video from a train ride I took from Chicago Union Station to Wheeling, IL. I was on the upper level seats looking north/east. The windows are tinted green and I did my 'almost best' to edit the
tinting on the video. The dash cam I used has a 160 degree view and it will look a bit 'curvy' on the sides.
As always, I videotape areas I would like to revisit. Some of these I post here just in case someone would also like to see the Chicago suburban area. A short, limited view of some Chicago suburbs.
Every Amtrak Train in Chicago
Chicago is well known as the central hub of railroad activity in the United States. This is true for both freight and Amtrak passenger trains. More than half of Amtrak's long distance routes begin or end in the Windy City. In this video, we will take a look at just about every Amtrak train that journeys to or from Chicago on a typical day. The focus will be on two different locations in the downtown area of the city that provide excellent views of both the city skyline and the trains as they arrive or depart out of Union Station. Along with seeing all these trains, we'll also take a look at the different rail lines that pass through the area in the immediate vicinity of Union Station.
CHAPTERS:
00:10 - Introduction
01:53 - Rail Lines Breakdown
05:44 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 54
07:18 - Pere Marquette Train 371 - IDTX 4622
08:51 - Lincoln Service Train 319 - IDTX 4631
10:11 - Amtrak Locomotive Facility
12:10 - Capitol Limited Train 29 - AMTK 51
13:24 - City Of New Orleans Train 58 - AMTK 187 and AMTK 17, 31
17:00 - Wolverine Train 351 - IDTX 4633
18:33 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4622
19:30 - Lincoln Service Train 300 - IDTX 4615
20:44 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 51
21:44 - Blue Water Train 365 - IDTX 4608, 4618
23:03 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 17, 31
23:54 - Lincoln Service Train 302 - IDTX 4619
25:22 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4615
25:57 - Cardinal Train 51 - AMTK 133
27:27 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4608, 4618
28:42 - Lake Shore Limited Train 49 - AMTK 109, 88
30:38 - Roosevelt Road Parking Garage
31:22 - Texas Eagle Train 22 - AMTK 56
32:37 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 107, 112
33:40 - Texas Eagle Train 21 - AMTK 55
34:23 - Saluki Train 390 - AMTK 68
34:52 - Wolverine Train 353 - IDTX 4624
35:29 - California Zephyr Train 5 - AMTK 132, 29
36:38 - Wolverine Train 352 - IDTX 4615
37:20 - Empire Builder Train 7 - AMTK 13, 167
39:17 - Hiawatha Train 336 - AMTK 90221, IDTX 4602
40:03 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 68
40:52 - Southwest Chief Train 3 - AMTK 134, 19
41:52 - Hiawatha Train 337 - IDTX 4602, AMTK 90221
42:32 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4608, 4618
42:52 - Amtrak Equipment Move - IDTX 4619
43:33 - Blue Water Train 364 - IDTX 4618, 4608
44:38 - Lincoln Service Train 305 - IDTX 4612
45:44 - Illini Train 393 - IDTX 4606
46:45 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 56
48:16 - Wolverine Train 354 - IDTX 4619
49:40 - Metra 829 - METX 198
50:25 - California Zephyr Train 6 - AMTK 138, 44
50:44 - Cardinal Train 50 - AMTK 169
51:48 - Pere Marquette Train 370 - IDTX 4622
52:33 - Southwest Chief Train 4 - AMTK 176, 127
52:40 - Amtrak Equipment Move - AMTK 159, 180
53:30 - Capitol Limited Train 29 - AMTK 175
54:52 - Ending
This video was made possible by my supporters on Patreon:
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And many more!
CoasterFan2105 is the home of all sorts of train and railroad related video content. Stop by every Friday at 9 AM Pacific time for an all new railroading adventure and be sure to check out all of my social media pages @coasterfan2105 for even more great railroad content. Thanks, and I'll see you down the line!
