Des Plaines Metra Station

The Des Plaines Metra Station was open when I needed it, at mid-​day on an unseasonably cold and windy Saturday. What’s not to like? Clean (including the men’s room) and comfortable.

Worst damn city planning and light timers ever over here. I literally wrote this review while waiting through five red lights and not moving.

Station is fine, although always being worked on by the construction crew — like every few months. In downtown Des Plaines, between the City Hall and DP Library.

I love the Metra, I really do. I ride the Metra every day from the city to Des Plaines. It’s not like riding the «L» or a CTA bus; it’s clean, doesn’t smell like puke and there are fewer creepy passengers. You almost always get a seat, and the cars are properly heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. I highly recommend riding Metra if you can.
Anyway, onto the Des Plaines Metra Station itself. This station is also a Pace bus depot, so it’s convenient if you use both forms of transit.
I’ve been to a couple Metra stations, and this one is pretty nice by comparison. It’s a decent size with about four large benches inside for seating. There’s also a convenience stand that sells coffee, drinks and snacks, and there are two restrooms. There is an attendant on duty to sell Metra tickets, but she is a little hit or miss. Sometimes she’s really nice and friendly, and other times she’s cranky and seems annoyed when you want to buy a ticket. It also seems like she takes a lot of breaks. She’ll put up the «back in 10 minutes» sign and not be back in 10 minutes. Metra has finally started excepting credit cards at some of its stations, but not yet in Des Plaines, which is super annoying. You either have to pay in cash or write a check. Considering the moody ticket attendant and Metra’s inability to adapt to technology, I highly recommend ordering your tickets online.
Overall, I think riding Metra is a great value. The Des Plaines Metra station is clean and has a nice waiting area and snack stand inside.