Tickets

Metra offers a wide variety of ticket types to serve your travel needs.

Select your ticket type or fare program for detailed information.

Monthly Unlimited Ride Pass
Regular Metra commuters save 30 percent or more over one-way fares. Monthly passes are for the exclusive use of the purchaser and are not transferable. If you buy a monthly ticket online from the first of the month on, you will be mailed one for the next month. If you need to ride before then, please purchase a ticket from a station agent or order ten ride tickets which will take 5 to 7 days to receive.

10-Ride Ticket
These tickets save 15 percent off one-way fares, and are good for one year. Ideal for occasional commuters or leisure travelers. One ticket can be shared by people riding together.

One-Way Ticket
For travel from one station destination to another. They are good for one year from date of purchase.

$5 Weekend Pass
Unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday. Can be used in conjunction with Metra's Family Fares. Not valid for travel on the South Shore (NICTD).

Link-Up Sticker - $39
Monthly pass holders can purchase a Link-Up Sticker for unlimited connecting travel on CTA and Pace buses. CTA usage is restricted to the peak travel hours of 6 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.-7 p.m.

Metra/Pace PlusBus - $30
Monthly pass holders can purchase an unlimited ride sticker to be used in conjunction with their monthly ticket good for travel on all Pace suburban buses. Pace buses connect with Metra trains at many stations for more information, please vistit Pace.

Family Fares
On weekends and select holidays, kids ride FREE with Metra's Family Fares. Up to three children age 12 and under ride free with each fare-paying adult. Purchase a ticket or use your Monthly Pass or 10-Ride ticket as the adult fare. The $5 Weekend Pass can also be used as the adult fare. Family Cars are available on weekends and non-rush hour weekday trains.

Family Cars
Metra's Family Car program is now available on all trains that arrive or depart their downtown terminals between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and between 7 p.m and 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. On weekends and holidays, Family Cars will be available between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Please check with a member of the train crew before boarding for the location of the Family Car. In most cases, however, the lift-equipped train car, identified with the "access" symbol, will be the designated family car. For Metra Electric trains, the rear working car of the train will be the designated car.

While families are not required to use this car, nor are other passengers restricted from using it, the Family Car program provides train personnel the opportunity to offer assistance to ensure a pleasant trip.

Young Adult Fares
On weekends and selected holidays, young adults between the ages of 12 and 17 pay half-price.

Children's Weekday Fares
Children ages 7 to 11 save 50 percent over one-way fares. Children under 7 ride free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult (up to three children free per adult). Under no circumstance will children under 7 years of age be permitted to travel alone.

Student Fares
Student fare tickets are only sold at Metra ticket offices or on-board trains. Full-time students enrolled in an accredited grade school or high school can purchase a reduced one-way, 10-ride or monthly pass. These tickets will be honored daily between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. When purchasing a ticket, students must present a valid letter of certification from their school (on school stationery) or present a valid school I.D. bearing the student's name, school name and authorized signature. Student identification card or letter of certification must be displayed along with the ticket to the conductor. Failure to do so will result in full fare payment. Student tickets are not transferable. Any questions concerning the above may be directed to Metra Passenger Services at 312-322-6777.

Home-Schooled Students
All fare policies concerning standard student fares also apply to homeschooled students. To meet documentation requirements, the student must present a letter with the name and address of the person providing the home schooling as teacher/principal at the top, signed and notarized. Click here to download form.

Group Travel
Prearranged groups of 25 or more can save up to 50 percent off the cost of regular one-way fares. Group rates are available on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and after 7 p.m., and on weekends and holidays.

Group must consist of a minimum of 25 and cannot exceed 135 passengers.
Metra will confirm availability within two business days of receipt of Group Travel Request Form.
Minimum 21 day advance notice required.
Train reservations will be made on a first-come basis.
Checks must be received a minimum of 14 days in advance of your trip.
If the size of your group meets the requirements specified above, qualifying for the group travel rate, please submit the necessary Group Travel Request Form. You will be notified once it is confirmed that sufficient space is available to accommodate your group. Upon notification, please direct full payment to Metra's Passenger Services Division at 547 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois 60661. Full payment must be received fourteen (14) days prior to date of your travel.
A Group Travel Boarding Pass will be issued to you once payment is received.
A 24-hour notification of a cancellation is necessary for a refund.
Click here to view and print a Group Travel Request Form.
Questions? Call a Group Travel Representative at 312-322-6772.

