Metra stations safe-Cicero, LaVerngne, Berwyn, Harlem (Aurora, Rock Island: to buy, dangerous, bus)

[maxwell2323]

I am finding that I will have to grab the BNSF metra on a Friday around 6pm ish at one of these stations - Cicero, LaVerngne, Berwyn, Harlem. I am heading to Aurora. Are they safe to be standing around waiting for a train? Any one better than the others? Or am I being ridiculous and should not worry? I have access to the pdf sched for BNSF so I know the times - other than that anything else you can add that I may need to know would be appreciated ! I would like to catch the train at Cicero - but if the ones farther west are safer.....

[myrc60]

All are safe but the farther west you go would be perceived safer but at 6pm on a Friday there are still going to be commuters coming and getting off at Cicero so it probably won't be unsafe either. I used to take the train from Berwyn everyday and loved it.

[maxwell2323]

Let me quickly interject another question. Where do I stand? I ask this because...although I have been on the metra before, it is easy for a newbee to miss the train. Case in point - one station (Franklin Park? MD-W) I was at...I was headed downtown. I stood on the north side. There were I believe 3 tracks. I saw the train coming from the west. I noticed that some (not all) of the folks waiting walked across the first track to stand next to the middle track. I thought that was crazy. As the train got closer, I could tell the train was on the first track in front of me, so I knew I was okay. When the train stopped and I noticed nobody was getting off or on, I realized that everyone was getting off and on ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRAIN, not the side I was on - the side where the waiting station was. And it was too late (and probably not safe) for me to sprint around the end of the train to try to get on the other side.

[Golden Camel]

Originally Posted by maxwell2323

Let me quickly interject another question. Where do I stand? I ask this because...although I have been on the metra before, it is easy for a newbee to miss the train. Case in point - one station (Franklin Park? MD-W) I was at...I was headed downtown. I stood on the north side. There were I believe 3 tracks. I saw the train coming from the west. I noticed that some (not all) of the folks waiting walked across the first track to stand next to the middle track. I thought that was crazy. As the train got closer, I could tell the train was on the first track in front of me, so I knew I was okay. When the train stopped and I noticed nobody was getting off or on, I realized that everyone was getting off and on ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRAIN, not the side I was on - the side where the waiting station was. And it was too late (and probably not safe) for me to sprint around the end of the train to try to get on the other side.

If there is no clear signage, do what everyone else is doing. If it seems crazy, ask someone, why are you crossing the track? Are you going to catch that train that's coming from the West?

Or do a dry run. If you are starting a new job on Monday, go down the previous Friday and observe where the trains stop, where the entrance to the station is, where the bus stops, where the parking is, etc. Unfortunately, in some places the signs are bad or placed so you don't see them, so you just kind of got to know. Having someone else around who is experienced helps, but if you are all alone, you have to flip a coin.

By the way, I enjoy this sign that is on the Rock Island 35th Street Station. If you don't notice it as you enter the station, you'll be screwed.

This won't help in the situation you described, but one rule to remember is that the trains on the three UP lines run on the left side and the Rock Island switches sides midday.

[myrc60]

If they haven't changed anything at Cicero you will board westbound on the north track. You cannot cross the tracks here (it is too dangerous and illegal if they haven't installed a signal to do so) and you will miss your train if you are on the wrong side. Go early and watch the trains coming from the Loop they will be on the north track and that is where you need to be. When I rode, few people got off at Cicero and some would get on. There should be others around.

[aragx6]

I used to regularly take the BNSF and would conisder all of those stops to be safe -- particularly during the day.

The specifics of boarding I'll have to leave to others!

[via chicago]

there are no center stations at any of these stops so thats not an issue...the center tracks in this area will all be express trains not stopping. on the BNSF the south side of the tracks is always inbound, north side is outbound. just use the skyline as your barometer...thats obviously east.

the cicero stop is rundown and barebones but you shouldnt have any problems. theres no ticket counter there, so you wont be charged a penalty if you need to buy a ticket on the train.

[maxwell2323]

Thanks everone for the replies !