La Fox station

La Fox
La Fox station in October 2016.
General information
Location40 West 999 Keslinger Road
La Fox, Illinois
Coordinates41°53′12″N 88°24′42″W / 41.8866°N 88.4118°W / 41.8866; -88.4118
Owned byMetra
Platforms1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks3
Construction
Parking300 (2007 count)
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zone4
History
OpenedJanuary 23, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-01-23)
Passengers
2018295 (average weekday)[1]Increase 6.9%
Rank146 out of 236[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station
Elburn
Terminus
Union Pacific West Geneva
toward Ogilvie
Former services
Preceding station Chicago and North Western Railway Following station
Elburn
toward Omaha
Main Line Geneva
toward Chicago
Location
Map

La Fox is the penultimate station on Metra's Union Pacific West Line, located in La Fox, Illinois, an unincorporated area in Kane County, Illinois. The station is 41.1 miles (66.1 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center, the eastern terminus of the West Line.[2] In Metra's zone-based fare system, La Fox is in zone 4. As of 2018, La Fox is the 146th busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 295 weekday boardings.[1] Unless otherwise announced, inbound trains use the north (island) platform and outbound trains use the south (side) platform. The northernmost track, despite being adjacent to the island platform, is used exclusively by freight trains.

As of February 16, 2024, La Fox is served by 49 trains (25 inbound, 24 outbound) on weekdays, by all 20 trains (10 in each direction) on Saturdays, and by all 18 trains (nine in each direction) on Sundays and holidays. On weekdays, two inbound trains originate here, and three outbound trains terminate here.

La Fox was originally served by the Chicago and North Western Railway on its main line from Chicago to Omaha, Nebraska. A station was located at the crossing of La Fox Road and the tracks, and closed in 1954.[3][4]

La Fox station is located at ground level and consists of two platforms, one side, and one island. Three tracks run through the station, and all tracks are served by a platform. There is an unstaffed shelter next to the south track. La Fox has no bus connections. It is next door to the Potter and Barker Grain Elevator.

Inbound Metra trains to Chicago either use the south track or the middle track, depending on the time of day. Outbound Metra trains to Elburn use the south track. During rush hours, out-of-service Metra trains bypass the station on their way to the Elburn rail yard.

La Fox is one of three Metra stations named after an unincorporated area along with Ingleside and Prairie View. The station serves La Fox, Campton Hills, Wasco, Kaneville, and parts of Geneva, Illinois.

  1. ^ a b c "Commuter Rail System Station Boarding/Alighting Count: Summary Results Fall 2018" (PDF). metrarail.com. April 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2019.
  2. ^ Metra Railfan Tips - Union Pacific/West Line
  3. ^ J. Morgan (2011). "History of La Fox". La Fox Civic Association. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  4. ^ Chicago and Northwestern, La Fox Station, Northern Illinois University Digital Library, August 3, 1947, retrieved March 29, 2020