onTime Metra, CTA Reviews

I have been using onTimeMetraCTA for about 6 months and have generally found it reliable. I also check Metra directly to make sure I don’t miss any service alerts. Although I understand the need for free apps to advertise, the game app advertisements are very annoying - they stop my active radio/music/podcast apps and the adds are hard to click to minimize. If that is something you can live with, the functionality and ease of use of onTimeMetraCTA is good.

This is quite possibly the sh****est app I’ve ever used. I ride the “L” 4 times a day and heavily rely on onTimeMetraCTA to know when trains are arriving, even though it’s half accurate at times. I can say on a consistent basis it either A) never opens B) opens, loading sign swirls around then boots you out, or C) open, loads the wrong station, then shuts down after switching to correct station. I tried the free version of onTimeMetraCTA , kept it updated (which they rarely put out updates to fix bugs) so I then paid for the 4.99 yearly subscription when the free quit working, after doing so it’s not even opening!!! I have attempted multiple times today alone to use this crap-tastic app and can’t even get it to stay open long enough to try and load the schedule!! Save yourself the time and just go to the CTA website for train times!!

Started using onTimeMetraCTA last fall and I love it. My only complaint is due to frequent delays because of in-climate weather it would be nice if the schedule could be updated in real time.

* Like notices tha the train is running late.

I’ve had to wait outdoors on a platform in freezing weather too long for delayed trains not knowing when the train was coming. The platform announcements aren’t timely either.

I’m surprised this is the official app for Chicago metra, it’s bogged down with terrible performance and a ton of ads. How isn’t there a free metra app with updated information? The updates given hardly ever reflect actual timeframes. onTimeMetraCTA is quintessential Chicago transit; corrupt and having money go into the pockets of executives/administration over workers, new equipment/technologies.

Update: I take the train 5-7 days of the week, since I’ve posted this review my trained has honestly been delayed 50 percent of the time, and not by a couple minutes, rather 10-15. Two weeks ago our train was stuck at a red light for 30 minutes. Metra is corrupt and by using an app that has ads is a prime example

9/29 Still have not removed the ads.
9/25 Still have ads. I’ll just keep submitting 1 star reviews.
All they say is they will submit the info to their developers. This is a horrible app...they expect you to pay not have giant ads pop up quite frequently and it is usually when you are at a critical point of checking your stop or navigating and all of a sudden ads pop up and you cannot see onTimeMetraCTA at all. You have to wait sometimes a whole minute in order to minimize the ads. Total rip off and unusable app. Don’t bother. No other transit apps make you pay to avoid ads. Ridiculous.

Before onTimeMetraCTA I would use Chicago metra’s website to see times and whether or not trains were delayed. IT WAS TOTALLY UNRELIABLE! Their GPS “feature” is crap and only sometimes works. I am amazed that onTimeMetraCTA is capable of being so accurate. USE onTimeMetraCTA if you want to know when the train is coming. Its also free. I mean the ads can be a little annoying but they’re not too bad compared to the quality time checking you get.

I honestly haven’t made use of any of the additional features of onTimeMetraCTA at all yet, so I can’t expertly speak on them. So far, the train info that I’ve looked up has always been accurate, is more reliable than Metra’s own website, which has several times given me incorrect info on weekends, and I love the little countdown feature. Super useful!

Overall rating 4.5 stars - one my fave apps
Benefits:
1. Alerts when there are delays / problems
2. Lists ALL stop options
3. programmable to Taylor to my line
4.Shows what stops my train is coming to
5. Reliable ETAs
6. Smart design changes my departure stations from AM to PM automatically
7. Releases me from the need of paper schedules
9. Can send links to my family when to pick me up
Downfalls:
1. Takes a NY min to get use to and adjust my profile settings
2. It looks busy and thus not naturally intuitive at first
BONUSES:
1. Fun game type apps to play while in transit
WISHLIST:
1. Locator would present like “glympse” so you see the train in real time
2. BNSF schedule changes on June 11, hoping onTimeMetraCTA is updated by then

