Weekday Service
The Metra Electric Line operates a frequent, allelectric service from early morning until late night on weekdays. Trains run on two primary routes:
- South Chicago Branch from downtown to 130th Street.
- Blue Island Branch from downtown to Blue Island.
Core Schedule
| Departure (Chicago Terminal) | South Chicago (130thSt) | Blue Island |
|---|---|---|
| 5:15am | 5:30am | 5:35am |
| 5:45am | 6:00am | 6:05am |
| 6:15am | 6:30am | 6:35am |
| 6:45am | 7:00am | 7:05am |
| 7:15am | 7:30am | 7:35am |
| 7:45am | 8:00am | 8:05am |
| 8:15am | 8:30am | 8:35am |
| 8:45am | 9:00am | 9:05am |
| 9:15am | 9:30am | 9:35am |
| 9:45am | 10:00am | 10:05am |
| 10:15am | 10:30am | 10:35am |
| 10:45am | 11:00am | 11:05am |
| 11:15am | 11:30am | 11:35am |
| 11:45am | 12:00pm | 12:05pm |
| 12:15pm | 12:30pm | 12:35pm |
| 12:45pm | 1:00pm | 1:05pm |
| 1:15pm | 1:30pm | 1:35pm |
| 1:45pm | 2:00pm | 2:05pm |
| 2:15pm | 2:30pm | 2:35pm |
| 2:45pm | 3:00pm | 3:05pm |
| 3:15pm | 3:30pm | 3:35pm |
| 3:45pm | 4:00pm | 4:05pm |
| 4:15pm | 4:30pm | 4:35pm |
| 4:45pm | 5:00pm | 5:05pm |
| 5:15pm | 5:30pm | 5:35pm |
| 5:45pm | 6:00pm | 6:05pm |
| 6:15pm | 6:30pm | 6:35pm |
| 6:45pm | 7:00pm | 7:05pm |
| 7:15pm | 7:30pm | 7:35pm |
| 7:45pm | 8:00pm | 8:05pm |
| 8:15pm | 8:30pm | 8:35pm |
| 8:45pm | 9:00pm | 9:05pm |
| 9:15pm | 9:30pm | 9:35pm |
| 9:45pm | 10:00pm | 10:05pm |
| 10:15pm | 10:30pm | 10:35pm |
| 10:45pm | 11:00pm | 11:05pm |
All times are local Central Time. Trains run approximately every 30 minutes during peak periods and every 60 minutes during offpeak hours. Check the livetracking app for realtime updates.
Weekend Service
Weekend schedules are less frequent but maintain a reliable hourly cadence.
Saturday
| Departure (Chicago Terminal) | South Chicago (130thSt) | Blue Island |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30am | 6:50am | 6:55am |
| 8:00am | 8:20am | 8:25am |
| 9:30am | 9:50am | 9:55am |
| 11:00am | 11:20am | 11:25am |
| 12:30pm | 12:50pm | 12:55pm |
| 2:00pm | 2:20pm | 2:25pm |
| 3:30pm | 3:50pm | 3:55pm |
| 5:00pm | 5:20pm | 5:25pm |
| 6:30pm | 6:50pm | 6:55pm |
| 8:00pm | 8:20pm | 8:25pm |
| 9:30pm | 9:50pm | 9:55pm |
Sunday
Sunday follows the same hourly pattern as Saturday, beginning at 7:00am and ending with the last train at 9:00pm.
Key Stations on the Metra Electric Line
- Chicago Union Station The downtown hub, connections to Amtrak, CTA, and other Metra lines.
- Millennium Station Underground stop serving the South Loop and museums.
- South Chicago (130thSt) Terminus of the South Chicago branch, with parkandride facilities.
- Blue Island Terminus of the Blue Island branch, providing links to Pace buses.
- University Park Major commuter stop with bike racks and a caf.
All stations are equipped with sheltered platforms, ticket vending machines, and realtime arrival displays.
Fares & Ticketing
Metra uses a zonebased fare system. The Metra Electric Line spans zones A through G. Below are the most common fare categories (prices in USD):
| Ticket Type | OneWay | RoundTrip |
|---|---|---|
| Zone AB | $4.50 | $9.00 |
| Zone AC | $5.50 | $11.00 |
| Zone AD | $6.75 | $13.50 |
| Zone AE | $8.00 | $16.00 |
| Zone AF | $9.25 | $18.50 |
| Zone AG | $10.50 | $21.00 |
Tickets can be purchased at station vending machines, via the Ventra app, or directly on board (cash only, exact change).
Monthly passes provide a discount for regular commuters and can be loaded onto a Ventra card.
Travel Tips for Metra Electric Riders
- Check realtime status before leaving home. The Metra website and the official app provide live service alerts.
- Arrive early at larger stations like Union Station to navigate the underground passages.
- Plan for peakhour crowdscars fill quickly between 6:30am and 9:00am.
- Use Ventra for contactless fare payment and to load monthly passes.
- Bike-friendly stations have secure racks; bikes are allowed on board except during rush hour on crowded trains.
- Accessibilityall Metra Electric cars are wheelchairaccessible and station platforms feature tactile edging.
