The only passenger service of BNSF : World's LARGEST freight company on Chicago METRA

Hey folks,
Welcome to this trip report onboard a METRA train on the BNSF line. This is my first time onboard the gallery cars.
Don't hesitate to leave a comment
- TRIP INFORMATION -
RECORDED IN OCTOBER 2020
Railroad company: METRA and BNSF
Train type : EMD F40PHM-2 and Gallery coaches
From : Western Avenue to Union Station
Time : Around 10 min
Price : 4$
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English correction made by Michel Seignette de Kerobert

[@SimplyRailway]

Oops, it look like the map at 1:28 didn’t load correctly :( I apologize for that problem.

[@kameroncoulombe5209]

It’s ok I get we all make mistakes and that’s fine

[@NozomuYume]

If you look at an old Amtrak map you'll find that there was the Floridian, which did indeed take you from Chicago to Florida. It is sorely missed and one of the routes Amtrak really needs to bring back, possibly including an Autotrain option.

[@ronclark9724]

@@NozomuYume Amtrak did try a second Autotrain route to Louisville geared for the Midwest. Unfortunately that effort failed. Louisville not being close enough for those living in the Midwest despite the fact that Amtrak can't turn around trains with a limited number of train sets further from Florida.

[@supernan312]

They are newer from what I remember

[@DTD110865]

@@ronclark9724 That wasn't Amtrak though. That was when Auto-Train was a separate company.

[@trainzguy2472]

You chose just about the worst station on the line to get on at. The ones out in the suburbs are nicer.

[@IndigoFei]

It really depends, too. My closest station is Oak Park and its not that good either.

[@amymousel9860]

He should’ve done Aurora Naperville or Geneva in to the city much different experience

[@fibreglass9976]

Why? I think it's the best station to highlight the pathetic state of US public rail service!

[@wharris302]

The whole point was to show how bad it gets surely?

[@Drebo1971]

Congress park is not much nicer than this. Get into DuPage county and they spruce up.

[@arnoldberk7686]

Some of the city ( not downtown ) stations can be like this. The suburban stations generally are clean and in good shape.

[@highclass301]

🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃 train

[@superschmolz]

I remember when the ticket machine was eliminated at 59th St. I didn't know that was happening and wasn't sure what to do about it. The entrances for most of the Hyde Park stops are not particularly inviting, but definitely nicer than that Western stop.

[@afcgeo882]

That’s because they’re unused.

[@mic1240]

And many very nice stations in city too on other lines. Metra in this area of city not something many people would use since other trains/rapid transit nearby with far more frequent service and lower standard fares. And silly of “luggage”, is for commuters not people going to airports (both airports in Chicago are served by rapid transit directly into terminals)

[@DESUDESU24]

I can second this. I live in Lisle and the station is clean and they even have decorative fences and lighting. The city ones are, well, not the best.

[@peoriavideosltd6822]

So many gorgeous stations along the BNSF route but Western Ave. ain't one of them.

[@richboimagic]

OKAY!

[@VINCEVAZ27]

Yep

[@method2madness762]

Im saying

[@danielbackley9301]

There used to be a station on the other (north side) of the tracks but it had been closed since the 70's and was removed years ago the brick wall you see in the beginning was part of the building. Secondly as far as the condition this station is literally old as the dirt that makes up the rr embankment, although the platform was repaved a few years ago . There really is very little ridership here and that has been that way for deacades due to factory closings and the downgrading of the adjecent rail yard.

[@thomasmcneely3167]

I commuted many years on this particular line. Western Avenue is not the typical train station for this route most of the stations are very clean and Suburban

[@billsonsin7547]

I rode it in the 70's, first from Westmont and then from Naperville into Union Station. Great service. Cars were very clean, heated in winter and very comfortable in the summer with reliable AC. Most riders used monthly tickets (came in the mail; you just had to show them) so buying a single ride ticket wasn't normally an issue. If you forgot to get one, you could just pay the friendly conductor on board.

[@WillGrimm623]

La Grange Stone Ave is a nice stop. I went to school next door

[@pokedude720]

@@WillGrimm623 Ah, a fellow Lion I take it?

[@WillGrimm623]

@@pokedude720 indeed!

[@jacobmccarthy8666]

You chose a very much unused station to board from. Most of Metra’s customers are suburbs - downtown terminus,

[@MatchBreakers]

Oh I hope you did the South Shore Line while in Chicago. Such a unique line with regular passenger trains doing street running.

[@MrCfredrickson]

Metra is planning on replacing most its rolling stock in the next 5 years. Some of the cars in the system are over 60 years old.

[@Crosshead1]

While they’re at it, they could really do some serious work on updating many of the stations. Some of them look like they belong in a middle eastern war zone.

[@Honeydwarf85]

@@Crosshead1 shame about the lack of funds

[@MayContainJoe]

@@Crosshead1 The station itself looks nice and clean. The littered underpass seems to be county's job.

