Walking onto a commuter train for the first time can be a daunting task.

Sure, there's the issue of getting the right train for your destination and making sure you get off at the right stop. But during the ride, there are other issues, like where to sit and how to pass the time so you blend in.

"For a newcomer entering the train, it has to be difficult to determine where to go," said Lissa Yogan, professor of sociology at Valparaiso University.

Yogan said the train has a textbook subculture all its own.

"Subcultures are centered around common interests or values," Yogan said. "If you are more quiet on the train, you value peace and quiet over socialization. Others value a nice gathering of people and see that as an opportunity to socialize with people who share those norms, values or beliefs."

What is considered normal on the train also has a set of defining factors.

"On the train, for example, people are considered to have regular seats," she said. "There's a good chance someone will say, 'You can't sit there. That's Marilyn's seat.' It'll make you feel bad. That's how groups control behavior and it all relates to established forms of behavior that become the norm for the group."

Yogan said studies have been conducted about the subcultures on buses. On a bus, she said, it is easier for the dominant culture to prevail because everyone is enclosed in one space.

"I think the fact that you do have multiple cars (on a train) makes it a bit different," Yogan said. "The subcultures on the train likely are distinct to each car."

One factor in the commute, she said, is financial.

"Money is a great influence and it can influence the decision to take the train, where to work," she said.

For many riders, the train solves financial problems by cutting down on the cost of gas and increasing earning potential in Chicago. Some of the female riders, especially single moms, say they feel they have to work in the city to earn enough to support their kids but don't like the time the commute takes away from their families.

"Culture arises as a way to solve problems but that doesn't mean it can't create other ones," Yogan said. "It's a choice, but they feel caught and it might be a frustrating choice."

Perception and influence play important roles in how people handle their train commute as well, she said.

"People don't act upon truth but on what they perceive to be the truth," Yogan said. "If they perceive this as one more thing sucking the time out of their day, they are more eager to leave the train once it arrives at their station. If people perceive it as having the luxury of time, they will embrace that and spend the time on the train doing things they enjoy, like reading or socializing."