The only passenger service of BNSF: World's LARGEST freight company on Chicago METRA
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-DESUDESU24
Western Avenue to Union? That's quite a short jump, within L and CTA territory, and because of that this station is just sorta. there, especially since it's so close to the pink line L train. The lack of ticket booths is because of the aforementioned being within territory firmly handled by L trains and CTA busses, so you're expected to already know how to work Ventra by that point. Plus, it's not exactly what you would call a good part of town, so there's always the possibility of the ticket booths being vandalized to thieve cash out of the machines.
If you really wanted to experience the Metra BNSF route, you should have gotten a weekend pass and taken it from Union all the way to Aurora, or at least out in the suburbs somewhere, their stations are much nicer and have more amenities. Aurora's station was built out of an old roundhouse and has a place to eat and get drinks right at the station. If you're used to Chicago traffic, taking an express train to bypass traffic on the main arteries into the city is amazingly quick.
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Western Avenue to Union? That's quite a short jump, within L and CTA territory, and because of that this station is just sorta. there, especially since it's so close to the pink line L train. The lack of ticket booths is because of the aforementioned being within territory firmly handled by L trains and CTA busses, so you're expected to already know how to work Ventra by that point. Plus, it's not exactly what you would call a good part of town, so there's always the possibility of the ticket booths being vandalized to thieve cash out of the machines.
If you really wanted to experience the Metra BNSF route, you should have gotten a weekend pass and taken it from Union all the way to Aurora, or at least out in the suburbs somewhere, their stations are much nicer and have more amenities. Aurora's station was built out of an old roundhouse and has a place to eat and get drinks right at the station. If you're used to Chicago traffic, taking an express train to bypass traffic on the main arteries into the city is amazingly quick.
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-DOLRED
My parents were living on S Claremont off Blue Island Av when I was born (Early 1950s. Claremont still looks clean and tidy there today! A long walk to that station. The BN & SF Railroads merged in 1995. Odd they would put the name BNSF on those Bilevels since Metra has operated all commuter service before 1995, and Metra (The taxpayer) pays for the passenger equipment, I believe! Bubbly Creek is not far away there--the scene of the worst pollution in city history. International Harvester operated a huge plant nearby at 31st Blvd for many years. Dad used to work there. One of the prison guard towers stands about where the plant entrance on 31st Blvd was. I am sure the thousands of former IH workers would be impressed if they were alive. The plant closed Christmas time 1970. I remember that week well.
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My parents were living on S Claremont off Blue Island Av when I was born (Early 1950s. Claremont still looks clean and tidy there today! A long walk to that station. The BN & SF Railroads merged in 1995. Odd they would put the name BNSF on those Bilevels since Metra has operated all commuter service before 1995, and Metra (The taxpayer) pays for the passenger equipment, I believe! Bubbly Creek is not far away there--the scene of the worst pollution in city history. International Harvester operated a huge plant nearby at 31st Blvd for many years. Dad used to work there. One of the prison guard towers stands about where the plant entrance on 31st Blvd was. I am sure the thousands of former IH workers would be impressed if they were alive. The plant closed Christmas time 1970. I remember that week well.
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-trencito3700
This once again shows, what could be done with some major investments into rail infrastructure. I looked up the route in maps, WOW. It HAS to be a major artery. If they would operate it with European standards including modern trains with WAY MORE seats (like what they announced, higher frequency (30 or better 20 minutes, and faster travel time (80-90mph = -140 kmh which would make it possible to operate Aurora-Chicago in 1: 06 h including a stop at every station. Using the third track, additional express trains can be was faster, people would surely use it heavily and it could be a nice example for other US-Cities. And it needs electrification to reduce wasted time because of slow acceleration and outdated brakes. Ah, I would be depressed If I would travel to the US.