©2023 Mike Armstrong Media
Metra SouthWest Service SB, Chicago Union Station to Manhattan, IL | VirtualTrain
**Best viewed in 1080p60 or 720p60
Welcome to another VirtualTrain ride! This week we take a ride on Metra's SouthWest Service line southbound through the southwest suburbs of Chicago from Chicago Union Station. We take a journey through some of Chicago's South Side before turning west and southwest on the journey to Manhattan. Like most of the rest of the Metra routes, things get progressively more suburban and then progressively more rural the further away from the city we go. Enjoy the ride!
Remember to hit the Like button, comment, Subscribe, and ring the bell to get this video out there and so you'll never miss another trip!
Filmed May 2022.
TIME STAMPS
Departing Union Station: 1:08
Stevenson Expwy (I-55): 9:34
35th St/Guaranteed Rate Field: 11:42
Garfield Blvd: 15:55
Halsted St: 20:01
Western Ave: 23:52
79th St/Kedzie Ave/Wrightwood Station: 25:38
Ashburn Station: 28:32
Cicero Ave (IL Rte 50): 32:33
95th St (U.S. Rtes 12/20)/Oak Lawn Station: 33:03
Ridgeland Ave/Chicago Ridge Station: 37:34
Worth Station: 40:44
Harlem Ave (IL Rte 43): 41:42
Palos Heights Station: 42:56
Calumet Sag Channel/Cal-Sag Trail: 44:26
Palos Park Station: 45:55
135th St: 49:51
La Grange Rd (U.S. Rte 45): 50:42
143rd/Orland Park Station: 51:01
153rd/Orland Park Station: 54:48
159th St (U.S. Rte 6): 56:49
167th St: 58:00
179th/Orland Park Station: 1:00:00
I-80: 1:03:37
Metra Rock Island District: 1:06:06
Lincoln Hwy (U.S. Rte 30): 1:06:32
Laraway Road Station: 1:08:48
U.S. Rte 52: 1:14:37
Manhattan Station: 1:15:35
CITIES:
Intro: 0:00-0:21
Chicago: 0:21-30:52
Hometown: 30:52-31:55
Oak Lawn: 31:55-36:42
Chicago Ridge: 36:42-39:58
Worth: 39:58-42:48
Palos Heights: 42:48-45:13
Palos Park: 45:13-49:12
Orland Park: 49:12-1:01:58
Mokena: 1:01:58-1:04:35
New Lenox: 1:04:35-1:10:54
Manhattan: 1:10:54-1:16:19
Outro: 1:16:19-
Metra SouthWest Service Action at Oak Lawn, Illinois
Russell Sharp Train Videos
It’s Wednesday evening, March 1, 2023, at the Metra SouthWest Service station at Oak Lawn, Illinois.
We see Metra train 817 arriving and departing the station, on the Norfolk Southern Railroad (originally the Wabash Railroad).
Train 817 operates from Chicago Union Station to 179th street Orland Park station.
Metra SouthWest Service and Oak Lawn Station
Russell Sharp Train Videos
It’s Wednesday evening, March 1, 2023, at the Metra SouthWest service Oak Lawn, Illinois station.
Metra train number 822 arrives from 179th street, Orland Park station.
Train 822 operates from 179th street, Orland Park to Chicago Union Station.
Metra SouthWest Service, Snow ⛄️ and Chicago Ridge
Russell Sharp Train Videos
It’s Friday afternoon, March 3, 2023, at the Metra SouthWest service Chicago Ridge, Illinois station, and some snow ⛄️is falling.
Metra train 820 arrives from 179th street Orland Park, on the Norfolk Southern Railroad (originally the Wabash Railroad). It operates to Chicago Union Station.
Metra Southwest Service in Orland Park
This video was outbound train #823 at 153rd Street
Metra SouthWest Service Train Arrives at Palos Heights, Illinois: Second Section
Russell Sharp Train Videos
It’s Wednesday afternoon, March 1, 2023, at the Metra station at Palos Heights, Illinois.
We see Metra SouthWest Service train number 820 arriving from 179th street Orland Park, and headed to Chicago Union Station.
