$7 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/Magnetic Swipe Transit Card - $55
Monthly pass holders can purchase a magnetic swipe transit card for unlimited connecting travel on CTA and Pace buses. CTA usage is restricted to weekday peak travel hours of 6:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Metra/Pace PlusBus - $30
Monthly pass holders can purchase an unlimited rides 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 visit Pace.
Family Fares
On weekends and select holidays, kids ride FREE with Metra's Family Fares. Up to three children age 11 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 $7 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 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and between 7:00 p.m and 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. On weekends and holidays, Family Cars will be available between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 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.
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 10:00 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 home-schooled 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 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and after 7:00 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.
Senior Citizen/Disability Fares
Senior citizens 65 or older and customers with disabilities who have an RTA-issued Reduced Fare Permit are eligible for a reduced fare ticket. If you are enrolled in the Illinois Circuit Breaker program and have an RTA-issued Ride Free Circuit Permit, you are eligible to ride free. If you are not in possession of a RTA Reduced Fare Card you must contact the RTA to apply (312) 913-3110.
Metra Electric riders: The credit card vending machines sell only full fare tickets. RTA Reduced Fare Permit-holders who purchase 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.
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, cash-fare 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 $3.
Ticket Ordering Programs
Internet ordering
Monthly passes and 10-ride tickets can purchased with a credit or debit card on this website by clicking on Tickets. Tickets will not be shipped to P.O. Boxes.
Ticket-By-Mail
The monthly pass 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 $3 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.
Refunds for monthly and 10-ride tickets are subject to a $5 handling fee per transaction if returned after the first day of the month.
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).
Lost Tickets/Refund Policy (Effective February 1, 2013):
Refunds for unused and unexpired tickets are available as per the following guidelines. No refund or replacement ride will be permitted when tickets have been lost, destroyed, stolen or unaccounted for on the day of travel.
All Ten-Ride tickets purchased November 17, 2012 through January 31, 2013 will be valid for travel only through February 28, 2013. Unused Ten-Ride tickets purchased during this time can be used towards a purchase of greater value for one year from the date of sale or refunded (within three months of the date of purchase) with the $5 handling fee waived.
REFUNDS AVAILABLE VIA MAIL:
Any eligible ticket may be submitted to our Revenue Accounting Department for refund. All tickets paid with cash, check, traveler’s checks, gift certificates, etc., ordered via our Ticket by Mail program, or by mixed tender type (more than one form of payment) must be forwarded to our accounting office for processing. The form required to initiate a refund for unused or partially used tickets can be found here, in the “Frequently Asked Questions” section of our website, or be obtained from any ticket sales location. Mail the refund form request, along with the tickets, to: Metra Revenue Accounting Department Attn: Refunds – 547 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60661.
Union Pacific Customers: To expedite the refund process or submit TBM payments for tickets purchased from the Union Pacific, please use the following address: Union Pacific Passenger Accounting, P.O. Box 617763 Chicago, IL 60661.
REFUNDS AVAILABLE AT A TICKET SALES LOCATION:
The following tickets may be refunded by a ticket sales agent at any ticket selling location. Cash refunds will not be given for tickets originally purchased with a debit/credit card; please note the requirements for each type.
Ten-Ride Tickets: (Refunds only available within the first three months from date of purchase and subject to a $5 handling fee).
-Full refunds are available on unused and unexpired tickets if they were purchased using a debit/credit card either at a ticket window or via Ticket by Internet. For tickets purchased at a ticket window, the customer must submit the purchase receipt and the same debit/credit card used for purchase.
For tickets purchased via the Ticket by Internet program, customer must provide the e-mail shipment confirmation, which contains the last four digits of the credit card used and the same credit/debit card.
Partially used refund calculation: The cost of a one-way for the specific zone-pair combination will be deducted for each ride taken.
Monthly Tickets: (Subject to a $5 handling fee if returned after the first day of the month)
-Any monthly ticket, other than a Ticket by Mail ticket, purchased using a debit/credit card may be processed for refund at any ticket sales location, provided that the customer presents the purchase receipt and the same debit/credit card used for the purchase. All monthly tickets, regardless of method of payment, will be refunded on a percentage basis depending on the date returned with 100% refunded on or before Day 1 of the month for which the ticket is valid, 85% refunded on Day 2. The amount refunded continues to be reduced by 5% for everyday thereafter until close of business on Day 18 of the month at which time no refund is permitted.
The Metra monthly magnetic swipe Link Up transit card and PlusBus fare programs with CTA and Pace are not eligible for refunds unless they are returned prior to the beginning of the month for which they are valid. Pace 10-Ride tickets are non-refundable.
Other Tickets:
Weekend tickets are non-refundable.
One-Way tickets are non-refundable and valid for 14 days (including the date of purchase).
Tickets purchased with an RTA Fare Check are non-refundable due to current tax laws.
Tickets purchased through an employer sponsored fare media program are eligible for credit through the employer’s program manager.