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This once again shows, what could be done with some major investments into rail infrastructure. I looked up the route in maps, WOW. It HAS to be a major artery. If they would operate it with European standards including modern trains with WAY MORE seats (like what they announced, higher frequency (30 or better 20 minutes, and faster travel time (80-90mph = -140 kmh which would make it possible to operate Aurora-Chicago in 1: 06 h including a stop at every station. Using the third track, additional express trains can be was faster, people would surely use it heavily and it could be a nice example for other US-Cities. And it needs electrification to reduce wasted time because of slow acceleration and outdated brakes. Ah, I would be depressed If I would travel to the US.
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-Elios0000
blame the airlines that keep putting pressure on gov't here to kill Amtrak and doesnt help that the freight railroads help then airlines too. then there ton of smaller towns in the US with no rail access
BNSF has huge yard here in Springfield MO but id have to to KC or STL to get the train and with prices might as well fly out Springfield direct where i want to get and get there in 8 hours less vs Amtrak over night or longer. ex SGF to BWI takes about 7 to 8 hours with one stop and costs about 400 bucks around trip 600 if i want first class. and i dont have drive up KC or STL first. and round trip on the train for coach is about the same and it takes almost 30 hours NOT counting the 4 hour drive to STL
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blame the airlines that keep putting pressure on gov't here to kill Amtrak and doesnt help that the freight railroads help then airlines too. then there ton of smaller towns in the US with no rail access
BNSF has huge yard here in Springfield MO but id have to to KC or STL to get the train and with prices might as well fly out Springfield direct where i want to get and get there in 8 hours less vs Amtrak over night or longer. ex SGF to BWI takes about 7 to 8 hours with one stop and costs about 400 bucks around trip 600 if i want first class. and i dont have drive up KC or STL first. and round trip on the train for coach is about the same and it takes almost 30 hours NOT counting the 4 hour drive to STL
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-steelcityboy630
There isn't any vending machines at Western for a variety or reasons, some of which you captioned in the video. But the Western Avenue BNSF is in such close promiximity to the CTA (L) that Metra didn't see a need to place kiosks there. Western is more of a discharge station for passengers coming out of the suburbs versus WB riders are from the city and heading out too the suburbs. As a Chicagoan, I find Western to be a pointless stop but it's actually fairly busy in the afternoons in my experience of using this line.
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There isn't any vending machines at Western for a variety or reasons, some of which you captioned in the video. But the Western Avenue BNSF is in such close promiximity to the CTA (L) that Metra didn't see a need to place kiosks there. Western is more of a discharge station for passengers coming out of the suburbs versus WB riders are from the city and heading out too the suburbs. As a Chicagoan, I find Western to be a pointless stop but it's actually fairly busy in the afternoons in my experience of using this line.
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train
Understand, there are two main commuter rails in Chicago. It-s the CTA (Chicago and downtown) and the Metra (mainly connecting suburbs to downtown. The platforms in Metra suburban platforms are much prettier and better maintained.
The CTA tickets are cheaper, which is way Chicago residents will ride CTA compared to Metra. As for the suburban residents, well their only option are commuter rail is Metra. Hence why the suburban platforms are better, more revenue and higher rider usage.
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Understand, there are two main commuter rails in Chicago. It-s the CTA (Chicago and downtown) and the Metra (mainly connecting suburbs to downtown. The platforms in Metra suburban platforms are much prettier and better maintained.
The CTA tickets are cheaper, which is way Chicago residents will ride CTA compared to Metra. As for the suburban residents, well their only option are commuter rail is Metra. Hence why the suburban platforms are better, more revenue and higher rider usage.
