Mars station (Illinois)

Mars
The station building, with the Mars, Incorporated Factory in the Background
General information
Location6801 West Shakespeare Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60707
Coordinates41°55′09″N 87°47′40″W / 41.9191°N 87.7945°W / 41.9191; -87.7945
Platforms2 Side platforms
Tracks3
Construction
ParkingYes
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zone2
History
Opened1956
Rebuilt2001
Passengers
2018144 (average weekday)[1]Increase 1.4%
Rank175 out of 236[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station
Mont Clare Milwaukee District West Galewood
     North Central Service does not stop here
Former services
Preceding station Milwaukee Road Following station
Mont Clare
towards Elgin
Suburban Service Galewood
towards Chicago
Location
Map

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.

  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 26 May 2019.
  2. ^ Metra Railfan Tips - Milwaukee District/West
  3. ^ "Metra History: Curious Station Names | Metra". metra.com. Retrieved 2022-05-07.