Metra Train Station – Lisle

Eh not sure I can get too excited about a train station. The Lisle Metra station is not too clean and tunnel connecting the tracks smells horrible!
On the other hand– This train station seems to attract a large commuter crowd during the week. That’s when you can purchase coffee inside and they have the ticket booth open.
Overall– not very clean but the Lisle station is a great location.

The train runs on time.
The waitlist to get a commuter parking space is around 6 years. That isn’t a typo. This isn’t a reflection on Metra, but on the government of Lisle.
With some of the worst traffic in the nation, one would think public transit would be a priority.
I guess the government has better things to do.

Just for the record, for all of you metra riders… This train station has no control whether the train is late or not.
Moving on… I’m a Monday-​Friday commuter to downtown Chicago and Lisle is my home station. If you’re coming here on the first day of the month to buy a monthly ticket or just a round trip ticket, you better save yourself some time because you will be waiting in line… probably a long one. This goes for all stations, just because it’s the first of the month and this is the ride some of us take to work.
It’s always clean in here, toasty inside to wait on cold days, and cool inside to wait on hot days. Sometimes when the trains are delayed it gets crazy crowded but… at least there is a place to wait indoors, not all stations have one of these. There is also a little coffee stand inside where you can get coffee and a danish to take with you.

It aint Grand Central but its a totally a-​okay commuter rail station
The 7:13 express train Lisle (via Belmont and Downers Grove) to Chicago Union Station is a good thing.
Ticket sales can be slow (often just staffed by one chatty Cathy)

It’s always late. Train station is well lit and has a couple bars literally across the street. Last time I took the train they had one side of the tracks closed and failed to tell anyone so as the train was pulling up everyone had to run under to the other side. Also there is usually some kind a bum hanging around trying to get a free ride… heads up…

This Metra is not the worse one I’ve been to, but it’s far from the best. Last time I was here, some toothless, hillbilly broad almost drove her POS car right into me, as I was parked.
It’s definitely a high traffic area, as many suburbanites use this station as a hub to commute to the city. It’s a mixed bag, in terms of clientele too. Mostly shit kickers, with a sprinkle of ballers, like myself.

It’s metra, what more can u say. For the most part everyone is nice

The lisle metra station is a rock in a storm of utter commuter turmoil! I have been training here off and on for about 4 years. The BNSF railway is a steady, solid, reliable metra line (unlike others i could mention — MDW to Elgin!). The station employees are always friendly and helpful (even when I stand in line with my check in hand and ask questions like «How much was the 10 ride again» as 20 other people shuffle their feet impatiently behind me”) The coffee guy (I cant recall his name) has been serving the best Lattes and Cappuccinos for the past 8 years (at least). He too is always cheery even at a bleary eyed 6am. In comparison to other stations, Lisle is hands down the one I would want to leave from. Now if only they would build a parking garage, I might just move in.

Every weekday morning I catch the 826 Pace Bus from Four Lakes around 7:40am and it takes me to the Lisle station of the BNSW line of Metra. There I’m whisked away to Union Station in downtown Chicago where it’s a brief 3 block walk to my office. The whole exchange takes about an hour which, ironically, was how long it took me to get to my office from our old apartment in Bucktown.
Let’s review the numbers here. Bucktown is 7 miles from downtown, driving takes 10 – 15 minutes at the most. Lisle is 40 miles from downtown, a 45 minute commute at least. Yet public transportation from either takes the exact same amount of time. I’d cry conspiracy but I think it’s just more a case of efficiency versus deficiency. Pace and Metra have a nice synergy going while the CTA simple Can’t Transport Anything, as it’s known around town.
The train station itself features a little coffee stand but if you’re looking for more selection hit up the roach coach run by a nice lady that parks her truck just outside the station house. My only gripe is that there is no across-​the-​track crossing. Instead you have to go underground and then resurface on the other side. I guess that’s to eliminate the «Metra train kills yet another commuter rushing to catch their train» but still… stairs at 8am isn’t what I moved to the suburbs for.
All in all, much love for Metra.