Seniors Ride Free Program
Senior Citizens aged 65 or over living in the RTA service region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties) qualify for free transit on fixed routes operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace when they present their RTA Senior Ride Free card.

For further information or to obtain your Senior Ride Free Smart Card, contact the RTA or call 312-836-7000.

People With Disabilities Ride Free Program
The RTA is partnering with the Illinois Department on Aging to implement the People with Disabilities Ride Free Program. The program provides free rides on fixed-route transit (regularly scheduled CTA, Metra, and Pace buses and trains) to be made available to any Illinois resident who has been enrolled as a person with a disability in the Illinois Circuit Breaker program.

Disability/Senior Fares
Customers with disabilities who have an RTA-issued Reduced Fare Permit are eligible for a reduced fare ticket. Seniors who are ineligible for the Seniors Ride Free Program due to residency restrictions are eligible for a reduced fare by presenting their Reduced Fare Permit or Medicare Card. Only those enrolled in the RTA Reduced Fare Program are eligible to purchase Metra tickets at the reduced rate via the Internet.

Metra Electric riders: The vending machines sell only full fare tickets. RTA Reduced Fare Permit-holders who purchase multi-ride tickets can receive a rate adjustment at one of the downtown station ticket windows.

U.S. Military Fares
Military personnel may purchase one-way or ten ride tickets at a reduced fare provided they present proper military identification indicating they are on active duty. These privileges are extended to all branches of the military: Marines, Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard. Military fare tickets are sold only at Metra ticket offices or on-board trains.

Special military fare from Great Lakes to Chicago: $2 for military personnel in uniform.

Where to Purchase Tickets
Metra tickets for any line may be purchased at the downtown stations or at outlying stations where a ticket agent is on duty. (See schedules for station locations) On the Metra Electric, tickets at non-downtown stations are available through vending machines.

Where no ticket agent or vending machine exists, passengers may board the train and purchase a one-way ticket from the conductor. However, if an agent is on duty or a vending machine is available and you elect to purchase the ticket on the train, the conductor will charge an additional $2.

Ticket Ordering Programs

Internet ordering
Monthly passes and 10-ride tickets can be bought with a credit or debit card on this website by clicking on Tickets.

Ticket-By-Mail
The monthly pass and 10-ride ticket can be purchased by mail. The monthly pass is mailed before the start of each month. Payment is not due until the 10th of the following month. The program provides the flexibility to stop or skip a month at anytime. Use this application form.

Check Acceptance Policy
Ticket purchase must be in the amount of $10 or more. Check will be accepted only for amount of transportation charges. Check must include the following information on the face of the check:

Name
Current Address
Home Phone Number
Business Phone Number

ID required: Valid Illinois, Indiana or Wisconsin Drivers License or other photo identification card.

An assessment will be charged for any check returned by the bank on which drawn. This charge will be added to the face amount of the check and included in the amount due.

Recurring Orders
You can set up a My Metra account to schedule the regular delivery of monthly passes or 10-ride tickets. First, establish your account. Tell us which tickets you want to order each month and how many of each. Then give us your credit or debit card information. Once your account is established, the same order will be processed each month on the date of your first order, and your credit or debit card will be charged automatically each month. For instance, an order for one October monthly pass placed on Sept. 20th would be processed again on Oct. 20th for one November pass, then on Nov. 20th for a December pass, etc. No need to worry about ordering every month or accidentally missing the deadline for monthly pass sales (the 24th of the prior month). You can even schedule to skip a month if, for example, you are planning to go on vacation.

Service Charges
An extra $2 is charged when a cash fare is paid on the train, except from a station at which no ticket agent or vending machine is available.

A service charge of $1 is imposed on currency transactions involving bills $50 and larger.

If you need to ride beyond the zone limits of your ticket, you must notify the train crew or a $5 penalty will be charged in addition to the incremental fare of $1 for the first zone and 50 cents for each additional zone (or reduced rate for senior citizens and persons with disabilities).

Have a My Metra Account?

Tickets