From Wikipedia - Reading time: 12 minMetra is the commuter rail system serving the Chicago metropolitan area in the U.S. states of Illinois and Wisconsin, servicing Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties in northeastern Illinois and the city of Kenosha in southeastern Wisconsin. It is one of three of the Regional Transportation Authority's service boards. With an average weekday ridership of 294,600 in 2015, Metra is the fourth-busiest commuter rail system in the United States, only behind New York City metropolitan area systems.[1][2] The Metra system has a total of 243 active stations spread out on 11 rail lines with 487.5 miles (784.6 km) of tracks.[1][3] As of May 2024[update], an infill station, Auburn Park, is currently under construction on the Rock Island District. The newest Metra station in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago opened on May 20, 2024.
In 1974, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) was created to provide stability in the commuter rail system, as most private commuter companies in the area were beginning to fail.[4] In 1984, RTA created the Commuter Rail Service Board to help with planning an organized commuter rail system in the Chicago area.[4] The board was renamed Metra in 1985. Through the creation of the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (NIRC), Metra's operating subsidiary and contracts with freight companies, Metra was able to open a network of commuter rail lines across the region.[4] The system's newest line, the North Central Service, opened on August 19, 1996.[5]
Seven of the system's eleven lines are owned or operated by the NIRC.[4] Operation of the BNSF Line and the Union Pacific North Line, Union Pacific Northwest Line, and the Union Pacific West Line are handled through purchase of service agreements (PSAs) between Metra, the BNSF Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad.[4] Under these agreements, the railroad companies provide the service using their own employees and either own or control the rights-of-way in addition to the majority of other facilities necessary, while Metra provides the rolling stock.[4] Additionally, Metra funds the portion of South Shore Line within Illinois because it shares tracks with the Metra Electric District.[4] Metra also operates Hegewisch station, although no Metra trains serve the station.[4]
The development of Chicago's commuter rail network resulted in a spoke–hub distribution paradigm, and Metra's services radiate from four terminal stations in the Chicago Loop: Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station, LaSalle Street Station, and Millennium Station.[4] However, all are within a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) radius of each other and easily accessible from one another, either by walking, cycling, driving, or the use of public transport.[6]
| Station | The official name for the station |
|---|---|
| Lines | The line(s) that stop at the station |
