Metra is the Chicago region’s commuter railroad, running 11 lines from four downtown terminals: Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, LaSalle Street Station and Millennium Station. As of 2026 a one-way ticket within zones 1 and 2 costs $3.75, a Saturday, Sunday or holiday day pass costs $7, and a weekend pass in the Ventra app costs $10. Metra’s 2026 budget included no fare increase.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lines | 11 |
| Downtown terminals | Union Station, Ogilvie, LaSalle Street, Millennium Station |
| Stations | About 243 |
| Fare zones | 4 |
| One-way, zones 1-2 | $3.75 full, $1.75 reduced |
| Day Pass, zones 1-2 | $7.50 |
| Weekend Pass (Ventra app) | $10 |
| 2025 ridership | About 38 million trips |
| Operating since | Metra began operations June 8, 1984 |
The 11 Metra lines and their downtown terminals
Each Metra line starts at one of four downtown stations. Knowing your terminal matters, because they are several blocks apart.
| Line | Downtown terminal | Outer end |
|---|---|---|
| BNSF | Union Station | Aurora |
| Heritage Corridor | Union Station | Joliet |
| Milwaukee District North | Union Station | Fox Lake |
| Milwaukee District West | Union Station | Elgin (Big Timber Road) |
| North Central Service | Union Station | Antioch |
| SouthWest Service | Union Station | Manhattan |
| Union Pacific North | Ogilvie Transportation Center | Kenosha, Wisconsin |
| Union Pacific Northwest | Ogilvie Transportation Center | Harvard |
| Union Pacific West | Ogilvie Transportation Center | Elburn |
| Rock Island | LaSalle Street Station | Joliet |
| Metra Electric | Millennium Station | University Park, with branches to Blue Island and South Chicago |
The BNSF line is Metra’s busiest, with about 7.6 million trips in 2025. BNSF Railway operates it under contract with Metra.
The three Union Pacific lines were run by Union Pacific until May 2025, when operations moved to Metra.
The South Shore Line to northwest Indiana also leaves from Millennium Station, but it is run by a different agency, NICTD.
Fares and zones as of 2026
Metra fares depend on which zones your trip covers. Pick the farthest zone you will travel to when buying a pass.
| Ticket | Zones 1-2 | Zones 1-3 | Zones 1-4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way | $3.75 | $5.50 | $6.75 |
| Day Pass | $7.50 | $11.00 | $13.50 |
| Day Pass 5-Pack (Ventra app) | $35.75 | $52.25 | $64.25 |
| Monthly Pass | $75.00 | $110.00 | $135.00 |
Trips that do not enter Zone 1, such as suburb to suburb, are priced at the zones 2-4 rate, which matches zones 1-2.
Reduced fares are roughly half and apply to seniors 65 and older, riders with disabilities and Medicare cardholders with a Reduced Fare Permit, K-12 students and active-duty military. Children 7 to 11 pay reduced fare, and children under 7 ride free with a paying adult (up to three per adult).
On weekends and select holidays, up to three children 11 and under ride free with each paying adult. That family fare also applies on weekdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Passes worth knowing
- Saturday/Sunday/Holiday Day Pass: $7 for unlimited rides that day.
- Weekend Pass: $10 in the Ventra app for Saturday and Sunday. It is not valid on the third day of a three-day weekend.
- Regional Day Pass: Ventra app only, $2.50 more than a Day Pass, and also covers CTA and Pace.
- Regional Connect Pass: $30 add-on for Monthly Pass holders for unlimited CTA and Pace rides that month.
How to buy Metra tickets
The easiest way is the Ventra app, which sells one-way tickets, day passes, weekend passes and monthly passes. App tickets must be used within 14 days, and you activate a ticket for your trip.
Station vending machines sell paper one-way tickets, day passes and monthly passes. You can also buy a one-way ticket or a weekend day pass from the conductor on board.
Metra does not let you upgrade a shorter ticket by paying the difference. Buy the ticket for the full trip.
Metra vs. the L
Metra and the CTA L do different jobs. Metra is a commuter railroad connecting downtown with the suburbs on fixed timetables, while the L runs frequent trains within the city.
| Metra | CTA L | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Suburbs and longer trips | Frequent trips within the city |
| Fare (base) | $3.75 for zones 1-2 | $2.50 (O’Hare $5) |
| Frequency | Fixed timetable | Frequent; the Blue Line runs 24 hours |
| Downtown stations | 4 terminals | Stations throughout the Loop |
| Payment | Ventra app, machines, conductor | Ventra card or app, contactless bank card |
Several Metra lines also stop at stations inside Chicago, so check both options for city trips. For most visitor trips, the L and CTA buses run more often.
Metra’s North Central Service also stops at O’Hare Transfer station, but only on weekday peak-direction trips. Most travelers use the Blue Line to reach O’Hare.
Frequently asked questions
How many Metra lines are there?
Eleven. They run from four downtown terminals: Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, LaSalle Street Station and Millennium Station.
How much is a Metra ticket in 2026?
A one-way ticket within zones 1-2 is $3.75, zones 1-3 is $5.50, and zones 1-4 is $6.75. Metra’s 2026 budget included no fare increase.
Is there a Metra weekend pass?
Yes. The Weekend Pass costs $10 in the Ventra app and covers Saturday and Sunday. A single Saturday, Sunday or holiday day pass costs $7.
Can I buy a ticket on the train?
Yes. Conductors sell one-way tickets for that trip and Saturday/Sunday/holiday day passes.
Can I use my Ventra card on Metra?
The Ventra app sells Metra mobile tickets and passes, and Metra tickets can be bought with Ventra transit account value. Paper tickets are sold at station machines.
Does Metra go to O’Hare?
Only the North Central Service stops at O’Hare Transfer, on weekday peak-direction trips. The CTA Blue Line serves O’Hare 24 hours a day.
Related guides
- Getting around Chicago
- The L: CTA trains
- CTA buses
- Chicago airports
- The Loop neighborhood guide
- Moving to Chicago
Sources
- Metra: Fares
- Metra: Fare table
- Wikipedia: Metra
- CBS Chicago: CTA, Metra and Pace approve 2026 budgets with no fare hikes (Nov. 13, 2025)
- CTA: Fares
- CTA: Trains to/from O’Hare and Midway
Last updated: October 31, 2026