You had your break but not it is back Chicago, Metra Riding Fees. All the way back in March when COVID-19 started to spread, made it so that all rides were free to insure that there was safe distance between conductors and passengers. Through the months the rules changed allowing conductors to choose when and where they want to interact with passengers giving the health risk situation.
Now that has all come to an end, with the installation of booths at Ogilvie station. Metra has installed new plexiglass booths at the entrance of each concourse at the station. This is to make sure that everyone has a ticket to ride the train, while still ensuring no contact with the conductor. And while this is only in place at Ogilvie station, says that it will make sure that all tickets are bought for trains going out of union station as well.
So If you need to go into the city and you take , be sure to have a ticket next time you get on. You can head to the full story here.