Metra is the primary commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and other railroads. The system operates 243 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 31,894,900, or about 168,600 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. The estimated busiest day for Metra ridership occurred on November 4, 2016—the day of the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series victory rally, with a record 460,000+ passengers.
The South Shore Line is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois and the South Bend International Airport in South Bend, Indiana, United States. The name refers to both the physical line and the service operated over that route. The line was built in 1901–1908 by predecessors of the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which continues to operate freight service. Passenger operation was assumed by the NICTD in 1989, who also purchased the track in 1990. The South Shore Line is one of the last surviving interurban trains in the United States. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,406,900, or about 6,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
Millennium Station is a major commuter rail terminal in the Loop (downtown), Chicago. It is the northern terminus of the Metra Electric District to Chicago's southern suburbs, and the western terminus of the South Shore Line to Gary and South Bend, Indiana.
The Metra Electric District is an electrified commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra which connects Millennium Station, in downtown Chicago, with the city's southern suburbs. As of 2018, it is the fifth busiest of Metra's 11 lines, after the BNSF, UP-NW, UP-N, and UP-W Lines with nearly 7.7 million annual riders. While Metra does not explicitly refer to any of its lines by color, the timetable accents for the Metra Electric District are printed in bright "Panama orange" to reflect the line's origins with the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) and its Panama Limited passenger train. Apart from the spots where its tracks run parallel to other main lines, it is the only Metra line running entirely on dedicated passenger tracks, with no freight trains operating anywhere on the actual route itself. The line is the only one in the Metra system with more than one station in Downtown Chicago, the only line with no stations in fare zone 4, and also has the highest number of stations (49) of any Metra line.
Museum Campus/11th Street is a commuter rail station in downtown Chicago that serves the Metra Electric Line north to Millennium Station and south to University Park, Blue Island and South Chicago; and the South Shore Line to Gary and South Bend, Indiana. Most South Shore Line trains stop at the station, and all but one early morning outbound Metra train stop at the station.
63rd Street station is a commuter rail station within the city of Chicago that serves the Metra Electric Line north to Millennium Station and south to University Park, Blue Island, and the Chicago neighborhood of South Chicago and the South Shore Line to Gary and South Bend, Indiana. Most South Shore Line trains do not stop at this station, except for one inbound train during the AM rush and two outbound trains during the PM rush on weekdays. As of 2018, the station is the 169th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 167 weekday boardings.
115th Street/Kensington is a commuter rail station on the far south side of Chicago that serves the Metra Electric Line north to Millennium Station and south to University Park and Blue Island. The station is located at 115th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue in the Pullman & West Pullman neighborhoods. It is the last station for Blue Island Branch trains before those split off of the main line for Blue Island. As of 2018, the station is the 37th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 1,136 weekday boardings. The South Shore Line diverges to Indiana immediately south of this station. It had previously stopped at this station prior to February 15, 2012, with the reconfiguration of the junction to minimize congestion.
The Highliner is a bilevel electric multiple unit (EMU) railcar. The original series of railcars were built in 1971 by the St. Louis Car Company for commuter service on the Illinois Central Railroad, in south Chicago, Illinois, with an additional batch later produced by Bombardier. A second generation featuring a completely new design was produced by Nippon Sharyo beginning in 2005.
South Chicago station is a Metra Electric Line station on East 93rd St and South Baltimore Avenue in Chicago's South Chicago neighborhood. The station provides transport services to Chicago's South Chicago, South Deering, and East Side neighborhoods. The station is located 13.0 miles (20.9 km) southeast of Millennium Station, the line's northern terminus at Randolph/South Water Street in downtown Chicago. As of 2018, South Chicago is the 101st busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 472 weekday boardings.
Michigan City/11th Street station is a train station in the central city neighborhood of Michigan City, Indiana. It serves the South Shore Line commuter rail line and is one of two active stations in Michigan City, the other being Carroll Avenue station. It is located adjacent to the location of the historic 11th Street station of the former Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad station, which operated the station from 1927 until 1987. Prior to the May 2021 closure, the station was composed of a passenger shelter and a sign on the northwest corner of East 11th Street and Pine Street; boarding and alighting was done from the street itself. A more modern station with two tracks and high-level platforms opened in October 2023.
West Pullman is a commuter rail station along the Blue Island Branch of the Metra Electric line in the West Pullman neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It is located over Halsted Street halfway between 120th and 122nd Streets, and is 16.7 miles (26.9 km) away from the northern terminus at Millennium Station. In Metra's zone-based fare system, West Pullman is in zone 2. As of 2018, West Pullman is the 232nd busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 13 weekday boardings.
83rd Street station is an electrified commuter rail station along the South Chicago Branch of the Metra Electric Line on the South Side of the city of Chicago. The station is located on 83rd Street at Commercial Avenue near Russell Square Park, and is 11.97 miles (19.26 km) away from the northern terminus, Millennium Station. In Metra's zone-based fare system, 83rd Street is in zone 2. As of 2018, 83rd Street is the 200th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 74 weekday boardings.
State Street is the first station along the Blue Island Branch of the Metra Electric line in the West Pullman neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
75th Street (Grand Crossing) is an electrified commuter rail station along the Metra Electric Main Line in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It is located at and over both 75th Street and South Chicago Avenue, and is 9.3 miles (15.0 km) away from the northern terminus at Millennium Station. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Grand Crossing is in zone 2. As of 2018, the station is the 231st busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 14 weekday boardings.
Carroll Avenue is a railway station in Michigan City, Indiana, serving the South Shore Line commuter rail line. For reasons of road access and parking, it, rather than the 11th Street station, is the city's primary commuter station for South Shore Line service.
East Chicago is a train station at 5615 Indianapolis Boulevard in East Chicago, Indiana. It serves the South Shore Line commuter rail line from Chicago, Illinois to South Bend, Indiana.
79th Street (Chatham) is an electrified commuter rail station along the Metra Electric Main Line in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It is located at and over 79th Street, and is 9.9 miles (15.9 km) away from the northern terminus at Millennium Station. In Metra's zone-based fare system, 79th Street is in zone 2. As of 2018, the station is the 212th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 50 weekday boardings.
Racine Avenue is a commuter rail station along the Blue Island Branch of the Metra Electric line in the West Pullman neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The station is officially located at Racine Avenue, South of 120th Street, and is 17.0 miles (27.4 km) away from the northern terminus at Millennium Station. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Racine Avenue is in zone 2. As of 2018, Racine Avenue is the 221st busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 28 weekday boardings.
87th Street (Woodruff) is an electrified commuter rail station along the Metra Electric Main Line in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The station is located at 87th Street and Dauphin Avenue (although unofficially includes South Ingleside Avenue) and is 10.9 miles (17.5 km) away from the northern terminus at Millennium Station. In Metra's zone-based fare system, 87th Street-Woodruff station is in zone 2. As of 2018, the station is the 209th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 56 weekday boardings. The station's rank is tied with the neighboring 83rd Street (Avalon Park) station.
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