Metra commuter rail guide

Last verified Oct 15, 2026

Metra is the commuter railroad of the Chicago region. Its 11 lines run from four downtown terminals to the suburbs. The CTA describes service as frequent at rush hour and generally every 1 to 2 hours at other times, with most routes running daily. Fares are separate from the CTA and Pace.

The 11 lines and their downtown terminals

Union Station is near Jackson and Canal, Ogilvie near Madison and Canal, LaSalle Street Station near LaSalle and Van Buren, and Millennium Station near Randolph and Michigan. Timetables for every line are on our schedules page.

Tickets and fares

Metra uses four fare zones, with downtown Chicago in Zone 1. One-way tickets, day passes and monthly passes are priced by the zones you travel through. Full details are on our fares page; here is the short version:

• One-way: $3.75 (Zones 1-2), $5.50 (Zones 1-3), $6.75 (Zones 1-4); $3.75 for trips that do not start or end in Zone 1.
• Day Pass: $7.50, $11.00 or $13.50 depending on zones. Saturday, Sunday or Holiday Day Pass: $7, systemwide. Weekend Pass: $10 (Ventra app only).
• Monthly Pass: $75.00, $110.00 or $135.00, unlimited between your zones on weekdays and systemwide on weekends.
• Regional passes: in the Ventra app, Day Pass buyers can add $2.50 for a Regional Day Pass that also covers CTA and Pace, and Monthly Pass holders can buy a $30 Regional Connect Pass for unlimited CTA and Pace rides that month.
• Reduced fares (for example $1.75 instead of $3.75 for Zones 1-2) apply to seniors, riders with disabilities, K-12 students, children 7 to 11, active-duty military and other eligible groups with the right permit or ID. See our accessibility guide.

Where to buy: the Ventra app sells every Metra ticket and pass. Vending machines at downtown and busier stations sell one-way tickets, day passes and monthly passes. Conductors sell one-way tickets and Saturday, Sunday or Holiday passes on board, but add a $5 surcharge on one-way tickets if your boarding station had a vending machine. Metra does not accept the Ventra card itself, and there are no turnstiles: show your ticket to the conductor.

Bikes on board

• Bikes, ebikes and scooters are allowed on all trains at no charge, first come, first served.
• Use the priority seating area of ADA cars (up to five bikes per accessible diesel car, two per Metra Electric car) or the racks on cars with a bike logo. Riders with disabilities have priority, and crews may refuse bikes when spaces are full.
• You must be at least 16, or with an adult, and able to carry the bike on and off by yourself. Bikes may not exceed 80 inches long and 30 inches wide.
• Folding bikes and scooters can go in any car if folded. Gas-powered bikes are prohibited, and onboard outlets may not be used to charge ebikes.
• On very busy weekends, such as St. Patrick’s Day or Lollapalooza, Metra may warn that there may not be room for bikes.

Divvy is available at Metra stations in Chicago and nearby towns: see Divvy.

Connections with the CTA ‘L’

• Union Station: Quincy (Brown, Orange, Pink, Purple Loop lines), an accessible station.
• Ogilvie: Washington/Wells (Brown, Orange, Pink, Purple), accessible. Clinton on the Green and Pink lines is also nearby.
• LaSalle Street Station: LaSalle/Van Buren on the Loop.
• Millennium Station: Washington/Wabash (Loop lines and Green Line), accessible.

Remember that the State/Lake Loop station is closed for reconstruction into 2029. Check service status and the map before you transfer.

South Shore Line

The South Shore Line, run by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), links Millennium Station in downtown Chicago with northwest Indiana and South Bend International Airport. It has its own distance-based fares and tickets, sold in the South Shore Line mobile app, at station vending machines or, for one-way trips, with cash from the conductor (no bills over $20). Metra tickets and passes are not valid on South Shore Line trains.

Common questions