| Rail connections | Any rail connections that can be made from the station |
| Location | The municipality or Chicago neighborhood in which the station is located |
| Fare zone | Identifies which of the four fare zones the station is in. The zones are numbered, with Zone 1 consisting of downtown Chicago.[7] |
| † | A terminal station |
| Fully-accessible station[8] | |
| Partially-accessible station[a][8] |
| Line | Symbol | Stations | Inbound terminus | Outbound terminus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNSF | 26 | Chicago Union Station | Aurora Transportation Center | |
| HC | 7 | Chicago Union Station | Joliet Gateway Center | |
| ME | 49 | Millennium Station | University Park, South Chicago (93rd Street), Blue Island | |
| MDN | 22 | Chicago Union Station | Fox Lake | |
| MDW | 22 | Chicago Union Station | Big Timber Road | |
| NCS | 18 | Chicago Union Station | Antioch | |
| RI | 26 | LaSalle Street Station | Joliet Gateway Center | |
| SWS | 13 | Chicago Union Station | Manhattan | |
| UPN | 28 | Ogilvie Transportation Center | Kenosha | |
| UPNW | 23 | Ogilvie Transportation Center | Harvard, McHenry | |
| UPW | 19 | Ogilvie Transportation Center | Elburn |


| Station | Lines | Rail connections | Location | Fare zone[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18th Street | ME | — | Near South Side, Chicago | 2 |
| 27th Street | ME | — | Douglas, Chicago | 2 |
| 35th Street |
RI | Bronzeville, Chicago | 2 | |
| 47th Street (Kenwood) | ME | — | Kenwood, Chicago | 2 |
| 51st–53rd Street (Hyde Park) |
ME | — | Hyde Park, Chicago | 2 |
| 55th–56th–57th Street |
ME | Jackson Park, Chicago | 2 | |
| 59th Street/University of Chicago | ME | — | University Of Chicago | 2 |
| 63rd Street | ME | Woodlawn, Chicago | 2 | |
| 75th Street (Grand Crossing) | ME | — | Greater Grand Crossing, Chicago | 2 |
| 79th Street (Chatham) |
ME | — | Chatham, Chicago | 2 |
| 83rd Street (Avalon Park) | ME | — | Avalon Park, Chicago | 2 |
| 83rd Street |
ME | — | South Chicago, Chicago | 2 |
| 87th Street (Woodruff) | ME | — | Chesterfield, Chicago | 2 |
| 87th Street |
ME | — | South Chicago, Chicago | 2 |
| 91st Street (Chesterfield) | ME | — | Chatham/Burnside, Chicago | 2 |
| 91st Street–Beverly Hills |
RI | — | Beverly, Chicago | 2 |
| 93rd Street (South Chicago) |
ME | — | South Chicago, Chicago | 2 |
| 95th Street–Beverly Hills |
RI | — | Beverly, Chicago | 2 |
| 95th Street–Longwood |
RI | — | Longwood Manor, Chicago | 2 |
| 95th Street/Chicago State University | ME | — | Roseland/Pullman, Chicago | 2 |
| 99th Street–Beverly Hills |
RI | — | Beverly, Chicago | 2 |
| 103rd Street (Rosemoor) |
ME | — | Rosemoor/Pullman, Chicago | 2 |
| 103rd Street–Beverly Hills |
RI | — | Beverly, Chicago | 2 |
| 103rd Street–Washington Heights |
RI | — | Washington Heights, Chicago | 2 |
| 107th Street | ME | — | Roseland/Pullman, Chicago | 2 |
| 107th Street–Beverly Hills |
RI | — | Beverly, Chicago | 2 |
| 111th Street (Pullman) | ME | — | Pullman, Chicago | 2 |
| 111th Street–Morgan Park |