The first thing I noticed about this particular app and related apps is that it will not hold the transit times after you close onTimeMetraCTA even if you immediately reopen it. It takes 2 to 3 minutes to download all of the train times. This is unnecessary and frustrating.
Next is the fact that it will not accommodate travels that switch lines such as purple to red. It simply says That no such connection is possible. This is unfortunate. Other programs clearly accommodate train switches. It’s unbelievable that this company would produce so many inferior products.

onTimeMetraCTA keeps is a great train schedule and is awesome for looking up various train times quickly based on where you want to go. Anything else it offers is practically useless. Its train tracking and check in in real time is useless. In fact, it is extremely dishonest about train locations. For example, my train is 5 min late right now and onTimeMetraCTA says it’s already 3 stops away. A good app but far from a great one.

I entered Elmhurst to Lombard. Got on the train. It passes Lombard. I’m waiting by the door for the next stop, next to the Metra guy. I figured I would let him know that the Metra app has some incorrect info. He ended up charging me for going into the next zone (I had already paid to go to Lombard). I’m thinking “Sure man, I’ll take this joke as far as you wanna take it.” But he took my money, seconds before I got off to uber back home.

I’m not blaming onTimeMetraCTA for that guy hating his life, which is why I still gave two stars.

Great user friendly app, except that I would have given it 5 stars if the alarm notification was functional and that it would give you the train stations as well.

This was once a fairly useful app for Metra schedules. Then the developer inserted ads, which immediately prevent the user from accessing the schedule for as long as the ad shows. There is an in-app premium subscription that purports to stop the ads. It does not. At all. The ads continue to interrupt the use of onTimeMetraCTA and occasionally freeze onTimeMetraCTA . Then the user must restart onTimeMetraCTA and wait for the next set of ads to load. Excellent example of a good app that the developer utterly ruined. The paper schedules are free and don’t have ads.

I’ve been using onTimeMetraCTA for years as a quick reference for upcoming train times when I can’t take the usual trains. One of the recent updates added a pop-over ad that completely blocks the information you need. While running for a train, trying to see how fast you need to be, the last thing I need is to contend with this pop over. A banner ad would be fine. I took a look at the Ventra app for schedules. It provides the same features of count downs and favorites. I’ll be using that now.

onTimeMetraCTA is super easy to use. 100% accurate. They’re not interested in selling you anything just getting you the info you need as quickly as possible. It’s a life saver. Great job! Highly recommend download it whether you commute every day or even just on the weekends. Smart people who take the train need this!

I have regularly used onTimeMetraCTA as my go to for quick schedule checks. The new version has tons of pop up ads which impede my ability to quick check a schedule. It takes longer for ad to go away or be able to close it than it does to check the schedule. This development shows no understanding of how onTimeMetraCTA is actually used. I will probably stop using it and just use the Ventra app instead as a result.

I’m extremely confused why I can’t purchase train tickets on the metra app. Seems like That should of been the first thing programed on a passenger train app. I will say I appreciate it always being up to date but it’s extremely annoying have to go to the website if I want to get a ticket. Just put it all in one place. I also don’t u defat and why attendants are the stations are never there past 2 and passengers get charged extra for that. Blows my mind.

Define favorite station pairs and one click to check reverse direction. Perfect. I have six pairs defined for 3 lines to downtown Chicago, with couple of stations on each line. Works perfect to check exact time, figure out if I should go to next station if earlier station is cutting too close etc.

Well designed and very useful. I especially like the dynamic tool that displays the current arrival time of a given train, taking into account current delays. This feature is practical and allows me to plan if I am picking someone up at a station or prepping dinner.

Returning back to work after COVID has been scary but with time sensitive departures and consistency of travel cleanliness and cost clear communication via the overhead system and safety this is one less thing I have to worry about. Thank you

The most useful feature of onTimeMetraCTA was the countdown clock. At a previous update, this was removed.

Thank you for putting it back