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-stevecarlisle2052
Next time you make it to Chicago take one of the lines out to Joliet and back you-ll find the south suburban stations are very clean and appealing to the eye. I lived there for 21 years and always traveled via train to the city when I was in blue island I always made it a point to ride the electric line and I later moved to tinley park which is the rock island you can either go into the city or out to Joliet I think you would enjoy it. Cheers
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Next time you make it to Chicago take one of the lines out to Joliet and back you-ll find the south suburban stations are very clean and appealing to the eye. I lived there for 21 years and always traveled via train to the city when I was in blue island I always made it a point to ride the electric line and I later moved to tinley park which is the rock island you can either go into the city or out to Joliet I think you would enjoy it. Cheers
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-DogeCharger
1: 06
tell me you haven't lived in chicago without telling me you haven't lived in chicago
The reason why people don't ride trains is a multi-faceted issue, with much of it stemming from the fact that passenger train companies do not own their own tracks, leading to poor timeschedules, as well as a culture which has been made to believe that you need a car to get anywhere, owing from a couple decades' worth of influence from oil companies
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1: 06
tell me you haven't lived in chicago without telling me you haven't lived in chicago
The reason why people don't ride trains is a multi-faceted issue, with much of it stemming from the fact that passenger train companies do not own their own tracks, leading to poor timeschedules, as well as a culture which has been made to believe that you need a car to get anywhere, owing from a couple decades' worth of influence from oil companies
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-thephantomeagle2
I have friends that lived in suburban Chicago when I was living in Madison Wis. I always took the bus from Union Station. My friends would drop me off at the Westmont station and I would watch trains and catch the final express to Union. There was, at the time, a great restaurant there and I-d sit by the window having breakfast. Later they moved to the North suburbs and I-d sit at the Iron Horse Cafe in Round Lake
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I have friends that lived in suburban Chicago when I was living in Madison Wis. I always took the bus from Union Station. My friends would drop me off at the Westmont station and I would watch trains and catch the final express to Union. There was, at the time, a great restaurant there and I-d sit by the window having breakfast. Later they moved to the North suburbs and I-d sit at the Iron Horse Cafe in Round Lake
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-chooch1995
The -World-s largest freight company-? Pretty sure that-s UPS, but okay. Maybe -World-s Largest Railroad-? Okay, how do you measure that? In terms of income-. that-d be Union Pacific Railroad at the top. The UP has 3 Metra lines that they operate. Not to knock the BNSF, but c-mon! One line? Sure it-s Metra-s busiest, but it-s just one. Go north & explore Uncle Pete-s empire too-.
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The -World-s largest freight company-? Pretty sure that-s UPS, but okay. Maybe -World-s Largest Railroad-? Okay, how do you measure that? In terms of income-. that-d be Union Pacific Railroad at the top. The UP has 3 Metra lines that they operate. Not to knock the BNSF, but c-mon! One line? Sure it-s Metra-s busiest, but it-s just one. Go north & explore Uncle Pete-s empire too-.
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-mattm4171
Metra is in the process of transitioning from commuter service to true regional rail. I think that in 10 years the system will be so much more efficient and expansive. There-s also the Midwest high(er) speed rail network that-s being planned, centered around Chicago- many transit agencies are already making preparations for that. Progress IS happening here, thankfully!
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Metra is in the process of transitioning from commuter service to true regional rail. I think that in 10 years the system will be so much more efficient and expansive. There-s also the Midwest high(er) speed rail network that-s being planned, centered around Chicago- many transit agencies are already making preparations for that. Progress IS happening here, thankfully!
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-wessuess
you should've done yourself a favor and taken the BNSF west to the end in Aurora. There, the Aurora Transportation Center has a Burlington Caboose on display. The Nearby restaurant is built inside the remains of the of Burlington roundhouse.
Your experience of the Western Ave station is fairly typical for not just Metra, but also some CTA -L- access as well.
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you should've done yourself a favor and taken the BNSF west to the end in Aurora. There, the Aurora Transportation Center has a Burlington Caboose on display. The Nearby restaurant is built inside the remains of the of Burlington roundhouse.
Your experience of the Western Ave station is fairly typical for not just Metra, but also some CTA -L- access as well.
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-kevinhoward9593
9: 19 considering that BNSF didnt become a railroad until the 80s your statement about the logo from the 50s means no sense at all. Another thing i did notice in the videos is that you complain about something on every train you ride. rather annoying really.
