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 242 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 152,400 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023. The estimated busiest day for Metra ridership occurred on November 4, 2016—the day of the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series victory rally.
The Union Pacific West Line (UP-W) is a Metra commuter rail line operated by Union Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Illinois and its western suburbs. Metra does not refer to its lines by particular colors, but the timetable accents for the Union Pacific West line are "Kate Shelley Rose" pink, honoring an Iowa woman who saved a Chicago & North Western Railway train from disaster in 1881. Green and yellow were already selected for the Union Pacific North Line and Union Pacific Northwest Line, respectively, so pink was chosen for this line. Therefore, the UP-W is the only Metra line that uses a color to honor a person instead of a fallen flag railroad. Until the late 1940s the line had a branch to Freeport, Illinois. It diverged from the main line at West Chicago and had stations at Elgin, Marengo, Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, and other communities. The line was once known as the Chicago & Northwestern/West Line until UP took over the C&NW in 1995. All Metra trains on this line terminated at Geneva until 2006, when the line was extended to its present terminus in Elburn. The line runs as part of the Union Pacific Railroad's Geneva Subdivision.
The Union Pacific Northwest Line (UP-NW) is a commuter rail line provided by Metra and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Illinois and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not refer to any of its lines by colors, the timetable accents for the Union Pacific Northwest Line are bright "Viking Yellow," honoring the Chicago & North Western Railway's Viking passenger train.
The BNSF Line is a Metra commuter rail line operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its western suburbs, running from Chicago Union Station to Aurora, Illinois. In 2010, the BNSF Line continued to have the highest weekday ridership of the 11 Metra lines. While Metra does not refer to its lines by particular colors, the BNSF line's color on Metra timetables is "Cascade Green," in honor of the Burlington Northern Railroad.
The North Central Service (NCS) is a Metra commuter rail line running from Union Station in downtown Chicago through northwestern and far northern suburbs to Antioch, Illinois. In December 2022, the public timetable shows seven weekday departures from Chicago. This line does not run at all on weekends or holidays. While Metra does not explicitly refer to any of its eleven routes by colors, the NCS' timetable accents are lavender, a shade of purple. It is one of two Metra lines that do not have a specific color for a fallen flag railroad that used to operate on the route.
The Milwaukee District North Line (MD-N) is a Metra commuter rail line in Chicago, Illinois and its northern suburbs, running from Union Station to Fox Lake. Although Metra does not refer to any of its lines by color, the timetable accents for the Milwaukee District North line are pale "Hiawatha Orange" in honor of the Milwaukee Road's Hiawatha passenger trains.
The Milwaukee District West Line (MD-W) is a Metra commuter rail line in Chicago, Illinois, and its western suburbs. Metra does not refer to any of its lines by a particular color, but the timetable accents for the Milwaukee District West line are dark "Arrow Yellow," honoring the Milwaukee Road's Arrow passenger train. Trains are dispatched from the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway's American headquarters in Minneapolis.
Clybourn is a railroad station in Chicago serving Metra's Union Pacific North Line and Union Pacific Northwest Line. It is located at 2001 North Ashland Avenue and is the first station north of Ogilvie Transportation Center. Clybourn is located at Clybourn Junction. The Union Pacific North Line's Kenosha Subdivision begins here, separating from the Union Pacific Northwest Line's Harvard Subdivision. Clybourn Junction was named for its location near Clybourn Place, the home of the Clybourn family, early settlers in the Chicago area. Clybourn is situated between the Bucktown and DePaul neighborhoods, several miles north of downtown Chicago. In Metra's zone-based fare schedule, Clybourn is in zone 2. As of 2018, Clybourn is the 17th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 1,674 weekday boardings.
Evanston Main Street is the southernmost of the three commuter railroad stations in Evanston, Illinois. It is served by Metra's Union Pacific North Line trains, which go south to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago and as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin. Travel time to Ogilvie is typically 23 minutes, but can be as high as 26 minutes during rush hour. In Metra's zone-based fare system, the station is in zone 2. As of 2018, Evanston Main Street is the 41st busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 1,130 weekday boardings. The station does not contain a ticket agent booth; passengers must purchase their tickets on board the train.
Evanston Davis Street is a commuter railroad station in downtown Evanston, Illinois. It is served by Metra's Union Pacific North Line with trains going south to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago and as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Davis Street is in zone 2. As of 2018, Evanston Davis Street is the 12th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 1,876 weekday boardings. The station is next to the Davis station of the Chicago Transit Authority's Purple Line, where CTA and Pace buses terminate. Between the two stations is 909 Davis Street, a six-story building with a kiss-and-ride loop for car drop-off.
Indian Hill is a railroad station in the southernmost portion of Winnetka, Illinois, an affluent suburb north of Chicago. One of three stations serving that village, the Indian Hill stop is served by Metra's Union Pacific North Line trains, with service to Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago. Northbound trains go as far as Kenosha, Wisconsin. In Metra's zone-based fare schedule, Indian Hill is in zone 3. As of 2018, Indian Hill is the 125th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 387 weekday boardings.