[@RLTtizME]

@@Crosshead1 The Suburban Stations are just fine. The infrequently used Chicago Metro stations (except for Union) are dilapidated. Why anyone would board at Western Ave is a mystery.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

@@RLTtizME The city of Chicago always shits on anything that has to do with connectivity to the suburbs. Just like O'Hare airport and western access and facilities.

[@MilwaukeeNorth418]

Thing is you gotta take the train out on a full ride. Jumping on in just the outskirts of the city doesn't do it justice. When you get the chance I would say take racetrack all the way out or take a train from the north end to Fox Lake. If you look on my channel I have a small clip of most of the Fox Lake Branch line before getting onto the mainline. Also the seats flip. Try tugging on one.

[@fugf1623]

It actually does, every stations should be clean, otherwise it’s bias

[@ViciousVince]

There is actually accessibility. The conductor can pull a plate over those three steps and angle it down for wheelchair access, then raise it up mechanically. That is a feature of the newer coaches such as the one you were in, which are ADA compliant.

[@JackGirard1]

I grew up along the line and now work it in freight service. Western Ave is... an interesting place. Would have recommended getting on in Aurora. One huge advantage of those cars is the seat backs flip. If you're travelling with friends you can flip a seat to face the one behind. It creates a much more social environment. Also the new order will only replace half the cars.

[@RobJaskula]

Commuted on this one and grew up two blocks from the Lisle station. This is a key commuter arterty and Western has to be one of the least-used stations on the line

[@zackaBOSSSSS2]

10:13 Couldn’t help but notice, you missed such an easy detail. when you boarded the train there was an accessible sign on the car you boarded the first time. Those have motorized ramps inside the stairs, every Metra train has at least one of these per train to accommodate those kinds of passengers.

[@ahirschfeld1974]

The BNSF also operates the Sounder Commuter Rail lines out of Seattle to Everett and down to Lakewood. I got to know some of the BNSF conductors and engineers when I commuted regularly on the Sounder between Tacoma Dome Station and Tukwila.

[@chriswalker1993]

The open space design is so conductors only have to make 1 pass when collecting tickets. It's an old design that pre-dates Metra.

[@MayContainJoe]

The visibility is to prevent fare dodgers from hiding, so they can't move downstairs on the other side of the coach when the conductor moves upstairs.

[@quanbrooklynkid7776]

@@MayContainJoe damn

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Full two-floor passenger cars also do not fit in the standard U.S. railroad loading gauge (or almost anywhere in the world). The solution is either split level, partial lower level, or the "gallery" design.

[@lamegaming9835]

@@MilwaukeeF40C sbb ic2000?

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

@@lamegaming9835 Those cars only have partial lower levels.

[@scottwendt9575]

Using the Western Ave Station to take a swipe at the entire US Public Transit policy is extremely dishonest. Stations like Western shouldn’t even exist as Metra is supposed to be a suburban commuter system. The vast majority of Metra trip are 30 minutes or longer. This station exists purely because for political reasons and its condition is also due to politics. This area is clearly within the service territory of the CTA with the Western Ave Pink Line Station less than 6 blocks away. That is why this station less than 2 miles from the heart of Chicago averages just 57 riders while the CTA station sees thousands of users. Government run/ mandated Transit in the US may have problems, but the decay of this station isn’t one of them. This station is completely redundant and should be closed but politics forces Metra to keep its open and that is the problem with US Transit.

[@frankishknight1878]

Indeed, this commuter station is a very bad example, but Thibault did not mean to run US public transit "under the bus" all together. In several other videos Thibault is quite positive about US commuter lines. You offer some very valid details and you must be a local person. I don't think most viewers outside Illinois know about that.

[@danielbackley9301]

This station is over 100 years old as is the viaduct that it is part of and as far as keeping it open yes that's because taxes are involved it's not graft as a previous poster alleged. I.E. the people who do use it are taxpayers and their votes count just like everyone else.

[@luigirules1000]

BNSF also operates Sounder in Seattle and NorthStar in Minneapolis. Not sure if they are contracted to run any others of the top of my head.

[@rowsdower12]

I live by a BNSF line and see the northstar didn't know they ran that. Thought it was the city

[@luigirules1000]

@@rowsdower12 Yeah, it's funded and operates as part of Metro Transit but operations are contracted to BNSF.

[@johncox2284]

The last 13 years of my career as an engineer for BN/BNSF was running commuter trains in the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett area

[@narso310]

I was gonna say... what about the Sounder? But glad to see I wasn't the only one who wanted to call out that incorrect title :P

[@ctanut5328]

There is ADA access to the coaches via a wheelchair lift on the stairway on all cars Except the Metra Electric/South Shore Line. Those are compatible with high platforms and level boarding.

[@johnplampin7274]

Except when the stations don't have ramps or elevators into them.

[@rileycoyote4924]

For your information, Metra does have ticket vending machines, just not at some stations. Also, the newer coaches have lifts for passengers who have limited mobility.