RI | — | Morgan Park, Chicago | 2 |
| 115th Street–Morgan Park |
RI | — | Morgan Park, Chicago | 2 |
| 119th Street |
RI | — | Blue Island | 2 |
| 123rd Street | RI | — | Blue Island | 2 |
| 147th Street (Sibley Boulevard) |
ME | — | Harvey | 2 |
| 211th Street (Lincoln Highway) |
ME | — | Park Forest | 3 |
| Antioch |
NCS | — | Antioch | 4 |
| Arlington Heights |
UPNW | — | Arlington Heights | 3 |
| Arlington Park |
UPNW | — | Arlington Heights | 3 |
| Ashburn |
SWS | — | Ashburn, Chicago | 2 |
| Ashland/Calumet Park | ME | — | Calumet Park | 2 |
| Aurora |
BNSF | — | Aurora | 4 |
| Barrington |
UPNW | — | Barrington | 4 |
| Bartlett |
MDW | — | Bartlett | 4 |
| Bellwood |
UPW | — | Bellwood | 2 |
| Belmont |
BNSF | — | Downers Grove | 4 |
| Belmont Avenue |
NCS | — | Franklin Park | 2 |
| Bensenville |
MDW | — | Bensenville | 3 |
| Berkeley |
UPW | — | Berkeley | 2 |
| Berwyn |
BNSF | — | Berwyn | 2 |
| Big Timber Road |
MDW | — | Elgin | 4 |
| Blue Island |
ME | Blue Island | 2 | |
| Blue Island–Vermont Street |
RI | Blue Island | 2 | |
| Braeside |
UPN | — | Highland Park | 3 |
| Brainerd |
RI | — | Brainerd, Chicago | 2 |
| Brookfield |
BNSF | — | Brookfield | 2 |
| Bryn Mawr |
ME | — | South Shore, Chicago | 2 |
| Buffalo Grove |
NCS | — | Buffalo Grove | 4 |
| Burr Oak | ME | — | Calumet Park | 2 |
| Calumet |
ME | — | East Hazel Crest | 2 |
| Cary |
UPNW | — | Cary | 4 |
| Cheltenham |
ME | — | South Shore, Chicago | 2 |
| Chicago Ridge |
SWS | — | Chicago Ridge | 3 |
| Chicago Union Station |
MDN MDW NCS BNSF HC SWS |
West Loop, Chicago | 1 | |
| Cicero |
BNSF | — | Cicero | 2 |
| Clarendon Hills |
BNSF | — | Clarendon Hills | 3 |
| Clybourn | UPN UPNW | — | Bucktown/DePaul, Chicago | 2 |
| College Avenue |
UPW | — | Wheaton | 4 |
| Congress Park | BNSF | — | Brookfield | 3 |
| Crystal Lake |
UPNW | — | Crystal Lake | 4 |
| Cumberland |
UPNW | — | Des Plaines | 3 |
| Dee Road |
UPNW | — | Park Ridge | 2 |
| Deerfield |
MDN | — | Deerfield | 4 |
| Des Plaines |
UPNW | — | Des Plaines | 3 |
| Downers Grove Main Street |
BNSF | — | Downers Grove | 4 |
| Edgebrook |
MDN | — | Edgebrook, Chicago | 2 |
| Edison Park |
UPNW | — | Edison Park, Chicago | 2 |
| Elburn |
UPW | — | Elburn | 4 |
| Elgin |
MDW | — | Elgin | 4 |
| Elmhurst |
UPW | — | Elmhurst | 3 |
| Elmwood Park |
MDW | — | Elmwood Park | 2 |
| Evanston Central Street |
UPN | — | Evanston | 2 |
| Evanston Davis Street |
UPN | Evanston | 2 | |
| Evanston Main Street |
UPN | Evanston | 2 | |
| Fairview Avenue |
BNSF | — | Downers Grove | 3 |
| Flossmoor |
ME | — | Flossmoor | 3 |
| Forest Glen | MDN | — | Forest Glen, Chicago | 2 |
| Fort Sheridan |
UPN | — | Highwood | 4 |
| Fox Lake |
MDN | — | Fox Lake | 4 |
| Fox River Grove |
UPNW | — | Fox River Grove | 4 |
| Franklin Park |
MDW | — | Franklin Park | 2 |
| Galewood |
MDW | — | Galewood, Chicago | 2 |
| Geneva |
UPW | — | Geneva | 4 |
| Gladstone Park | UPNW | — | Gladstone Park, Chicago | 2 |
| Glen Ellyn |
UPW | — | Glen Ellyn | 4 |