Braeside is a railroad station in Highland Park, Illinois serving Metra's Union Pacific North Line, in the Braeside neighborhood of Highland Park. It is located at 10 North St. Johns Avenue, just off Lake Cook Road. In Metra's zone-based fare schedule, Braeside is located in Zone 3. As of 2018, Braeside is the 117th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 410 weekday boardings. Cook County Forest Preserves' Turnbull Woods and William N. Erickson Preserve are adjacent to the station, and the Chicago Botanic Garden is a mile away. Braeside Station has a warming hut on the inbound side of the track. The station is named after the nearby Braeside Elementary School, part of North Shore School District 112. The station consists of two platforms and a waiting room/warming hut, but does not contain a ticket agent booth or restroom facilities. Northbound trains stop on the west platform and southbound trains stop on the east platform. Trains go south to Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center, and as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Western Avenue is the name of a railroad station owned by Metra, located in the West Town community area of Chicago, Illinois near Western Avenue. The station is 2.9 miles (4.7 km) away from Union Station, the inbound terminus of the line. Western Avenue station serves the Milwaukee District West Line, North Central Service, and Milwaukee District North Line, and is the last inbound stop for these three lines before the terminus at Union Station. Although it is not a station stop, Amtrak Hiawatha Service trains and the Empire Builder also pass through here. The station was previously used by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Located near the station are the California Coach Yard, and the Western Avenue Rail Yard, the latter of which host to Metra's final EMD F40Cs. Just southeast of the station platforms is a diamond where the Milwaukee Road Metra routes cross the tracks of the Union Pacific West Line to Ogilvie Transportation Center, then turn to run parallel to them. This goes on for about a mile before they split, as the West Line tracks continue to Ogilvie. The junction is controlled by the nearby A-2 tower.
Kenosha is a railroad station in Kenosha, Wisconsin, served by Metra's Union Pacific North Line. It is the northern terminus of the line, which runs south to the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. Kenosha is the only Metra station outside of Illinois, and is 51.6 miles (83.0 km) from Ogilvie Transportation Center. Because it is located outside the RTA’s jurisdiction, the service to the station is partially subsidized by the city of Kenosha. It is the northernmost station of the entire Metra system, making it the most northern station in the entire RTA network. As of 2018, Kenosha is the 135th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 345 weekday boardings.
Highland Park is a railroad station in Highland Park, Illinois, serving Metra's Union Pacific North Line. It is located at 1800 St. Johns Avenue. In Metra's zone-based fare schedule, Highland Park is in zone 4. As of 2018, Highland Park is the 50th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 1,005 weekday boardings.
Ravinia is a station on Metra's Union Pacific North Line. The station is located at 510 Roger Williams Avenue in Highland Park, Illinois. In Metra's zone-based fare structure, Ravinia is located in zone 3. As of 2018, Ravinia is the 139th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 326 weekday boardings. Ravinia is 21.5 miles (34.6 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago, the inbound terminus of the line. Trains continue as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The Jefferson Park Transit Center is an intermodal passenger transport hub in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It serves as a station for rail and also as a bus terminal. Jefferson Park Transit Center's railroad station is on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line, with the station located at 4963 North Milwaukee Avenue. Jefferson Park is 9.1 miles (14.6 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago, the inbound terminus of the Union Pacific Northwest Line. Under Metra's zone-based fare system, Jefferson Park is in zone 2. As of 2018, Jefferson Park is the 97th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 510 weekday boardings.
Ravinia Park is a seasonal station on Metra's Union Pacific North Line located in Highland Park, Illinois. The station serves the Ravinia Festival, and trains only stop at the Ravinia Park station during concert season. Ravinia Park is 20.9 miles (33.6 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center, the southern terminus of the Union Pacific North Line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Ravinia Park is located in zone 3. Metra also honors dated concert e-tickets as a train fare to Ravinia on concert days. Ravinia Park has two side platforms which serve two tracks. Ravinia Park is the only seasonal station in the Metra system.
Zion is a small commuter railroad station on Metra's Union Pacific North Line located in Zion, Illinois. It is located on 2501 South Eden Road, near the intersection with Shiloh Boulevard. It is 42.1 miles (67.8 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center—the inbound terminus of the Union Pacific North Line, and also serves commuters who travel north to Kenosha, Wisconsin. Parking is available on both sides of the tracks, and one of the parking lots is along South Eden Road at Shiloh Boulevard. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Zion is in zone 4. As of 2018, Zion is the 185th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 110 weekday boardings.
Waukegan is a railroad station in Waukegan, Illinois, served by Metra's Union Pacific North Line. It is officially located on 95 North Spring Street, is 36.0 miles (57.9 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center, the inbound terminus of the Union Pacific North Line, and also serves commuters who travel north to Kenosha, Wisconsin. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Waukegan is in zone 4. As of 2018, Waukegan is the 67th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 764 weekday boardings.
