Mars station (Illinois)

Mars
The station building, with the Mars, Incorporated Factory in the Background
General information
Location	6801 West Shakespeare Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60707
Coordinates	41°55′09″N 87°47′40″W / 41.9191°N 87.7945°W / 41.9191; -87.7945
Platforms	2 Side platforms
Tracks	3
Construction
Parking	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	2
History
Opened	1956
Rebuilt	2001
Passengers
2018	144 (average weekday)[1]  1.4%
Rank	175 out of 236[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station Mont Clare toward Big Timber Road Milwaukee District West Galewood toward Union Station      North Central Service does not stop here
Former services Preceding station Milwaukee Road Following station Mont Clare towards Elgin Suburban Service West Line Galewood towards Chicago
Track layout Legend MD-W west to Big Timber Road Oak Park Ave. MD-W east to Union Station
Location

Mars is a station on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line in Chicago, Illinois. The station is 9.1 miles (14.6 km) away from Chicago Union Station, the eastern terminus of the line.^[2] In Metra's zone-based fare system, Mars is in zone 2. As of 2018, Mars is the 175th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 144 weekday boardings.^[1]

As of February 15, 2024, Mars is served as a flag stop by 15 trains (nine inbound, six outbound) on weekdays only.

Mars station consists of three tracks and two side platforms. The middle track has no platform, so stopping trains must use the outer tracks. Metra's North Central Service trains use the tracks but do not stop.

The station is named for the Mars, Incorporated candy factory located on Oak Park Avenue in the Galewood neighborhood, right behind the station.^[3] The Chicago Park District's Rutherford Sayre Park immediately sits west of the station. A Shriners children's hospital sits to the north of the station.