Comments on: How Metra Lost a New Rider

By: Zone E Commuter

Zone E Commuter — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:14:52 +0000

I have a monthly pass I use to get from Wheaton to Ogilivie. On 11/3/09 I had to go to Rt. 59 to visit my mom & dad. The conductor did the usual collecting/checking tickets in the beginning of the trip as I blithely read my book. As the train was between Lisle & Naperville, Metra conductor Willifredo asked to see my ticket again and said I owed him $8.50 I told him I didn’t have $8.50. He immediately responded by loudly yelling “well then you have to get off the train at the next stop!” He was aggressive & oddly angry about it. He said I owed an extra $5 b/c I didn’t tell him I was going past the zone shown on my monthly pass. Where the other $3.50 came from is unclear. But okay, if that’s the rule, then that’s the rule. HOWEVER it was 35 degrees out at 9 at night. I am a woman dressed in thin pants, a sweater & a jacket. Conductor Willifredo offered no other solutions other than I had to get off the train NOW. It all happened so fast, that it was only after he kicked me off that I realized, “hey don’t they usually take checks if you don’t have cash?” I wasn’t rude or short with the conductor and intuitively, I think this guy simply took great pleasure in kicking me off the train as he was so quick to do so. A strange man on a strange, sad power trip. What if he had forced me off in a bad neighborhood? What if it was 10 degrees colder? And how long before this guy does force someone off and something terrible does happen to that passenger? Surely, there are other alternatives here…ones that don’t involve putting Metra customers safety at risk?

By: Jesse Chvojka

Jesse Chvojka — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:08:42 +0000

I’ve had to make a similar sprint a few times before. In at least one occasion I recall, it was actually an announcement that sent us to the other platform in error. The train then stopped at the regular platform.

We all had to dash back. I was first to the other side, although my haste was not necessary. The train waited for everyone to make the hike. The ticket agent was up on the appropriate platform to hand off some receipts. In the time that it took for everyone else to journey over, he mentioned that people at the headquarters get the tracks mixed up from time to time since over time, there have been conflicting numbering conventions for the tracks at Oak Park.

Perhaps that is why no mention was made on your trip.

Also, glad to hear you are a Lido’s patron.

By: Mike Doyle

Mike Doyle — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:31:18 +0000

While I’m on the subject, the day of our trip to the Brookfield Zoo, I noticed something awfully interesting affixed to the wall in the Metra ticket area at Union Station. On second thought, better make that interestingly awful.

What did I see on the wall in the Metra ticket area at Union Station? A brand new Metra system map showing all lines that leave Union Station from the north concourse…as running out of Ogilvie Transportation Center, instead.

And if you think I’m kidding about this surprising ~~height~~ low in quality review of key customer signage, go check for yourself.