South Avenue "O"????

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Michteacher76

Another quick question: Are Metra Electric trains and South Shore trains two different things? Is one better than the other? Does either one have transfers with CTA? (Okay, more than ONE quick question) Can both be used from the East Side?

They are not the same, and in fact the South Shore line isn't technically part of the Metra system. It's operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. HOWEVER, they do use the same line from the 115th St. station (I believe both systems call this the Kensington station) all the way to downtown. The Metra makes a lot more stops between 115th and downtown than the South Shore does, so it would naturally seem to have more connections to CTA buses. There is a bus that runs up Avenue O that will take you a station on one of the "offshoots" of the Metra Electric line... but as some have already intimated, this isn't the easiest neighborhood to get to other parts of the city from using public transportation because of its distance from downtown and its isolation from the rest of the city. It will take some planning to do it. Transfers from Metra to CTA are not free -- you will have to pay full fare on both.

Here's the schedules for the Metra Electric and the South Shore.

Metra / Electric Line Schedules
Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District

[Michteacher76]

Thanks for the info.....Chicago seems a bit overwhelming....I think I need to hire a guide to get me through the first few weeks....it seems stressful already