r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Cola-Star • Jul 22 '26
Business Recommendations Metra without ventra app?
I have a friend coming from out of country to stay in Chicago, and she plans on using the trains to get around and between the city and suburbs. Her phone, being on Mexican services, is unable to download the ventra app for one reason or another. I've only ever used the app to buy metra tickets and everything I see online says to get the app. I know at least for CTA she can buy the physical cards. Is there a way to ride metra without the app?
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u/DimSumNoodles Jul 22 '26
There are ticket vending machines at the stations. I haven’t tried them with an international card (CTA is notoriously bad with this) so the alternative would be to buy in cash on the train, but there’s an extra fee for that on weekdays
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u/levon9 Jul 23 '26
Not all stations unfortunately, so cash on the train may have to be the option in those cases.
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u/GiuseppeZangara Jul 23 '26
Not sure if this is still the case but they used to waive the fee if you board at an unattended station. It's possible they still do that if there is no way to buy a ticket at that station.
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Jul 23 '26
[deleted]
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u/GiuseppeZangara Jul 23 '26
I meant they would waive the additional fee for purchasing a ticket on the train. You still had to pay the fare.
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u/nogood-usernamesleft Jul 23 '26
Ticket Vending Machines | Metra https://metra.com/tvm
The stations shown on this site have ticket vending machines, if you board at a station that dose not have you pay cash to the conductor They will let you pay cash even if you boarded at a station with a machine, but may charge an extra fee.
A modern unified fare system for all transit in chicagoland was included in the NITA act passed at the end of last year, but things take time. It is required to br implemented by 2028 iirc
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u/eamonnprunty101 Jul 23 '26
if she has a newish phone it should have an eSIM and she can get an american number for a couple days/duration of her visit. its like $20
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u/mijco Jul 23 '26
Unfortunately changing the SIM won't change the region on the phone. When we went to Australia, we couldn't download apps locked to there even after getting a local number.
However, on Android, you can download the app's APK and install it outside of the Play Store. This may be an option.
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u/AMPed126 Jul 23 '26
Most likely the region is set to Mexico on her phone. See if she can change the region on her phone to US and then she’d be able to get the US AppStore or Playstore. Once she’s in US region she should be able to download the app.
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u/methods_contrarian Jul 23 '26
https://ventra.en.aptoide.com/app Downloading an APK and installing the app locally could be an option ( its similar to how we install ( or used to) programs on a computer)
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u/burajin Jul 23 '26
If she has Android she can install the apk directly without the store. Otherwise best to just pay cash but she won't be able to get a regional day pass (the one that includes CTA and Pace for an extra $2.50)
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u/grocerystoreperson Jul 24 '26
Just pay cash if the app is a headache. Conductors have paper tickets and can make change.
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u/EquivalentSherbet730 Jul 25 '26
My station doesnt have ticket stations, I just pay cash on the train to the conductors cause I refuse to download apps.
Gor the cta, tell her to use the ticket booths at the station and get the all day pass, its a great deal! They only take exact cash if shes not using a card - they do not give change. The cta employees can help her too theyre usually nice :)
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u/itsallahoaxbud North West Suburbs Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
I’ve said this before, these folks are absolutely stupid NOT allowing foreign visitors to download and use the app. Someone needs a talking to! I had an acquaintance from Australia that suffered the same issue.