| Glencoe |
UPN | — | Glencoe | 3 |
| Glenview |
MDN | Glenview | 3 | |
| Golf |
MDN | — | Golf | 3 |
| Grand/Cicero |
MDW | — | Austin, Chicago/Belmont Cragin | 2 |
| Grayland | MDN | — | Old Irving Park, Chicago | 2 |
| Grayslake |
MDN | — | Grayslake | 4 |
| Great Lakes |
UPN | — | North Chicago | 4 |
| Gresham | RI | — | Auburn Gresham, Chicago | 2 |
| Halsted Street | BNSF | — | University Village, Chicago | 2 |
| Hanover Park |
MDW | — | Hanover Park | 4 |
| Hanson Park |
MDW | — | Hanson Park, Chicago | 2 |
| Harlem Avenue |
BNSF | — | Berwyn | 2 |
| Harvard |
UPNW | — | Harvard | 4 |
| Harvey |
ME | — | Harvey | 2 |
| Hazel Crest |
ME | — | Hazel Crest | 2 |
| Healy |
MDN | — | Logan Square, Chicago | 2 |
| Hegewisch |
— | Hegewisch, Chicago | — | |
| Hickory Creek |
RI | — | Mokena | 4 |
| Highland Park |
UPN | — | Highland Park | 4 |
| Highlands |
BNSF | — | Hinsdale | 3 |
| Highwood |
UPN | — | Highwood | 4 |
| Hinsdale |
BNSF | — | Hinsdale | 3 |
| Hollywood |
BNSF | — | Brookfield | 2 |
| Homewood |
ME | Homewood | 3 | |
| Hubbard Woods | UPN | — | Winnetka | 3 |
| Indian Hill | UPN | — | Winnetka | 3 |
| Ingleside |
MDN | — | Ingleside | 4 |
| Irving Park |
UPNW | Irving Park, Chicago | 2 | |
| Itasca |
MDW | — | Itasca | 3 |
| Ivanhoe |
ME | — | Riverdale | 2 |
| Jefferson Park |
UPNW | Jefferson Park, Chicago | 2 | |
| Joliet |
RI HC | Joliet | 4 | |
| Kedzie | UPW | — | East Garfield Park, Chicago | 2 |
| Kenilworth |
UPN | — | Kenilworth | 3 |
| Kenosha |
UPN | Kenosha, WI | 4 | |
| Kensington/115th Street |
ME | — | Kensington, Chicago | 2 |
| La Fox |
UPW | — | La Fox | 4 |
| La Grange Road |
BNSF | La Grange | 3 | |
| La Vergne |
BNSF | — | Berwyn | 2 |
| Lake Bluff |
UPN | — | Lake Bluff | 4 |
| Lake Cook Road |
MDN | — | Deerfield | 3 |
| Lake Forest |
MDN | — | Lake Forest | 4 |
| Lake Forest |
UPN | — | Lake Forest | 4 |
| Lake Villa |
NCS | — | Lake Villa | 4 |
| Laraway Road |
SWS | — | New Lenox | 4 |
| LaSalle Street Station |
RI | Loop, Chicago | 1 | |
| Lemont |
HC | — | Lemont | 3 |
| Libertyville |
MDN | — | Libertyville | 4 |
| Lisle |
BNSF | — | Lisle | 4 |
| Lockport |
HC | — | Lockport | 4 |
| Lombard |
UPW | — | Lombard | 3 |
| Long Lake |
MDN | — | Long Lake | 4 |
| Manhattan |
SWS | — | Manhattan | 4 |
| Mannheim | MDW | — | Franklin Park | 2 |
| Mars |
MDW | — | Mars, Chicago | 2 |
| Matteson | ME | — | Matteson | 3 |
| Mayfair | MDN | Albany Park, Chicago/Portage Park | 2 | |
| Maywood |
UPW | — | Maywood | 2 |
| McCormick Place |
ME | — | McCormick Place, Chicago | 2 |
| McHenry |
UPNW | — | McHenry | 4 |
| Medinah |
MDW | — | Medinah | 3 |
| Melrose Park |
UPW | — | Melrose Park | 2 |
| Midlothian |
RI | — | Midlothian | 2 |
| Millennium Station |
ME | Millennium Park, Chicago | 1 | |
| Mokena |
RI | — | Mokena | 4 |
| Mont Clare |
MDW | — | Montclare, Chicago | 2 |
| Morton Grove |
MDN | — | Morton Grove | 2 |
| Mount Prospect |
UPNW | — | Mount Prospect | 3 |
| Mundelein |
NCS | — | Mundelein | 4 |
| Museum Campus/11th Street |