[@blairhenderson5005]

Yes, yes, and yes! The closest stations aren't used much since these are commuter lines going into the city. There are easier, cheaper alternatives for most people going the last three miles into the city. The Ventra app makes agents and vending machines pretty much obsolete. Most of the cars have wheelchair lifts built into the stairs. There is always at least one conductor on board to operate lifts or offer other assistance. Sinks haven't been used in many years.

[@JanPeterson]

Good luck getting up to the platform in a wheelchair in the first place.

[@rileycoyote4924]

@@JanPeterson Most platforms have ramps or elevators. Western Avenue just happens to not have those things.

[@FFred-us9tw]

BNSF is not the largest railroad by size. Only by revenue.

[@AlRoderick]

Metra trains are accessible to a point, they have deployable wheelchair lifts at the boarding doors for those that can't use the stairs but you need staff help.

[@IndigoFei]

Too bad you didn't get to ride the other lines. They're all great and unique in their own way. Metra electric, for example, has high level platforms.

[@vminternational5984]

very sad 😂😅😅🥺😅🥺😹😅😅🥺😅🥺😹😅🥺😹 🥺😅😅🥺😅🥺😅🥺😹😅😅🥺😅🥺😹😅🥺😹

[@firstmoviesHD]

Unique maybe, great far from it

[@samuelitooooo]

He now has a video on METRA Electric!

[@wibbers01]

In 2007, my best friend from lycée moved to Chicago with his family so in summer 2008 I went out to visit him. He lived near Mount Prospect so we'd take the train from Mt Prospect/Arlighton Heights to Chicago Ogivile. That used a similar train and this vid brings back so many memories from that vacation.

[@johnkolassa1645]

As others have noted, you picked a station tha tis not only poor by Metra standards, but poor for Metra in-city standards. You don't need to buy a ticket on-line; at stations without a machine you can buy a ticket on board without penalty (although you're out of luck if you want a 10-ride or monthly.) As others have noted, the open space to the upper level is to allow for ticket checking, but the open space horizontally near the doors is for wheelchair access. It's true that the steps are tough if you are mobility-challenged, but there are cars with lifts. The coaches you rode accommodate only low-level platforms, because that's all the line has.

[@nickp1091]

Also you're out of luck if you don't have cash and can't buy a ticket online for whatever reason. Although you should be able to buy a ticket through the mobile app if you have a phone, a cellular connection, and a credit/debit card. I always buy my tickets through the app, but I once had to take the L instead of the Metra when my phone died and I had to get from Hyde Park to Old Town

[@johnkolassa1645]

Does anyone have experience with what happens when you're on the train with no cash and no ticket and no phone? I have a recollection (and this was pre-phone) (ok, post-Alexander Graham Bell, but pre-cell phone) of conductors taking your name and expecting payment by mail.

[@lpt2606]

8:50 "aerodynamic left the chat" lol true

[@andreaspettersson2096]

Best comment this year! Very very funny, still laughing.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Aerodynamics don't really matter at commuter train speeds and weights.

[@laffey.chan_]

Drag enters the chat

[@user-rm6de9pz2v]

Many other Metra stations in the suburbs are cleaner and with some interesting facilities, such as the heater in the passenger waiting area. As a commuter railroad they are doing an OK job in getting people out of their cars...Definitely not the best one might expect, but at least working to some degree. I have been on a few crowded inbound trains pre COVID time, not sure how they look now. I really wish they could add more services, maybe cutting the mostly 2-hour interval in half so it could be more useful for non commuters. Probably won’t see that coming in the foreseeable future though...

[@Cal90208]

Hm, I thought they had a very robust network with frequent trains..

[@rachelehrenberg9231]

My station, Itasca would seem right at home in any suburban UK town. Quaint is my term. I wouldn't set foot at the station depicted sans kevlar and a large bear sized companion.

[@user-rm6de9pz2v]

@@Cal90208 Services was good during weekdays and rush hours. Weekend was always 2hr interval. They had a huge service cut due to COVID.

[@Cal90208]

@@user-rm6de9pz2v Oh ok

[@ajo5602]

@@Cal90208 Pre-covid, on the BNSF line, trains operated every 3-5 minutes during the rush hour (in peak direction), and every ten minutes (non peak direction). Out of rush hour on the BNSF line trains operated from one train every hour to 4 trains every hour. Weekends were hourly or once every two hours. For example on Saturdays there used to be a inbound train at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9 (express), 10, 11, 12, 2, 3 (express), 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.

[@johnmehaffey9953]

Don’t see much wrong with the carriages, clean functional and the seating looks ok

[@WillGrimm623]

Just old - this is my local commuter train, some of the rail cars are 50-60 years old. They are finally purchasing new ones though.

[@oct197.]

@@WillGrimm623 the seats are good even on the old cars

[@HamburgerPenguinz]

@@oct197. uhhm, no

[@oct197.]

@@HamburgerPenguinz yeah they are 🤨, you can flip them unlike the crappy new seats that you can't flip.

