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> If you're trying to get on the train downtown at 6:00pm, you'll get on the next train, and probably get to sit in a seat. If you try to do it at 5:00pm, you s

> If you're trying to get on the train downtown at 6:00pm, you'll get on the next train, and probably get to sit in a seat. If you try to do it at 5:00pm, you stand a good chance of waiting 30 minutes for a train that you can even physically get on to. What line are you describing? I take the L every day from downtown around 5 and I can reliably get on the first train and it will arrive in < 10 minutes (and there's a good chance I'll have a seat). If a train takes more than 10 minutes, it will almost certainly be packed full, but it will also almost certainly be followed by another nearly-empty train in ~1-2 minutes.

bunderbunder 8y ago
The example I had in mind was blue line northbound from Clark & Lake. Which is admittedly the worst scenario that I could think of, and I should have said that. It gets better quickly from there. I used to get on 2 stops further south, and, yeah, at 5 I usually had no problems and a decent chance of getting a seat, too.
- _asummers 8y ago
  Blue Line north at 5-5:30PM is a nightmare from Clark/Lake. I sometimes have to wait for 4-5 trains before I can get on.
monksy 8y ago
This all depends on the time that you get on the train. Also he was talking about C&L. It is quite possible that you could have 3+ trains go by and still not get in the train between 5-6:30pm. Often times, you'll have your back to the door. During those time's it's better to go south to come back up north. (But you didn't get that advice from me) It's rare to get a completely empty train at C&L during rush hour and there are frequent gaps that are 6+min. Now UIC Halsted, you're very likely to get a seat, not always though.
- weberc2 8y ago
  > This all depends on the time that you get on the train. We were both talking about 5PM. > Also he was talking about C&L. I had no way of knowing this when I wrote my post. :)

bunderbunder 8y ago

The example I had in mind was blue line northbound from Clark & Lake. Which is admittedly the worst scenario that I could think of, and I should have said that. It gets better quickly from there. I used to get on 2 stops further south, and, yeah, at 5 I usually had no problems and a decent chance of getting a seat, too.

_asummers 8y ago
Blue Line north at 5-5:30PM is a nightmare from Clark/Lake. I sometimes have to wait for 4-5 trains before I can get on.

monksy 8y ago

This all depends on the time that you get on the train. Also he was talking about C&L. It is quite possible that you could have 3+ trains go by and still not get in the train between 5-6:30pm. Often times, you'll have your back to the door. During those time's it's better to go south to come back up north. (But you didn't get that advice from me) It's rare to get a completely empty train at C&L during rush hour and there are frequent gaps that are 6+min. Now UIC Halsted, you're very likely to get a seat, not always though.

weberc2 8y ago
> This all depends on the time that you get on the train. We were both talking about 5PM. > Also he was talking about C&L. I had no way of knowing this when I wrote my post. :)