Commuting from Evanston to Motorola in Schaumburg (Chicago, Arlington Heights: how much, transfer to)

[EliteLegend]

I am a little confused on how to travel in Metra trains at Chicago. I want to get from Davis Station, Evanston to Arlington Park. I found out that I need to get into the Metra at Davis Station and then transfer to another Metra at Ogilvie or Clybourn station. I have a couple of questions which I hope someone can answer:

1. How do I buy tickets for this travel? For example, in CTA, one ticket is enough for the entire travel. If that is not the case, then what is the cheapest option available for me if I'm traveling daily in the same route back and forth?

2. When my route map says transfer train, how far is the other train? That is, I want to transfer from Union Pacific Northline to Union pacific Northwest Line.

3. I see that I can transfer to/from Union Pacific North line from/to Union Pacific Northwest Line either at Clybourn or Ogilvie. Which one is better?

4. Is there anyway I could catch the Union Pacific Northwest line using CTA trains?

Hope someone can help me out. Thanks.

[myrc60]

Ogilvie is the end of the line of Southbound service from the northside and the beginning of the line of service for travel northbound. It sounds to me like you have to go downtown (thats where Ogilvie is) to get the train to Arlington Park.

Once you get inside Ogilvie station you will find the track for your train to Arlington Park (it won't be too far away and you might not even have to go inside the building).

For fares, you can purchase a monthly pass and use it for both legs of your trip, but you must buy a pass for Arlington Park's zone to cover both legs of your trip.

You might be better off driving either to the Park or another stop on the NW line (Des Plaines, or Park Ridge possibly. If you don't have a car you are in for a very long ride.

I don't know about using CTA to get to the NW line though it maybe possible. Someone else will know that.

[outsider1]

Do you want to travel specificaly by Metra for amusement purposes? Or are you actually looking for the quickest way to the racetrack via mass transit? If so, you would be better off with Pace buses - Pace Bus - A Fresh Approach to Public Transportation
Also try this website RTA | The Regional Transportation Authority: Public transportation in Northeastern Illinois You can input departure and destination points of your trip as well as date and time, and it will pick an optimal route for you.

[EliteLegend]

Thank you. I am going for work at Motorola situated in Arlington Heights. The rta trip planner did give me a plan but as I never traveled in these trains before, I was a little confused about zones and which ticket to buy to not overspend money. It said, transfer from Union Pacific North Line to Northwest Line but how far are these trains? There seems to be just 2 mins before the other train leaves the station so I was wondering if it will be a mission impossible for me...

I tried driving to Schaumburg today but found it to be rather tiresome. It was a very long drive and I somehow thought riding a train will be a little lighter... And added to that the gas rates have gone up so high that I'm thinking twice before actually doing anything. Am I thinking wrong?

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by EliteLegend

Am I thinking wrong?

Once you get to Arlington how are you getting to work? I originally thought you might be going to the track; so this takes new meaning if you are going to work.

Considering that the train involves 2 lines, you may be. I don't know how much time you want to invest in this. If you go to Ogilvie for the transfer it might be easier than transferring at Clybourn because at Clybourn you may have to go to another track and that means you'll have to go down to the street and up another stairwell possibly. Then again it may be the same track, idk. Once you know those things it will be easier for you to make a decision. Can you do a trial run before you start working there?

The layout at Ogilvie looks something like domino's set-up. Each platform can service 2 trains at a time. They are all within running distance however IMO. But I caution you that if the train leaves at 7:32 you better have the conductor's eyes on you by 7:31.

[outsider1]

Is there a Motorola in AH?? Or do you mean the one in Schaumburg on Algonquin Rd? Anyway, you're right about the drive between Evanston and NW suburbs - can drain a day's energy before you even set a foot in the office. But trying to catch the second train won't be an easy task either. Try this particular bus-train-bus route instead. There's only a 4minute connection between the train and the 696 bus. But not much to worry about since buses usually wait for the trian if it's late. It's not the other way around though, that's why I would avoid the 208(Evanston - Des Plaines Metra) bus in that other, just a bit quicker route suggested by RTA.

Take PACE BUS # 250
Departat 06:38 AM DAVIS & BENSON
Arriveat 07:22 AM DES PLAINES METRA BUS STOP (N)

Take METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST LINE
Departat 07:44 AM DES PLAINES METRA
Arriveat 07:56 AM ARLINGTON HEIGHTS METRA

Take PACE BUS # 696
Departat 08:00 AM:NORTHWEST HWY & EVERGREEN
Arriveat 08:28 AM:MEACHAM & DRUMMER/MOTOROLA (N)
Walk 0.2 mile W to MOTOROLA - SCHAUMBURG

[EliteLegend]

Thanks to both of you for extending your valuable suggestions. I just found out one more thing: there is a Motorola shuttle to pick up employees from Arlington Park Metra station at 7:35 and 8:30 in the morning. From the discussion we've had so far, I realized a few things. Please let me know if I'm wrong:

1. Transfering from Clybourn is harder than the Ogilvie station. And at Ogilvie, I just need to roam around in the same station at least.

2. There is one schedule that caught my eye:

Metra North line leaving Main Street at 5:51 AM
Arrives at Ogilvie at 6:15
Metra Northwest leaves Ogilvie at 6:30
Arrives at Arlington Park at 7:19
I'll then have a shuttle to pick me up at 7:35

But again, this plan depends on how close the trains are in the first place. There is one more option here. In case I miss the 6:30 train at Ogilvie, there will be another at 7:13 which will arrive at Arlington Park at 8:00. There will be a shuttle at 8:30 to pick me up. It sounds ok to me but again, as you mentioned, first thing is how strainful it would be and the second, how close the trains are and finally, what is the best way to reduce prices on this trip?

Thanks again...

[outsider1]

Ok, I just saw a 1500 W Dundee Rd in AH address in one of your previous posts.

Take PACE BUS # 250
Departat 06:38 AM DAVIS & BENSON
Arriveat 07:22 AM DES PLAINES METRA BUS STOP (N)

Take METRA UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST LINE
Departat 07:44 AM DES PLAINES METRA
Arriveat 07:56 AM ARLINGTON HEIGHTS METRA

Take PACE BUS # 690
Departat 07:59 AM:ARLINGTON HEIGHTS METRA PACE BUS STOP
Arriveat 08:13 AM:BUFFALO GROVE HIGH SCHOOL BUS STOP
Walk 0.3 mile W to 1500 W DUNDEE RD

[EliteLegend]

Thank you. So for that, I'll have to take the CTA Purple line and get down at Davis. If this is easier, then I guess this looks nice to me. But still, I would really want to know how far these trains are at the Ogilvie station. And thanks oursider1, I guess I'll stick to your plan before I have any information about these trains at Ogilvie. Will try that out tomorrow and let you know how it went. Thanks.

[chet everett]

The trains at Ogilive are generally two or thre platforms apart. Most morning it is not a big deal to have a two minute overlap, but it makes more sense to have 15 minutes, you can get a Jamba Juice or Caribou Coffe while you hop trains. They are literally all within about 200 feet of each other...

If you try and make the 2 minute overlap and your train arrives late there is not much chance that the outbound train will wait. With daily or ten ride you'd have to pay for both legs of the train trip, with a monthly you only pay for the longer leg and everything else is covered unlimited.