Metra Metropolitan Rail

Big fans of the meters. The train is on time, clean and an efficient way to get to the city.

This is a really nice station. It’s fairly large and warm, which is nice for these cold winter days. There’s a random barber shop inside, which I haven’t personally used, but I thought it added a cute touch. There’s also a «library» where you can take/​leave a book as you please, which has been provided by the Lake Forest Library, which I think is an awesome idea for commuters. I also like how close this station is so close to other places to eat, which is always a plus when you have some extra time to wait for the train.

How cute is this train station?
It is totally Old school… located inside you will find a men’s barber shop and a shoe repair shop. I poked my head in to talk to the old cats getting there locks trimmed. And I asked them if there was an automated ticket machine anywhere. The old guys all started talking to me… it was really cute. I told them I was looking for the machine because there was no ticket person on duty and I did not want to pay the service charge on the train. One old guy said, «Oh just pay the fee!» I told him it was, «3 bucks!» And his eyes almost popped out of his head and said, «Wow are you kidding me!» The barber told me that they did not have an automated machine here.
What worried me was that this station had those threatening signs all over that said, «Buy your ticket at the station or you will be charged 3 bucks extra on the train!» I have a suggestion… do not post those signs if you do not have an automated machine and if the person behind the window is missing. Because it is not a good feeling to be sent on a wild goose chase. Also, is it really necessary to charge a 3 buck surcharge for a 5.25 ticket? That seems a little steep. The two conductors on the train are working there anyways!!! I would call this not good customer service. In fact, I would give this policy one star.
This location had some cool wood benches. It was kind of like a movie set from a time when people actually took the train. This location also had free wifi too… so that was a plus. My four star rating is for the great train station building with its old wood and old time barber shop!

Oddly, this Metra station reminds me a lot of the hell-​hole that is the Ithaca Greyhound station… but exceedingly better.
Archaic wooden benches, antique overhead light fixtures, and grotty ceiling fans punctuate the lobby. Ruffolo’s Barber Shop also shares its entrance here.
And while awaiting a pickup, I actually witnessed a woman stock the Lake Forest Library paperback exchange rack. What a shocking, yet simple, act of community participation!
As wish many things in Lake Forest… it may appear quaint and dated, but there’s actually a lot going on under the surface. This is not suburbia to be discounted.