[@williamnorris2449]

got to compete with peoples cars though...should be comfortable, welcoming, not just functional.

[@lambda2857]

Unless they changed the rules, if there is no ticket machine or agent at the station where you board, then you purchase a ticket from the conductor. This may only be true on Metra, not anywhere else.

[@TheOldTeddy]

Rode that line in and out of Chicago everyday for work for years. Good memories. AND..my Metra pass was good on all Chicago buses/elevateds, and week ends. Good for bar hopping in old town on friday/or sat nite.

[@jfmezei]

BTW, BNSF logo can't date from the 1950s, the company was created in 1995 with merger of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and Burlington Northern Railway. and it wasn't till 2005 that the railway formally shortened it to BNSF railway. :-) The BNSF logo doesn't seem to have any roots in either the Santa Fe or Burlington Northern logos. Re: Aerodynamics: I used to ride Gallery cars on CP Rail commuter service in Montréal. They had 9 such cars, 2 of which were cab cars. On the evening express to Rigaud at 17:15, they used all 9, and during the day, they split it into 2 trains, one of 6 cars and one with 3. When assembled as a single 9 car train, the cab in the middle blended in. CP's config had 2*2 seating throughout the downstairs, and upstairs, there was a luggage rack hung from ceiling over the middle gap. So conductor had clear vewi of passengers when checking tickets on both sides (unlike the METRA that has a luggae rack mid height on once side). The CP cars were also self powered (diesel generator) for lights, heating and air conditioning. So a bit more noisy. They were built in mid 1970s and lasted well into early 2000s as I recall (commiuter trains had been taken over by CTCUM, then AMT (now called EXO) and those gallery cars were deployed to the St-Jérome line in their last days. The large central doors offered 3 people going in/out at a time, so better than having doors at each end with total of 2 going up/down at a time. The stairs were also less steep than on conventional vestibules, aiding faster entry/egress.

[@kentfrederick8929]

Western Ave. and Halsted St. see very little traffic, because they have CTA service to the Loop. Even Cicero traffic declined, after the Western Electric plant nearby closed in the 1980s. If you had started your trip at Naperville, Downers Grove-Main St., or LaGrange-Stone Ave., you would have found lovely stations built before WWII with a ticket agent. Some of those cars on which yours were based are still operating. They were built by Budd in the 1950s, 60s, and early 70s and have been renovated several times.

[@ditchpatcher]

Burlington Northern ceased passenger service in 1971 BNSF was created in 1995

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

BN joined Amtrak and got out of the passenger business in 1971. It continued its Burlington commuter service. As BNSF it hosts commuter service in Minneapolis and Seattle, possibly actually operating it with its crews.

[@matthewmelvin7462]

ah the memories of riding the electric line to go to the auto show. good times

[@cactusbound]

I rode the “bamboo express” (Illinois Central) to work for years. Ruined many a nylon stocking on those seats before even getting to the job 😅 The cars were historic! Then they upgraded the cars. Couldn’t open the windows anymore.

[@jamesf791]

My old company, oh the stories I could tell, especially about the Metra route.

[@lindabarrett6471]

I use your videos to go to sleep sometimes. I like the train sounds and the sounds of people quietly talking. I even like the sounds in the train stations.

[@frankishknight1878]

Very clever! Voice over may destroy the railroad sounds...

[@davidchurch4058]

You needed to ride to and from where Metra is intended to serve. Not within the city of Chicago. That’s served by CTA. Metra has great service and very nice stations in the suburbs. I’m surprised Western was even still a stop. The Gallery cars date from days where tickets were collected on train. Conductor can reach upper and lower seats from one level. Has worked for Chicago for 70 years.

[@pdxmark77]

I have not ridden Metra in years, last time I rode you had to put your ticket on a clip next to the aisle so the conducted and check it. How do they do that now?

[@jrails46]

They still use paper tickets if you board from the downtown stations. Theres an app called Ventra that you can buy tickets using your phone for Metra, Pace suburban bus, or the cta and once you make the purchase, theres a virtual ticket on your phone that you show the conductor once aboard the train. To answer your question, they still have the clips for paper tickets on the seat backs in the remodeled cars as well as the newer cars.

[@Katy-ho1pb]

You realize this is a commuter train? It is mostly used to deposit folks from the Western suburbs to Union Station and back. As others have said, the suburban stations are nicer. It is a "working" train, not really a vacation train. I take it to my friend's house in Naperville all the time (from Union Station) and have never had a problem. I am sure routine commuters would feel differently about it. I find the new app easy to use and I am grateful I don't have to buy a ticket anymore. I can get my weekend pass (or I used to) right on my phone. My brother lives on LI and I don't really find it any different than that commuter line except it is about 1/3 the price.

[@camjkerman]

Yes but as commuter train services go, METRA is shocking. You don't see Thameslink or the Parisienne RER looking that way.

[@oct197.]

