Parking outside of Chicago and riding the L downtown? (Madison: metra, transit)

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by chicago60614

i'd just do rosemont, you'll already be on i-90 and the blue line is so easy.

+1

[Toxic Toast]

Something to think about, as someone who has made the trek a few times, if you are boarding at Rosemont heading toward the loop; you won't likely get a decent seat. The train usually fills up at O'Hare. As silly as it sounds, I have on more than one occasion boarded at Rosemont and rode to O'Hare; then boarded the empty train at O'Hare toward the loop. I admit, that may be a little strange to do, but it is a long ride downtown and I like to have a prime place to sit.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

Something to think about, as someone who has made the trek a few times, if you are boarding at Rosemont heading toward the loop; you won't likely get a decent seat. The train usually fills up at O'Hare. As silly as it sounds, I have on more than one occasion boarded at Rosemont and rode to O'Hare; then boarded the empty train at O'Hare toward the loop. I admit, that may be a little strange to do, but it is a long ride downtown and I like to have a prime place to sit.

Walk to the front of the train.

Usually only the last few cars fill up leaving O'Hare. Plus, people do depart at stops other than Clark/Lake. Grab their seat when they leave! Taking the Blue line from Rosemont to O'Hare just to get a seat headed back inbound is a monumental waste of time. And wierd.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

Walk to the front of the train.

Usually only the last few cars fill up leaving O'Hare. Plus, people do depart at stops other than Clark/Lake. Grab their seat when they leave! Taking the Blue line from Rosemont to O'Hare just to get a seat headed back inbound is a monumental waste of time. And wierd.

I don't see it that way. But I am not a daily rider of the train, so my perspective is different. Any time I have used the blue line from O'Hare, the train has filled up quickly with people heading toward the loop. I have seen people board at Rosemont and have to stand for the whole trip. The trip to O'Hare from Rosemont is not long, and train is empty when you board at O"Hare.

I have done the same thing leaving White Sox games. I have taken the train down to 47th Street, only to board the northbound train. I only do this because I am not a Sox fan, and have been treated with a degree of disdain from the throngs of people boarding the train at 35th Street.

C'mon, I can't be the only person that does this!

[reppin_the_847]

People regularly do stuff like that just to get seats & survive on trains in densely packed world cities like Mumbai (Bombay). I've seen it written about lol.

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

I don't see it that way. But I am not a daily rider of the train, so my perspective is different. Any time I have used the blue line from O'Hare, the train has filled up quickly with people heading toward the loop. I have seen people board at Rosemont and have to stand for the whole trip. The trip to O'Hare from Rosemont is not long, and train is empty when you board at O"Hare.

I have done the same thing leaving White Sox games. I have taken the train down to 47th Street, only to board the northbound train. I only do this because I am not a Sox fan, and have been treated with a degree of disdain from the throngs of people boarding the train at 35th Street.

C'mon, I can't be the only person that does this!

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

I don't see it that way. But I am not a daily rider of the train, so my perspective is different. Any time I have used the blue line from O'Hare, the train has filled up quickly with people heading toward the loop. I have seen people board at Rosemont and have to stand for the whole trip. The trip to O'Hare from Rosemont is not long, and train is empty when you board at O"Hare.

I have done the same thing leaving White Sox games. I have taken the train down to 47th Street, only to board the northbound train. I only do this because I am not a Sox fan, and have been treated with a degree of disdain from the throngs of people boarding the train at 35th Street.

C'mon, I can't be the only person that does this!

I used to take the Blue Line from Rosemont inbound every day, at rush hour. If you want a seat, walk further down the platform, and a seat shall find you.

If you are leaving Sox games and do not want to deal with a crush of people, walk a few blocks further east and take the Green Line.

[Lorielicious]

I take the Blue Line to downtown at Irving Park during rush hour and have never had to stand. Rosemont should be fine. When I was visiting here before I moved, I parked at Rosemont and took the Blue in. Easy peasy.

[reppin_the_847]

I'd say save yourself a ton of hassle and park at the Big Timber Metra station in Elgin if you're primarily going to be in the downtown areas (and near neighborhoods) of Chicago. Madison to Elgin is a piece of cake drive and pure highway (109 miles or 2 hours and 9 minutes). The Metra goes late enough for your needs according to what you mentioned earlier.

[Golden Camel]

I would do Cumberland. It's the next exit, take Cumberland south.
Rosemont is a modest-size outdoor surface lot.
Cumberland is a multi-story parking garage that is chronically under-used. On a hot summer day or a rainy day, you will have covered parking. Cumberland also allows overnight parking in case you decide to spend the night in Chicago.

It really doesn't make that much difference though. If Rosemont is full, you can just go on to Cumberland.

I would agree that if you get on near the front of the train, getting a seat at either station would rarely present a problem. At O'Hare the trains board with the rear nearest to the station entrance, so people tend to fill up the rear cars.

[jman07]

Theres free street parking by the addison brown line stop.