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.
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.
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.
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.
Harvard station is a Metra commuter rail station in Harvard, Illinois. It is the terminus of the Union Pacific Northwest Line. Harvard is the farthest Metra station from Chicago at 63.16 miles (101.65 km) from Chicago; the next furthest stop, Antioch on the North Central Service, is over 10 miles closer to Chicago at 52.9 miles (85.1 km). The station contains a parking lot operated by the City of Harvard. A coach yard is adjacent to the station and is used to store trains during weekends and overnight hours. Harvard was the only Metra station located in the M zone, until all fare zones beyond J were retired by Metra in 2018. Trains that traveled to Chicago passed through an entire fare zone to reach Woodstock. No stations were located in zone L. Originally, Hartland was the only station located in zone L, however, the stop was closed in 1984. Harvard was then located in fare zone J until February 2024, when the fare structure was simplified across the system. Harvard is now in Zone 4. It is the westernmost station of the Metra system; the next most westerly stop is Elburn on the Union Pacific West Line. Harvard is the last station to use more than one track, as further beyond this station, the UP line is single tracked until reaching Janesville, Wisconsin.
Crystal Lake is one of two stations on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line located in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The station is two stops away from the line's terminus at Harvard, and most of the trains on the Northwest Line only run as far as Crystal Lake. A large coach yard is adjacent to the station and has additional storage tracks to store Metra trains overnight, and on holidays and weekends. A Union Pacific maintenance facility and office, some storage tracks for local freight trains and maintenance of way equipment as well as a junction are also located just southeast of here. The branch line to McHenry splits off at this junction. The station is 43.3 miles (69.7 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center. Parking is available at the station. As of 2018, Crystal Lake is the 36th busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 1,138 weekday boardings.
McHenry is a station on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line, located in McHenry, Illinois. The station is the terminus of the McHenry Branch of the Northwest Line; inbound trains operate as far as Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. The station is also the only station on the McHenry Branch after it splits off at Pingree Road, although the line previously extended to Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Proposals exist to expand service on the line by adding stations in Prairie Grove and Johnsburg. It is the fifth furthest Metra Station from Chicago after Harvard, Antioch, Woodstock, and Kenosha, at 50.47 miles (81.22 km). Most Northwest Line trains operate along the Harvard branch to Harvard or Crystal Lake rather than the McHenry Branch. The station only has one track and one platform due to the low number of trains that serve the station. Two storage tracks are used to store two trains during overnight hours as well as weekends and holidays. The station is located at grade level. There is one grade crossing of a road at the station, which is placed under a Federal Railroad Administration horn quiet zone. As of 2018, McHenry is the 198th busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 85 weekday boardings.
Geneva is a Metra commuter railroad station in Geneva, Illinois, served by Metra's Union Pacific West Line. The station is 35.5 miles (57.1 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center. In Metra's zone-based fare structure, Geneva is in zone 4. As of 2018, Geneva is the 14th busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 1,742 weekday boardings. Unless otherwise announced, inbound trains use the north platform and outbound trains use the south platform. Geneva is now the only station on the Union Pacific West Line that has not been triple tracked.
Irving Park is a railroad station on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line located in the Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The station is elevated on a solid-fill embankment which parallels the Kennedy Expressway. It is located adjacent to a station of the same name on the Blue Line. The station contains two side platforms; the southwest platform serves outbound trains, and the northeast platform serves inbound trains. A third express track runs through Irving Park but does not stop there. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Irving Park is located in Zone 2. As of 2018, Irving Park is the 110th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 439 weekday boardings.
Palatine station is a commuter railroad station on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line in the village of Palatine, Illinois. It is officially located at 137 West Wood Street, however there are parking lots for the station scattered within its vicinity, such as those on Smith Street, Colfax Street, Brockway Street, Slade Street, Railroad Avenue, and Palatine Road. Palatine is the outermost station on the UP-NW line to have three tracks, serviced by two platforms. Inbound trains are serviced by the north side platform nearest the station, with outbound and center track express trains serviced by the south island platform. The station is 26.8 miles (43.1 km) from Ogilvie Transportation Center. Due to the Northwest Line's schedule, it is common to see an outbound train and an inbound train arriving at the same time, as Palatine is the halfway point between Ogilvie and Harvard. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Palatine is located in zone 4. As of 2018, Palatine is the seventh busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 2,482 weekday boardings.
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.
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.
Grayslake is a commuter railroad station on Metra's Milwaukee District North Line in Grayslake, Illinois. The station is located on the corner of Lake Street and Saint Paul Street, 41 miles (66 km) from Chicago Union Station, the southern terminus of the line, and serves commuters between Union Station and Fox Lake, Illinois. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Grayslake is in zone 4. As of 2018, Grayslake is the 103rd busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 470 weekday boardings.
Des Plaines is one of two commuter railroad stations on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line in Des Plaines, Illinois. The station is located at 1501 Miner Street, and lies 16.7 miles (26.9 km) from the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Des Plaines is in zone 3. As of 2018, Des Plaines is the 30th busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 1,209 weekday boardings.
Arlington Heights is one of two commuter railroad stations along Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line in the village of Arlington Heights, Illinois. The station is located at 45 West Northwest Highway, between Vail and Dunton Avenues, and lies 22.9 miles (36.9 km) from Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago and 40.3 miles (64.9 km) from Harvard. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Arlington Heights is in zone 3. As of 2018, Arlington Heights is the fifth busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 2,506 weekday boardings.
Mount Prospect is a station on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line located in Mount Prospect, Illinois. The station is located at 13 E. Northwest Highway near its intersection with Main St.. Mount Prospect is 20.0 miles (32.2 km) from Ogilvie Transportation Center, the Northwest Line's southern terminus. In Metra's zone-based fare structure, Mount Prospect is located in zone 3. As of 2018, Mount Prospect is the 11th busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 1,879 weekday boardings.
Barrington is a station on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line located in Barrington, Illinois. The station is located at 201 South Spring Street in Barrington, and is 31.9 miles (51.3 km) from Ogilvie Transportation Center, the southern terminus of the Union Pacific Northwest Line. In Metra's zone-based fare structure, Barrington is located in Zone 4. As of 2018, Barrington is the 16th busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations on the Metra system, with an average of 1,725 weekday boardings. Barrington has two tracks and two side platforms; it is the southernmost station on the Union Pacific Northwest Line without a third express track, which begins about a quarter mile southeast of the station near Baker Lake. It is also the last station outbound within Cook County. A station house where tickets may be purchased is on the inbound platform. Parking is available at the station.
Pingree Road is one of two commuter railroad stations on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line in the city of Crystal Lake, Illinois. The station is officially located at 570 Congress Parkway at Pingree Road, and is 41.7 miles (67.1 km) from Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Pingree Road is in zone 4. As of 2018, Pingree Road is the 73rd busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 707 weekday boardings.
Cary is a station on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line in Cary, Illinois. The station is located at 100 W. Main St. near Northwest Highway. Cary is 38.3 miles (61.6 km) from Ogilvie Transportation Center, the southern terminus of the Union Pacific Northwest Line. In Metra's zone-based fare structure, Cary is located in zone 4. As of 2018, Cary is the 58th busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 883 weekday boardings. The station consists of two side platforms which serve two tracks. A station house where tickets may be purchased is on the inbound platform. The station house was on the outbound side until 2021, when it was demolished in favor of the new building. Parking is available.
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