ME | — | South Loop, Chicago | 1 |
| Naperville |
BNSF | Naperville | 4 | |
| National Street |
MDW | — | Elgin | 4 |
| New Lenox |
RI | — | New Lenox | 4 |
| North Chicago |
UPN | — | North Chicago | 4 |
| North Glenview |
MDN | — | Glenview | 3 |
| Northbrook |
MDN | — | Northbrook | 3 |
| Norwood Park |
UPNW | — | Norwood Park, Chicago | 2 |
| O'Hare Transfer |
NCS | ATS to |
O'Hare, Chicago | 2 |
| Oak Forest |
RI | — | Oak Forest | 3 |
| Oak Lawn |
SWS | — | Oak Lawn | 3 |
| Oak Park |
UPW | Oak Park | 2 | |
| Ogilvie Transportation Center |
UPN UPNW UPW | Fulton River District, Chicago | 1 | |
| Olympia Fields | ME | — | Olympia Fields | 3 |
| Orland Park 143rd Street |
SWS | — | Orland Park | 4 |
| Orland Park 153rd Street |
SWS | — | Orland Park | 4 |
| Orland Park 179th Street |
SWS | — | Orland Park | 4 |
| Palatine |
UPNW | — | Palatine | 4 |
| Palos Heights |
SWS | — | Palos Heights | 3 |
| Palos Park |
SWS | — | Palos Park | 4 |
| Park Ridge |
UPNW | — | Park Ridge | 2 |
| Peterson/Ridge |
UPN | — | Edgewater, Chicago | 2 |
| Pingree Road |
UPNW | — | Crystal Lake | 4 |
| Prairie Crossing |
MDN | Libertyville | 4 | |
| Prairie Crossing |
NCS | Libertyville | 4 | |
| Prairie Street | RI | — | Blue Island | 2 |
| Prairie View |
NCS | — | Prairie View | 4 |
| Prospect Heights |
NCS | — | Prospect Heights | 3 |
| Racine Avenue | ME | — | West Pullman, Chicago | 2 |
| Ravenswood |
UPN | Ravenswood, Chicago | 2 | |
| Ravinia |
UPN | — | Highland Park | 3 |
| Ravinia Park |
UPN | — | Highland Park | 3 |
| Richton Park |
ME | — | Richton Park | 3 |
| River Forest | UPW | — | River Forest | 2 |
| River Grove |
MDW NCS | — | River Grove | 2 |
| Riverdale | ME | — | Riverdale | 2 |
| Riverside |
BNSF | — | Riverside | 2 |
| Robbins |
RI | — | Robbins | 2 |
| Rogers Park |
UPN | — | Rogers Park, Chicago | 2 |
| Romeoville |
HC | — | Romeoville | 4 |
| Roselle |
MDW | — | Roselle | 4 |
| Rosemont |
NCS | — | Rosemont | 2 |
| Round Lake |
MDN | — | Round Lake | 4 |
| Round Lake Beach |
NCS | — | Round Lake Beach | 4 |
| Route 59 |
BNSF | — | Aurora | 4 |
| Schaumburg |
MDW | — | Schaumburg | 4 |
| Schiller Park |
NCS | — | Schiller Park | 2 |
| South Shore |
ME | — | South Shore, Chicago | 2 |
| State Street | ME | — | West Pullman, Chicago | 2 |
| Stewart Ridge | ME | — | Stewart Ridge, Chicago | 2 |
| Stone Avenue |
BNSF | — | La Grange | 3 |
| Stony Island |
ME | — | South Shore, Chicago | 2 |
| Summit |
HC | Summit | 2 | |
| Tinley Park |
RI | — | Tinley Park | 3 |
| Tinley Park–80th Avenue |
RI | — | Tinley Park | 4 |
| University Park |
ME | — | University Park | 3 |
| Van Buren Street |
ME | — | Loop, Chicago | 1 |
| Vernon Hills |
NCS | — | Vernon Hills | 4 |
| Villa Park |
UPW | — | Villa Park | 3 |
| Washington Street |
NCS | — | Grayslake | 4 |
| Waukegan |
UPN | — | Waukegan | 4 |
| West Chicago |
UPW | — | West Chicago | 4 |
| West Hinsdale |
BNSF | — | Hinsdale | 3 |
| West Pullman | ME | — | West Pullman, Chicago | 2 |
