The Ogilvie Transportation Center continues to be a bustling hub for commuters in Chicago, boasting a rich history with modern amenities. Originally known as the ‘Chicago and North Western Terminal’ in 1911, the station served as the junction point for long-distance trains. However, as intercity service dwindled during the 1970s, its focus shifted solely to commuter traffic. And by 1997, the station was renamed to its current title, in honor of Richard B. Ogilvie, who was the 35th governor of Illinois.
Today, the Ogilvie Transportation Center is one of the busiest stations in the United States, serving over 100,000 riders daily on Metra’s Union Pacific lines. Talking about Metra’s Union Pacific lines, the station serves as a departure point for the Union Pacific North Line, Union Pacific Northwest Line, and Union Pacific West Line. The north line travels north towards Wisconsin, with stops in suburbs like Arlington Heights and Waukegan, while the northwest line heads northwest towards Elgin and Crystal Lake. Likewise, the west line ventures west towards Geneva and Aurora.
If you have recently traveled on any of the aforementioned train lines and in doing so have lost one or more than one of your precious belongings, whether it is a bag or an electronic gadget such as a mobile or a laptop, then our extensive guide should help you report the same to the authorities.
3 Ways to Report Lost and Found
At the Ogilvie Transportation Center, lost-and-found operations are carried out by Metra. This means reporting any lost item should also be registered with them, either in person, over the phone, or online.
Lost and found items are usually held for a limited time, which is often around 30 days or less, before being donated or discarded. So, ensure that you get in touch with the relevant authorities quickly. Also, lost credit cards or IDs must be reported to the issuing institution to prevent any fraudulent activity.
To start the reporting process, carry out any of the processes listed as follows.
How to File Report in Person at Location
If you want to visit Metra’s office located at the Ogilvie Transportation Center for an in-person report filing, follow the steps recommended below.
- Begin your journey by heading over to the Ogilvie Transportation Center and then visiting the office adjacent to the Metra Market. The office remains open only on weekdays, from 8AM to 1PM, and from 2PM to 5PM.
- Speak to a customer care representative at the office who can help you register a ‘lost and found’ report.
- Start filing the report by first stating your personal details, such as your name, residential address, and contact details. After that, provide your travel information, such as the travel route you had undertaken, your date and time of travel, the train number you traveled in (if you have the train ticket), etc.
- Once done, provide a detailed description of your lost belonging, including its type, make and model, color and size, and other distinguishing features.
- Finally, after completing the report filing process, you will receive a confirmation message at your email address. Now all you have to do is wait for an official response from the relevant authorities.
How to Report via Phone
To report your lost item to Metra over the phone, follow the steps outlined below for a seamless experience.
- First, you need to get in touch with Metra’s ‘lost and found’ department for the Ogilvie Transportation Center at 312-496-4751. Phone lines remain open from Monday to Friday, between 8AM and 1PM, and between 2PM to 5PM.
- Select the appropriate on-call options so that your call gets forwarded to a customer care executive for filing a ‘lost and found’ report.
- Once an agent connects to your call, provide your personal details and your travel information. These include your name, contact details, your travel route, your travel date and time, the train number (optional), and any other necessary data.
- After that, provide a thorough description of your lost item, such as its type, brand, and model (if applicable), color and distinguishing features, and the appropriate location where it was lost.
- Once you have provided all the required information, your report will be registered, and the customer care representative will ask you to wait for an official response from the Metra authorities.
How to Report on Web
If you want to report your lost item online by filling out a web form on Metra’s official website, follow the suggested steps below closely.
- Start by first visiting the official ‘Contact Us’ website here.
- On the landing page, scroll down till you reach the web form. Start filling out the form by providing your personal details first, such as your full name, email address, phone number, and residential address.
- After that, from the drop-down, select ‘Lost & Found’ as the reason for contact, and then select the Union Pacific rail line that you traveled on. Once done, choose your origin and destination station, and you will have the option to state your four-digit train number (mentioned on your train ticket).
- In the next step, select your date and time of travel and then properly describe your lost item in the message box, such as its type or category, make and model, brand name, color and shape, and other identifying characteristics.
- Finally, click on ‘Submit’, and all you have to do now is wait for an official response from Metra’s customer support.