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9: 19 considering that BNSF didnt become a railroad until the 80s your statement about the logo from the 50s means no sense at all. Another thing i did notice in the videos is that you complain about something on every train you ride. rather annoying really.
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-DavidNightjet
I took a ride on this route earlier today. Can confirm: the stations farther from Chicago are nicer and have really nice ticket attendants.
Even caught a glimpse of Amtrak's new Siemens Venture cars on the way out of Union Station for the return trip!
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I took a ride on this route earlier today. Can confirm: the stations farther from Chicago are nicer and have really nice ticket attendants.
Even caught a glimpse of Amtrak's new Siemens Venture cars on the way out of Union Station for the return trip!
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-afcgeo882
You seem to think that this line is unused because it-s so bad, but the reality is the opposite: the line is so bad because no one uses it and no one wants to spend money on it. It only exists to profit BNSF. It should have been eliminated decades ago.
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You seem to think that this line is unused because it-s so bad, but the reality is the opposite: the line is so bad because no one uses it and no one wants to spend money on it. It only exists to profit BNSF. It should have been eliminated decades ago.
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-BabyWavv
The north/Northwest stations are a lot better Joliet as a pretty good station as well my local station Blue island is pretty good too their currently remodeling it as we speak and have over the last few months excited to see what they come up with
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The north/Northwest stations are a lot better Joliet as a pretty good station as well my local station Blue island is pretty good too their currently remodeling it as we speak and have over the last few months excited to see what they come up with
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-flashrocket9158
The METRA line I would sometimes take to the city is the Milwaukee North line, which goes between Chicago and Fox Lake. And I would take the Electric Highliners to McCormick Place from Millennium Park when visiting the Chicago Auto Show.
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The METRA line I would sometimes take to the city is the Milwaukee North line, which goes between Chicago and Fox Lake. And I would take the Electric Highliners to McCormick Place from Millennium Park when visiting the Chicago Auto Show.
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-miketravels
I haven't ridden this Metra line for years, but I'd say this is an accurate depiction of the service I remember. My ride to downtown was about 40-45 minutes. Don't be fooled, those seats are uncomfortable. No better than a wooden bench.
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I haven't ridden this Metra line for years, but I'd say this is an accurate depiction of the service I remember. My ride to downtown was about 40-45 minutes. Don't be fooled, those seats are uncomfortable. No better than a wooden bench.
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train
Metra to Aurora may not be BNSF's only passenger service. They may also provide crews to Minneapolis Northstar and Seattle Sounder commuter lines. Other cities commuter lines using BNSF may be operated by Amtrak or outside private companies.
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Metra to Aurora may not be BNSF's only passenger service. They may also provide crews to Minneapolis Northstar and Seattle Sounder commuter lines. Other cities commuter lines using BNSF may be operated by Amtrak or outside private companies.
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-Backstretch1
Not being able to switch cars is a deliberate and a widely approved feature. It prevents the poor from jumping from car to car to try to scam people. In fact, they don't even bother boarding at all. Notice how quiet your trip was?
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Not being able to switch cars is a deliberate and a widely approved feature. It prevents the poor from jumping from car to car to try to scam people. In fact, they don't even bother boarding at all. Notice how quiet your trip was?
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-EliteAmmunition
The city of Chicago and the state of IL run METRA, so do you actually expect anything but a sh-t app? I don't speak or read Japanese but I had an easier time using the JAL app on my phone while in Japan.
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The city of Chicago and the state of IL run METRA, so do you actually expect anything but a sh-t app? I don't speak or read Japanese but I had an easier time using the JAL app on my phone while in Japan.
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-osasunaitor
Public infrastructure in the US might not be in the best shape, but most train stations in spanish commuter and regional lines look as bad or worse than this one tbh. And don't get me started with trains.
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Public infrastructure in the US might not be in the best shape, but most train stations in spanish commuter and regional lines look as bad or worse than this one tbh. And don't get me started with trains.