@@camjkerman um hello, we're talking about the US, not UK

[@camjkerman]

@@oct197. yep. But that doesn't stop that commuter rail system being diabolical compared to what I (British) or Simply Railway (French) is used to.

[@oct197.]

@@camjkerman I've been on metra countless of times and its really good.

[@camjkerman]

@@oct197. it only gets better from there. Thameslink, Crossrail, RER, the S-Bahns, urban rail transport is so much better outside of a capitalist dystopia.

[@davidnielson9139]

I'd be interested to see a review on Utah's Frontrunner commuter train, that runs 81 miles between Ogden, through Salt Lake, and ends in Provo.

[@ShikataGaNai100]

A 2-minute delay from any train in Japan gets you an apology from the train operator and a note to give to your employer for your lateness.

[@michlo3393]

That's only _SLIGHTLY_ psychotic.

[@bubbledoubletrouble]

@@michlo3393 The reason that everyone always fails to mention is that it’s not uncommon for people to need to transfer to another train, so if your train is late and your connecting train leaves as scheduled you’ll miss it and have to wait for the next one (they can’t simply hold it because it would affect other connections down the line). Then you’ll be far more than 2 minutes late.

[@michlo3393]

@@bubbledoubletrouble No, it makes perfect sense.

[@americanfoodie8998]

Meanwhile, the MBTA in Boston expects you to be grateful that your train or bus not only showed up at all, but was running *only* 2 minutes late.

[@Gaspode_]

Quite a contrast between the clean platform level and the You'll-be-mugged-three-times-and-pray-for-the-sweet-relase-of-death entrance

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Metra and BNSF are responsible for the train, platform, and tracks. The city of Chicago does the street.

[@danielbackley9301]

@@MilwaukeeF40C CORRECT

[@beachhouse13]

Wow, that brought back a lot of memories. When we visited relatives in Chicago, my dad and I would walk down to the station and catch a train for a few stops then head back. I clearly remember the conductor walking on the lower level, and would reach up to get tickets from the passengers in the upper level. Reduces capacity, but allowed the conductor to get the entire car quickly before the next stop.

[@jeffherdzina6716]

I remember trips with my dad doing the same exact thing. Putting the ticket on the top of the seat so that the conductor would see it as they walked up and down the cars.

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

Another amazing video. Thanks for taking us along.

[@todderickson6159]

You can travel from Chicago to Florida, just not directly.

[@Cal90208]

Just if the Floridian was still here...

[@maestromecanico597]

@@Cal90208 Or the City of Miami, or the Southwind.

[@Cal90208]

@@maestromecanico597 Yep..

[@ronclark9724]

Just ride the Cardinal to DC and then ride one of the silver trains, either the Silver Meteor or Silver Star...

[@ryanhajekVEVO]

Best way to start a Friday! Great vid 😎

[@doodlemouse.6825]

Bro you are the best ....thx a lot for making train videos ......

[@mattm4171]

Metra is in the process of transitioning from commuter service to true regional rail. I think that in 10 years the system will be so much more efficient and expansive. There’s also the Midwest high(er) speed rail network that’s being planned, centered around Chicago- many transit agencies are already making preparations for that. Progress IS happening here, thankfully!

[@john40539]

These trains actually are accessible to people in wheelchairs. A lift extends out of the staircase and down to the platform, then it moves the passenger up and into the aisle of the car.

[@RobertKrebill]

Yes!!! I LOVE the Metra!

[@BryanEndres97]

I've ridden this line several times. I used to live west of Joliet so this was my way into the city

[@chesapeakerailphotography]

Awesome video! I didn't know if you noticed but at 6:55 there is the Burlington Heritage Unit.

[@johnforrester2574]

This one brings back the memories! Thanks for the review!

[@DavidNightjet]

I took a ride on this route earlier today. Can confirm: the stations farther from Chicago are nicer and have really nice ticket attendants. Even caught a glimpse of Amtrak's new Siemens Venture cars on the way out of Union Station for the return trip!

[@w9gb]

The CB&Q logo “Burlington” was above the entry doors, until the merger for BN creation in 1969. The BNSF logo was added after the SantaFe merger during last refurbishment about 20 years ago.

[@cvkline]

So familiar to me! I grew up in the northwest suburbs and my father rode the Northwest line (UP) to downtown Chicago and home every single day. It was always a treat for me as a kid to get to take that train ride (about an hour) when visiting the busy downtown. I know all these coaches very well, I believe they are almost the same on all of the Metra lines, although I'm not sure about the electric ones. Interesting to get your perspective on the commuter train infrastructure in Chicago. I have to say, we all just tolerate its condition. "It is what it is."

[@dmrr7739]

The signboards on the old coaches must have been repainted- the coaches are way older than BNSF. In fact, they may be older than Burlington Northern, possibly from Chicago Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q), circa 1950’s. The signboards most likely would have read “Burlington Route” in the same font.