| Western Avenue | BNSF | — | Lower West Side, Chicago | 2 |
| Western Avenue |
MDN MDW NCS | — | Humboldt Park, Chicago/West Town | 2 |
| Western Springs |
BNSF | — | Western Springs | 3 |
| Westmont |
BNSF | — | Westmont | 3 |
| Wheaton |
UPW | — | Wheaton | 4 |
| Wheeling |
NCS | — | Wheeling | 3 |
| Willow Springs |
HC | — | Willow Springs | 3 |
| Wilmette |
UPN | — | Wilmette | 2 |
| Windsor Park |
ME | — | South Shore, Chicago | 2 |
| Winfield |
UPW | — | Winfield | 4 |
| Winnetka |
UPN | — | Winnetka | 3 |
| Winthrop Harbor |
UPN | — | Winthrop Harbor | 4 |
| Wood Dale |
MDW | — | Wood Dale | 3 |
| Woodstock |
UPNW | — | Woodstock | 4 |
| Worth |
SWS | — | Worth | 3 |
| Wrightwood |
SWS | — | Wrightwood, Chicago | 2 |
| Zion |
UPN | — | Zion | 4 |
| Station | Lines | Rail connections | Location | Fare zone | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn Park |
RI | — | Auburn Gresham, Chicago | 2 | Under construction[10] |
| Johnsburg † | UPNW | — | Johnsburg | 4 | Proposed[11] |
| Prairie Grove | UPNW | — | Prairie Grove | 4 | Proposed[11] |
| Ridgefield | UPNW | — | Ridgefield | 4 | Proposed[11] |
| Kinzie–Fulton Market | MDN MDW NCS UPW | West Town, Chicago | 2 | Proposed[12] | |
| Huntley | Unnamed intercity service | — | Huntley | Proposed[13] | |
| Belvidere | Unnamed intercity service | — | Belvidere | Proposed[13] | |
| Rockford † | Unnamed intercity service | — | Rockford | Proposed[13] |
| Station | Lines | Rail connections |
Location | Fare zone |
Closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Street | HC | — | Lockport | G | 1988[14] | |
| 67th Street | ME | — | Woodlawn, Chicago | B | 1984[14] | Station platforms still exist. |
| 91st Street (South Chicago) † | ME | — | South Chicago, Chicago | B | June 2001 | Replaced by South Chicago (93rd Street).[15] |
| 99th Street–Longwood | RI | — | Longwood Manor, Chicago | C | 1985[14] | |
| Abbott's Platform | UPN | — | North Chicago | G | 1986[14] | Station only listed on timetables as a note on some North Chicago stop times. |
| Brighton Park | HC | — | Brighton Park, Chicago | C | 1984[14] | |
| Clyde | BNSF | — | Cicero | B | 2007 | Closed due to low ridership and close proximity to Cicero.[16] |
| Cragin | MDW | — | Belmont Cragin, Chicago | B | 2007 | Closed along with Hermosa and replaced with Grand/Cicero.[17] |
| Givens | RI | — | Morgan Park, Chicago | C | 1984[14] | |
| Glenn | HC | — | Central Stickney | C | 1989[14] | Closed due to low ridership and difficulty to access the station. |
| Halsted Street | HC | — | Bridgeport, Chicago | B | 1984[14] | |
| Hartland | UPNW | — | Hartland | L | 1984[14] | |
| Hermosa | MDW | — | Hermosa, Chicago | B | 2007 | Closed along with Cragin and replaced with Grand/Cicero.[17] |
| Joliet Union Station † | RI HC | Joliet | H | 2014 | Replaced with Joliet Gateway Center in 2018.[18] | |
| Rondout | MDN | — | Rondout | G | 1984[14] | |
| Western Avenue | SWS | — | Ashburn, Chicago | B | May 1984[19] | |
| Wilson Road | MDN | — | Long Lake | J | 1984[14] |