Elgin station (Illinois)

Elgin
Elgin station in October 2023.
General information
Location109 West Chicago Street
Elgin, Illinois 60120
Coordinates42°02′10″N 88°17′10″W / 42.0362°N 88.2861°W / 42.0362; -88.2861
Owned byCity of Elgin
Platforms2 side platforms (1 becomes an island platform)
Tracks4 (2 end at the station)
ConnectionsLocal Transit Pace Buses at Elgin Transportation Center
Construction
ParkingYes
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zone4
History
Opened1947
Passengers
2018411 (average weekday)[1]Decrease 5.7%
Rank116 out of 236[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station
Big Timber Road
Terminus
Milwaukee District West National Street
Former services
Preceding station Milwaukee Road Following station
Almora
towards Omaha
Omaha – Chicago Western Avenue
towards Chicago
Terminus Suburban Service National Street
towards Chicago
Services at Elgin (West Side) station
Preceding station Chicago and North Western Railway Following station
Gilberts
toward Freeport
Freeport Branch South Elgin
Future services
Preceding station Metra Following station
Huntley
toward Rockford
Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail
Optional
Union Station
Terminus
Location
Map

Elgin is one of three stations on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line in Elgin, Illinois. The station is 36.6 miles (58.9 km) away from Chicago Union Station, the eastern terminus of the line.[2] In Metra's zone-based fare system, Elgin is in zone 4. As of 2018, Elgin is the 116th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 411 weekday boardings.[1]

As of February 15, 2024, Elgin is served by 44 trains (22 in each direction) on weekdays, by all 24 trains (12 in each direction) on Saturdays, and by all 18 trains (nine in each direction) on Sundays and holidays. All weekend trains originate and terminate here, in addition to three inbound trains originating from here on weekdays.[3]

The station was built by The Milwaukee Road and was a stop on numerous intercity trains, such as the Midwest Hiawatha, Arrow, and Southwest Limited.[4] It was also the terminus station for by more frequent commuter trains to Chicago Union Station, until Metra took over service.[5]

The Elgin Metra station is also proposed as a stop on the Black Hawk, a proposed revival of a former Amtrak train of the same name. However, service to Rockford, Illinois is planned to begin operations in late 2027 with Metra instead of Amtrak.[6]

  1. ^ a b c "Commuter Rail System Station Boarding/Alighting Count: Summary Results Fall 2018" (PDF). Metra. April 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "State of the System - Milwaukee District West" (PDF). Metra. November 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  3. ^ https://schedules.metrarail.com/pdf/alternative/MD-W.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. June 1941.
  5. ^ "Suburban Service West". Chicago Railfan. The Milwaukee Road. April 28, 1957. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  6. ^ Ingalls, William (July 6, 2023). "Metra chosen as passenger rail service provider from Rockford/Belvidere to Chicago". wrex.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.