The railroad is the Norfolk Southern Railroad, formerly the Wabash Railroad then Norfolk and Western Railroad.
S4 E8: Harvard Sub Division Cab Ride
This is the complete cab ride video on the Harvard Sub Division (known as Metra's Union Pacific / Northwest Line) from Harvard to Ogilvie Transportation Centre in Chicago.
This video was taken from the front cab car, so you have complete view of the tracks ahead. Let me know if I should make more of these in the future or not.
UPDATE - Metra recently no longer allows recording from the front / end of the train.
About the talking in the background: there was a school group sitting just feet away, so don't mind their talking about whatever (lol).
On top of that, enjoy.
Metra Calls on Chicago Ridge
Russell Sharp Train Videos
It’s Friday afternoon, March 3, 2023, at the Metra SouthWest service Chicago Ridge, Illinois station.
Metra SouthWest service train number 811 arrives and departs the station, heading from Chicago Union Station to 179th street Orland Park, on the Norfolk Southern Railroad, formerly the Wabash Railroad.
Metra action at their Worth, Illinois station
Russell Sharp Train Videos
It’s early afternoon on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at the Metra station at Worth, Illinois, on the Norfolk Southern Railroad, formerly the Wabash Railroad.
We watch Metra SouthWest Service train number 809 departing the station.
This train operates from Chicago Union Station to 179th Street station in Orland Park, Illinois.
Metra North Central Service SB, Antioch, IL to Chicago Union Station | VirtualTrain
**Best viewed in 1080p60 or 720p60
Welcome to another VirtualTrain ride! Today we introduce another one of Metra's routes, the North Central Service (NCS) route! This route largely runs on CN's Waukesha sub through the center of Lake County, IL and eventually meets up with two of Metra's other routes (Milwaukee District West and Milwaukee District North) as we enter the city. Currently this route only operates on weekdays during rush hour (as of August 2022 it runs 6 inbound trains in AM and 6 outbound trains in PM) and has no weekend service. Enjoy the ride!
Remember to Like, Subscribe, and hit the bell so you'll never miss another VirtualTrip!
CITIES:
Intro: 0:00-0:21
Antioch, IL: 0:21-4:55
Lake Villa, IL: 4:55-10:16
Round Lake Beach, IL: 10:16-13:41
Grayslake, IL: 13:41-20:32
Libertyville, IL: 20:32-24:20
Mundelein, IL: 24:20-30:29
Vernon Hills, IL: 30:29-34:13
Buffalo Grove, IL: 34:13-41:19
Wheeling, IL: 41:19-47:44
Prospect Heights, IL: 47:44-49:19
Mount Prospect, IL: 49:19-50:35
Des Plaines, IL: 50:35-59:11
Rosemont, IL: 59:11-59:28
Chicago/O'Hare Airport: 59:28-1:02:37
Rosemont, IL: 1:02:37-1:04:06
Schiller Park, IL: 1:04:06-1:07:33
Franklin Park, IL: 1:07:33-1:11:20
River Grove, IL: 1:11:20-1:15:01
Elmwood Park, IL: 1:15:01-1:16:51
Chicago, IL: 1:16:51-1:37:13
Outro: 1:37:13-
TIME STAMPS
Departing Antioch Station: 1:23
Lake Villa Station: 7:08
Round Lake Beach Station: 11:04
Washington St (Grayslake) Station: 14:44
Prairie Crossing Station: 21:02
-Switch Lines to Metra MD-N? To Fox Lake: , To Chicago Union Station:
Mundelein Station: 26:51
Vernon Hills Station: 32:27
Prairie View Station: 34:50
Buffalo Grove Station: 38:32
Wheeling Station: 42:39
Prospect Heights Station: 47:59
O'Hare Transfer Station: 59:29
-Get off and in the Car? (Mannheim Rd, US 12/45) NB:
Rosemont Station: 1:02:44
Schiller Park Station: 1:05:15
Franklin Park Station: 1:08:18
River Grove Station/Thatcher Ave (IL Rte 171): 1:12:26