[@everettrailfan]

BNSF also operates 3 other passenger services: Metrolink in California, Northstar in Minnesota, and Sounder in the Puget Sound area around Seattle.

[@graythewolf6096]

The HEP de-activation at 9:24 though! Good trip report as always!

[@charleskiel2299]

Great video...but you should've gotten on at Naperville or Aurora. It would have costed more..but those are much nicer stations.

[@northwoodsrailproductions4538]

Agreed, Naperville’s station is light years better for its condition

[@vanlevy2008]

Gallery cars are easy for the conductors to work. You either hand down the ticket, the money to show the ticket on your phone. There is no stair climbing for them. San Francisco still has some gallery cars which were bought new, but whose days are limited. Nashville has used rebuilt Metra cars in the gallery design also. But clearly the days of that design has passed. The Burlington name boards on the old cars are just their for historical and cultural reasons, but I am glad to see them while they are here in Chicago.

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

You picked one of the the least typical, least used station on the line to highlight. Why? Very few people use this stop. Metra primarily serves suburban commuters (especially on this line) not city commuters. People who live around here who want to travel into the Loop would use the CTA Pink line Western Ave. L station a few blocks to the south - less expensive fare, much more frequent service, and a much nicer station than the BNSF platform in this video.

[@roger0929]

Ahh, but the Pink Line station doesn't match the narrative.

[@ronclark9724]

Every station should appear nice and safe. Even in Chicago. No exceptions! Heads should roll when they aren't. And they should roll from the top, starting with the mayor of Chicago...

[@pablol.e.3960]

What a unique Train Report!!!, Thanks & keep doing so great🔥

[@ModernClassic]

I'd honestly rather ride that than a new coach. The older cars have both more character and almost always more room. They're not making the new coaches for passenger comfort; they're making them to be more cost-effective to run. That means less space per passenger, less padding on the seats, cheaper materials, etc.

[@trevorderper5050]

gallery cars actually lack less room with less standing room and the upper level is especially cramped, and I especially have massive problems with them like them taking up railfan shots most of the time thus letting other types of coaches to appear, and they are such a boondoggle for boarding with those crappy steps which means less accessibility, and people who don't give a crap about the steps part are just a bunch mountain climbers. only good thing is that the upper level is "autistic people friendly"

[@midwestrailfan5270]

The Metra CB&Q heritage unit was parked in the Metra yard.

[@RailfanTurner]

Terrific catches! Terrific trip! The BNSF manifest your Metra train was racing had a Ferromex engine on it trailing.

[@lpt2606]

lol the entrance is a pure joke

[@Cal90208]

I’m sure the area around the station doesn’t help. Their more used stations are MUCH better

[@goober7535]

Right? Chicago needs to do better

[@samuelitooooo]

The bus that passed is the single best thing in the area lol

[@ajo5602]

This Western Ave and Halsted St are the only stations on the line that are considered dilapidated. They have very low ridership and other stations on the line are much nicer.

[@Cal90208]

@@ajo5602Out of all the stations, there’s just two that are bad and he chose this

[@Paul91193]

Back in 2013 I stayed in a hotel near Oak Lawn Station. THIS was a proper station (even for an European railfan). It seems that nobody cares about the underground of Western Ave Station. How did you get to this crazy station? The green windows have an interesting effect on pics. Everything is covered in green

[@johndevine2868]

There’s an Elevated station 3 blocks away, which also speaks to why this station is not as beautiful as he would like.

[@nickp1091]

@@johndevine2868 For a trip between Pilsen or the Near West Side and downtown Chicago, I would definitely recommend taking the L. The Pink line (the line that you are referencing) has fairly nice stations and regular service, and although it traverses some of the city's worst neighborhoods further west, the stations are more secure and better lit at night than the Metra stations. I've boarded the BNSF at the Western Avenue station before (I agree that the station and the viaduct along Western need a facelift), but it was for an outbound trip to Aurora. Aside from maybe the lines on the south side, most people who live in the city use Metra for outbound travel and the CTA if they need to get downtown, due to service frequency, station proximity, and cost ($4 vs $2.50). I'm saying that you are right that the close proximity of fast, frequent, and affordable transportation to downtown renders the Western Avenue station obsolete for a typical commute downtown and the volume of reverse commuters isn't enough to justify the type of improvements that are being made at some of the other stations that are within the city limits.

[@danielbackley9301]

@@nickp1091 Absolutely correct grew up in the neighborhood only rode the Burlingt5on for fun a couple of times and coming back from a relatives house to save them from driving me home

[@Ratstronot118]

does anyone know if metra goes through amtraks union station please answer i needto know

[@timor64]

Glad you enjoyed the gallery car! They are so quaint if (like me) you are not from there. On this kind of car on Caltrain, the conductor used to walk along downstairs and you reached down to pay him. He would put a ticket in a little holder next to the luggage rack so he could see you had paid.

[@dmitrystarostin2814]

Probably the coolest of all suburban trains, ever! Always wished to ride it. It is the quintessential Chicago.

