Commuting from Northwest Suburbs to Northwestern (Evanston)?

Question

Is there any way I can commute by train from Streamwood to Northwestern's Evanston campus? I figure I would take the Metra to Union Station and then...does the El go from Union Station to Evanston? Or is there another way I could get there?

Answer 1

I would check with the Pace website. That would show you better ways. Going downtown first and then to Evanston isn't worth it. There is an EL that goes to Evanston. I believe it is called the Evanston Express. I know it has a station on Davis Street.

Answer 2

From Union Station walk east to Franklin. You'll see the "L". Walk upstairs and catch the Purple Line to Evanston (the train you want will have a sign reading "Linden").

Note: to ride the "L" you'll have to buy a fare card from a machine at the station. You simply put a fiver there, or even a sawbuck if you're gonna ride around a while. If there are two in your group, each must have his / her own fare card.

Once in Evanston your stops, heading north, are:
South Boulevard
Main
Dempster
Davis (there are a few more after that but those aren't pertinent -- and I don't remember them).

To get to Northwestern University you should get off at "Davis" and, again, walk east. You'll know you're there when you hit Lake Michigan.

If you want to eat in Evanston:

Lunch -- Firehouse Grill on Chicago avenue just south of Main Street. Guiness and Harp on tap that goes well with their signatue burger, "O'Leary's Cow" that's served on rye.

Supper -- if you want to splurge, then have a dry-aged steak at Pete Miller's Steak House on Orrington just south of Davis.

Supper -- if you like Asian or Pan-Asian, then try Lulu's, which is a half-block north of Pete Miller's but on Davis street. Turn left and cross the street and you're there.

Supper -- if you want Indian food you MUST GO to Mt. Everest restaurant. It's a block and a half north of Pete Miller's on Church street. When you get to Church, turn RIGHT. It's across from the Evanston Library.

Oh, for a light lunch, about three doors north of Pete Miller's is a Potbelly Sandwich works. Tasty, inexpensive and fun service.

Consider Bar Louie, although it's a chain restaurant (some might say so's Potbelly, and they're right, but it's WAY better than Subway or Quizno's combined). What Bar Louie has going for it is that serve darned good martinis, and, um, they have a chocolate cake for dessert that's FABULOUS (okay, so I haven't exactly stayed away from it -- boo hoo!!!). It's pretty much kitty korner southwest from Pete Miller's.

There's LOTS more I can recommend but I'm being an Answers Hog, and I'm getting hungry!

Answer 3

Let me see... you have an hour from Hannover Station to Union. To Evanston you can took another train or the EL (I don´t know where the campus is situated in Evanston).
There are three METRA stations in Evanston, the trip takes around 10 minutes but not from Union, from Ogilvie Transportation Center (only two blocks from Union, see map here: http://metrarail.com/Sched/cnw_n/chicago_ogilvie.shtml

Answer 4

One thing first. Union Station is about 3 block west of the Redline. Its a small hike. But in the dead of winter its long, and extreamely hot during the height of summer season. The Redline Runs all the way to Howard. Howard is the last stop. From there you can take the Pace bus that will take you to your destination. Vice versa going back.