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train
I grew up in the suburbs outside of Chicago and took Metra into the city a lot. Still do sometimes when I visit home. This made me nostalgic, I miss the upper seats and I can hear the names of the stations.
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I grew up in the suburbs outside of Chicago and took Metra into the city a lot. Still do sometimes when I visit home. This made me nostalgic, I miss the upper seats and I can hear the names of the stations.
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-w9gb
The CB&Q logo -Burlington- was above the entry doors, until the merger for BN creation in 1969.
The BNSF logo was added after the SantaFe merger during last refurbishment about 20 years ago.
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The CB&Q logo -Burlington- was above the entry doors, until the merger for BN creation in 1969.
The BNSF logo was added after the SantaFe merger during last refurbishment about 20 years ago.
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-Subpowerzero66
No, BNSF doesn't have JUST this railroad that it operates. BNSF also operates Sounder trains on the BNSF Seattle Subdivision. They're loaded with BNSF crews and operated by BNSF.
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No, BNSF doesn't have JUST this railroad that it operates. BNSF also operates Sounder trains on the BNSF Seattle Subdivision. They're loaded with BNSF crews and operated by BNSF.
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-SteveH-TN
Thanks for sharing this video. I have traveled on other METRA lines; basically the same passenger car However I had a more safer boarding location in Wood Dale and Harvard Illinois
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Thanks for sharing this video. I have traveled on other METRA lines; basically the same passenger car However I had a more safer boarding location in Wood Dale and Harvard Illinois
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-seprishere
Could you have waited to pay until the conductor came, or at Chicago if the conductor didn't come? I thought that was the protocol - there is no obligation to have to use an app.
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Could you have waited to pay until the conductor came, or at Chicago if the conductor didn't come? I thought that was the protocol - there is no obligation to have to use an app.
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-stevemarethyu3003
Nobody would get on at Western Ave to head into Chicago. The station is there to give people access to the suburbs. If they wanted to head downtown, they'd take the L.
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Nobody would get on at Western Ave to head into Chicago. The station is there to give people access to the suburbs. If they wanted to head downtown, they'd take the L.
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-michlo3393
To be fair, you shouldn't judge the entirety of a nations transit infrastructure on ONE shitty suburban station. Why you got on there in the first place is baffling enough.
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To be fair, you shouldn't judge the entirety of a nations transit infrastructure on ONE shitty suburban station. Why you got on there in the first place is baffling enough.
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-bobmmann3917
Sad, this is a good example of why the USA isn't keeping up with the rest of the world. We just look old and tired, living in the delusion that we are still great.
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Sad, this is a good example of why the USA isn't keeping up with the rest of the world. We just look old and tired, living in the delusion that we are still great.
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-cyxfn7693
1 tip for next time riding metra, don-t get on 2 stops from the city because the station usually suck and are gross, next time riding bnsf get on at
like cicero
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1 tip for next time riding metra, don-t get on 2 stops from the city because the station usually suck and are gross, next time riding bnsf get on at
like cicero
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-laser187386
Western Avenue has to be one of the least used stations on the network. It should still be better, but that is why there is so little investment there.
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Western Avenue has to be one of the least used stations on the network. It should still be better, but that is why there is so little investment there.
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-leversforever9748
Funny at the entrance I was thinking you need eyes in the back of your head, just then the camera pans backwards you must of thought the thing.
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Funny at the entrance I was thinking you need eyes in the back of your head, just then the camera pans backwards you must of thought the thing.
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-static4939
The L Train (subway) stations appear to be much better maintained than the Metra stations. The L Train stations are pretty clean for what they are
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The L Train (subway) stations appear to be much better maintained than the Metra stations. The L Train stations are pretty clean for what they are
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-stevemarethyu3003
Your comment about people with limited mobility was made while there was a handicap symbol on the screen. They can accept wheelchairs.
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Your comment about people with limited mobility was made while there was a handicap symbol on the screen. They can accept wheelchairs.
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