[@johncox2284]

Commuter trains also run on BNSF trackage between Lakewood, Tacoma, Seattle, and Everett in Washington.

[@Pensyfan19]

Great review! Although not as obvious as the BNSF logo on this line, the class I also operates Sounder Commuter Rail in Seattle and the proposed Arrow commuter service in the Redlands near Los Angeles. CP Rail also operates GO Transit in Toronto. I also looked at the route and the only "discouraging" stations along there are Western Ave and Halsted st, while the rest of the stations going west are much nicer. Looking at Google maps, the CTA Pink Line Western Ave station looks nicer, since it's only 8 miles away from the city hub.

[@billhunter7664]

I think the Exo train system (Réseau de transport métropolitain de Montréal) is also operated through CP Rail.... or at least the Montréal-Vaudreuil line.

[@NickCBax]

I came here to say this. BNSF operates two lines in the Seattle area, the Sounder North and the Sounder South. The rolling stock is owned by Sound Transit, but is operated by BNSF under contract.

[@tameraccoon1920]

If you look closely at 6:55, you can see Metra 211, the Burlington Northern Heritage unit coupled up to a string of cars

[@Sol_7]

2:51 I think there is an error here, I think that the Music City Star in Tennessee uses former Metra cars, gallery cars.

[@stumpydoo5]

Also CalTrain in San Francisco uses the same style cars, possibly from METRA.

[@Sol_7]

@@stumpydoo5 Same manufacturer.

[@mayraperezsostres5128]

Thank you Metro for all the rides to Chicago. I am so grateful 💖😍☕ Success for all employees of Metro ! 💖😄👍 I hope to return to see more of Chicago and the live plays. God bless you all 💖💖💖💖 I keep watching home alone film just to see the train scene. 😂😂☕☕👍

[@danielbliss1988]

That may be the single most primitive station on the entire Metra network. You should come back to Chicago and try an actual destination....Brookfield Zoo; Naperville; Evanston Davis Street; Hyde Park 55-57 on the electrified district; Indiana Dunes; wherever.

[@MrEricSir]

We still have many of these same passenger cars on CalTrain in the Bay Area, though I think the Metra cars might be more recently refurbished. And yes, back in the 80's there were clips where the conductors would place tickets by each seat for both the upper and lower levels after you paid them (in cash!) and they'd come around and punch holes in the tickets to make sure you paid the correct fare.

[@DrPepper776]

You should come to the state of New Mexico and check out some of the trains. The Rail Runner is our city train that goes between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The Cumbres and Toltec is a really famous history scenic train ride through the rocky mountains. It might be really interesting!

[@MikeJones-bl6lu]

You can do most of the Albuquerque SF route by taking the Chief.

[@markydee48]

I like the video, but I will echo what a few others said below, it doesn't do Metra justice if you choose a station that resides close to the inner city. You can't hide the fact that these stations exist on most commuter rail lines across the country, but most commuters RR's stations that are closer to the inner city are laid out in this manner because ridership is less since a parallel subway or bus line would exist nearby that is a considerably cheaper alternative to riding the higher priced commuter rail especially in the lower income inner city areas. That same situation could be found in NY, Philadelphia, DC, Boston, etc... There are many nice stations in the outer suburbs that would make the experience more pleasant. Additionally, anything outside of the North East portion of the US, most commuter rail lines are low platform primarily because most commuter lines share trackage with freight lines where high level platforms could become obstacles for freight train operation. Low level platforms are common all over the world. My family lives in Spain, and from what I have seen when riding RENFE, all stations are either low or mid level platforms which require passengers to climb up/ down in the same fashion as you see with Metra's cars. ADA access is generally at designated areas of the station where a ramp may exist and may usually require assistance from train crews, and even on high platform stations such as what they have on the Long Island Rail Road or Metro North Rail Road would still require the use of a metal ramp to allow safe ADA access to the train.

[@BelugasAreCool]

Nice video! I take Metra a lot since I live in chicago. I mostly take the UP north line but have taken the BNSF line many many times.

[@baldviking1970]

This double decker did not seem overtly suited for commuter trafic? Compared to a Flirt with 2-3 seating?

[@spagboi1268]

thanks for the showcase dude! i enjoyed this video Alot!!

[@richardclarke376]

I commuted on that line for most of the past 20 years until the pandemic. A year ago, the morning expresses from out in the burbs were completely rammed - standing room only. Now when I occasionally go downtown there is probably 50-60 people on the whole train. For the first time now I can get a seat versus stand in the vestibule. If you did manage to get a seat inside the car, because there's only one door per car, it took forever to get out at Union Station! I think Metra do a good job with the resources they have and generally the service is cheap and reliable. It's $14 round trip per day from the West Suburb where I live - a distance of about 35 miles. Wonder what Waterloo-Basingstoke costs per day? Add to that, Metra operates flawlessly in weather that would see British Railway companies take their toys and go home. All that said, now we have all been working from home for a year, I don't see the sheer volume of commuters we had coming back. I doubt we ever see those new railcars they were planning to buy.