-Switch Lines to Metra MD-W? To Elgin/Big Timber:
Western Ave Station: 1:27:03
-Switch Lines to Metra MD-W? To Elgin/Big Timber:
-Switch Lines to Metra MD-N? To Fox Lake: , To Union Station:
Arriving at Union Station: 1:35:51
-Get on another train? BNSF to Aurora: , Heritage Corridor to Joliet: , SWS to Manhattan: , MD-N to Fox Lake: , MD-W to Elgin/Big Timber: , NCS to Antioch:
Metra Heritage Corridor OB, Chicago Union Station to Joliet | VirtualTrain
**Best viewed in 1080p60 or 720p60
Welcome to VirtualTransit Xtended! The first time in this channel's history to feature a Metra route of it's entirety to provide seamless viewing! This VirtualTrain Ride involve's Metra's Heritage Corridor Route from Chicago Union Station to Joliet. The bulk of this route follows the corridor of the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal and Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal (hence the name Heritage Corridor) and passes through all the industry, cities, and nature preserves within the valley. We use the same tracks that Amtrak's Lincoln Service (to St. Louis) and Texas Eagle (to San Antonio) routes.
You will notice early on that we follow closely along the CTA's Orange Line and the Stevenson Expwy (I-55). The Stevenson is along the other side of the route after crossing under all the way to Summit FYI (you'll see it the future IB video). This serves as a reminder of the long history the corridor has of transportation arteries and remains so to date. You'll also notice that we don't pick up to full speed until after Cicero Ave (IL Rte 50). In fact we don't actually get to Summit until almost halfway into the trip even though it's only just over 1/3 of the route. This stretch is notoriously congested and on several occasions we cross other railroads at-grade (on the ground). That creates a lot of conflict between many trains crossing through the corridor and contributes to slower movement. Twice while filming this the train had to wait for others to cross through. But after Cicero Ave the train is blazing through the corridor the rest of the way to Joliet.
Enjoy the (entire) trip! There's just a handful of stations along this entire route so we'll be moving almost the whole time.
Remember to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Bell so you'll never miss another VirtualTrip!
TIME STAMPS
Departure from Chicago Union Station: 1:35
Roosevelt Rd: 5:00
South Branch Chicago River: 7:43
Dan Ryan Expwy (I-90/I-94): 11:32
Halsted St: 11:57
Stevenson Expwy (I-55): 15:24
Western Ave: 17:48
Kedzie Ave: 20:17
Pulaski Rd: 23:47
Cicero Ave (IL Rte 50): 25:35
Central Ave: 26:38
Harlem Ave (IL Rte 43): 28:21
Summit Station: 29:03
1st Ave (IL Rte 171): 30:45
LaGrange Rd (U.S. Rte 12/20/45): 34:18
Tri-State Tollway (I-294): 34:22
Willow Springs Station: 35:45
Kingery Hwy/Cal-Sag Trail (IL Rte 83): 40:03
Lemont Rd/State St: 43:42
Lemont Station: 43:42
Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355): 46:30
135th St/Romeo Rd: 48:48
Romeoville Station: 49:10
9th St (IL Rte 7): 53:08
Lockport Station: 53:33
Joliet Station: 1:00:16
CITIES:
Intro: 0:00-0:24
Chicago: 0:24-25:47
Forest View: 25:47-28:20
Summit: 28:20-31:41
Bedford Park: 31:41-33:20
Justice: 33:20-34:33
Willow Springs: 34:33-39:46
Lemont: 39:46-48:19
Romeoville: 48:19-50:29
Lockport: 50:29-57:25
Joliet: 57:25-1:01:59
HiDef-Metra SW Service Commuter Train EB At Palos Park, ILL 0902 HRS CDT 7-12-10
HiDef-Metra SW Service Commuter Train EB At Palos Park, ILL 0902 HRS CDT & WB At 0923 HRS CDT 7-12-10