[@cyxfn7693]

1 tip for next time riding metra, don’t get on 2 stops from the city because the station usually suck and are gross, next time riding bnsf get on at like cicero

[@thephantomeagle2]

I have friends that lived in suburban Chicago when I was living in Madison Wis. I always took the bus from Union Station. My friends would drop me off at the Westmont station and I would watch trains and catch the final express to Union. There was, at the time, a great restaurant there and I’d sit by the window having breakfast. Later they moved to the North suburbs and I’d sit at the Iron Horse Cafe in Round Lake

[@someguy8427]

Are you going to do a vid on the electric line?

[@SgtChip]

A few minutes delay is nothing in the United States. Only a few minutes is really keeping time, compared to other trains here. I like those BNSF passenger cars.

[@HardRockMaster7577]

Back in the 90's, I rode a Metra train from the suburbs into Chicago. I sat in the upper section, and it seemed so weird to be looking down on the family below. It felt like I was spying on them!! The seating on the DFW commuter trains are comfortable. However, the DART light rail train's seats are not that comfortable for a 30-40 minute ride. I have a sport cushion I take for those longer rides on the light rail.

[@NelsonClick]

I admire and completely trust your point of view and commentary. You have deep knowledge and love of trains. It comes through all of your videos. This channel is so much fun!

[@SimplyRailway]

Thank you very much!

[@Bjd79]

I have been on those trains in Chicago. It’s usually full when I get on them! Last time I was on them was before the pandemic started. Those seats on lower level flips in opposite directions.

[@wildhorsestudios1209]

Very few passengers use Metra from in the city of Chicago, as the overlap for most part with the CTA's "L" trains. Largest number of passengers BNSF - the Aurora - Naperville stations - rush hours there are express trains that skip every station beyond Naperville. Such allows the trains to run up to 70 mph. Ends up with a much faster trip passing the slow trains via the center track - which runs inbound in the AM rush and outbound in the PM rush. A look at the regular pre-Covid 19 schedule saves a lot of time vs. stopping all the other stations. If I recall correct if running on time Chicago to Aurora-Naperville Rte. 59 station saved at minimum 15 minutes, or up to 30 minutes faster based on conditions.

[@dangelohartley5977]

Whenever you come back to Chicago, you should check out the South Shore Line operated by NICTD.

[@Heritage367]

As someone who's ridden Metra trains since before they were called Metra, it's fascinating to see an outsider's perspective 😃

[@justagiraffe2868]

I live in Chicagoland. Most of our stations are nicer. They’re nothing to win awards, but nothing like the one you happened to wind up using I’m not attacking you, I think this is a great video, just some extra information that I think could be good to have!

[@LinRuiEn]

Even in city limits, he probably picked the worst one to start at 😭

[@danielbackley9301]

@@LinRuiEn TRUE

[@MsAnimeFan88]

Chicagoan here, fixing the infrastructure and updating things haven't been on top of Chicago's list although there have been very minor improvements here and there. It would be nice to have ticket machines installed at Metra stops. There aren't even those at places where the CTA and Metra meet which I find weird, but they're pushing the use of the Ventra card which lets you ride Metra, CTA, and Pace.

[@qjtvaddict]

No need use your phone for payment

[@void_shadowx1771]

As a 10 yr old Chicagoan since 2010 I gotta say this vid is cool

[@HoosierRallyMaster]

Last time I used that station was in 1958, when it was the Chicago Burlington & Quincy (commonly referred to as the Burlington). We lived on the southwest side of Chicago and took the Western Ave bus (maybe even the street car back then - I don't remember) to that station and then the train out to the western suburbs to visit friends. That station is the last stop on the line before Union Station. There is not much motivation to make such stations "friendly" since almost anyone living in that area would be more likely to use city buses or the subway system to get downtown.

[@danielbackley9301]

Actually second to the last Halsted is the last before Union Station and it's even worse.

[@TootlinGeoff]

I've travelled twice on Dutch double deckers and found them clean and comfortable. There is certainly limited luggage space. I found the fairs a lot cheaper than the UK too.

[@Cal90208]

7:38 thats one heading our for a journey unless it was the empire builder. Any other trains, they would have to turn using the wye, so it would be going backwards

[@jer789610]

There are cars for passengers with limited mobility, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is a minimum of 1 per train, sometimes you'll get more though, depending on the length (want to say the longest would have 3-4 ADA cars). The steps fold down and create a lift that is operated by the conductor.

[@PortlandsTransport]

That was excellent! Subscribed!

[@jeffreyfreeman1485]

Actually, BNSF does operate another passenger service in the Minneapolis area. Quite modern.

[@DandamanV]

How strange that even in Chicago that not all of the commuter lines are electrified.

[@janmelantu7490]

Chicago never had a ban on Steam/Diesel engines in the city like NYC & lots of the northeast did