Union Pacific North Line

Union Pacific North Line
A southbound train departs Highland Park station
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerUnion Pacific Railroad
LocaleChicago metropolitan area
Termini
Stations28
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemMetra
Operator(s)Union Pacific Railroad
Metra
Daily ridership41,000 (Avg. Weekday 2009)[1]
Ridership4,131,189 (2023)
Technical
Line length51.6 miles (83.0 km)[2]
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Route map
Map Union Pacific North Line highlighted in dark green
text
text
Amtrak
84.2 mi
135.5 km
Milwaukee
(1966-1971)
National Avenue
Amtrak
78.2 mi
125.9 km
74.7 mi
120.2 km
61.8 mi
99.5 km
Pike River
51.5 mi
82.9 km
Kenosha
KD Line
to Rockford
44.5 mi
71.6 km
Winthrop Harbor
43.1 mi
69.4 km
Camp Logan
42.1 mi
67.8 km
Zion
39.9 mi
64.2 km
Dunes Park
37.6 mi
60.5 km
Asbestos
35.9 mi
57.8 km
Waukegan
Waukegan Coach Yard
34.0 mi
54.7 km
33.7 mi
54.2 km
North Chicago
32.0 mi
51.5 km
Great Lakes
30.2 mi
48.6 km
Lake Bluff
28.3 mi
45.5 km
Lake Forest
25.7 mi
41.4 km
Fort Sheridan
24.5 mi
39.4 km
Highwood
23.0 mi
37 km
Highland Park
21.5 mi
34.6 km
Ravinia
20.9 mi
33.6 km
Ravinia Park
(Seasonal) Handicapped/disabled access
20.5 mi
33 km
Braeside
19.2 mi
30.9 km
Glencoe
17.7 mi
28.5 km
Hubbard Woods
16.6 mi
26.7 km
Winnetka
15.8 mi
25.4 km
Indian Hill
15.2 mi
24.5 km
Kenilworth
14.4 mi
23.2 km
Wilmette
13.3 mi
21.4 km
Evanston Central Street
12.7 mi
20.4 km
Weber Subdivision
to UP-NW
12.0 mi
19.3 km
Evanston Davis Street Pace Pulse
11.5 mi
18.5 km
11.0 mi
17.7 km
Evanston Main Street
10.3 mi
16.6 km
Purple to Howard or the Loop
9.4 mi
15.1 km
Rogers Park
8.4 mi
13.5 km
8.3 mi
13.4 km
Peterson/Ridge
7.8 mi
12.6 km
7.1 mi
11.4 km
Summerdale
6.5 mi
10.5 km
Ravenswood
6.2 mi
10 km
5.5 mi
8.9 km
Northcenter
Brown to the Loop
4.6 mi
7.4 km
Belmont Avenue
3.5 mi
5.6 km
Deering
Chicago River (north branch)
enlarge… UP-NW
2.9 mi
4.7 km
Clybourn
enlarge… UP-W to Elburn
Chicago River (north branch)
enlarge…MD-N enlarge…MD-W enlarge…NCS Amtrak
0 mi
Ogilvie
Key
Union Pacific North Line
Former route alignment
Other Metra lines
Metra Milwaukee District lines
Other freight lines
CTA lines
Mileage source[3]

Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible except
Clybourn, Indian Hill, and Hubbard Woods.

The Union Pacific North Line (UP-N) is a Metra line in the Chicago metropolitan area. It runs between Ogilvie Transportation Center and Kenosha, Wisconsin; however, most trains terminate in Waukegan, Illinois. Although Metra owns the rolling stock, the trains are operated and dispatched by the Union Pacific Railroad. This line was previously operated by the Chicago & North Western Railway before its merger with the Union Pacific Railroad, and was called the Chicago and North Western Milwaukee Division and then the Chicago & North Western/North Line before the C&NW was absorbed by Union Pacific in April 1995. It is the only Metra line that travels outside Illinois.

Metra does not refer to its lines by particular colors, but the timetable accents for the Union Pacific North line are dark "Flambeau Green," a nod to the C&NW's Flambeau 400 passenger train.[4]

Until 2022, a private club car ran weekdays exclusively on the Union Pacific North Line. It was the last remaining private car in service on a commuter railroad in the United States.

The current timetable as of December 5, 2022 shows 70 trains (35 in each direction) on weekdays. Of these, six inbound trains originate from Kenosha, 17 from Waukegan, six from Highland Park, and six from Winnetka. Seven outbound trains terminate at Winnetka, five at Highland Park, 17 at Waukegan, and six at Kenosha.

13 trains operate in each direction on Saturdays. Of these, five inbound trains originate from Kenosha and eight from Waukegan. Six outbound trains terminate at Waukegan and seven at Kenosha.

Nine trains operate in each direction on Sundays. Of these, three inbound trains originate from Kenosha and six from Waukegan. Six outbound trains terminate at Waukegan and three at Kenosha.

During the summer concert season, on weekends, an extra outbound train, named RAV1, makes all stops to Evanston Central Street, then runs express to Ravinia Park during events, with a train returning to Chicago after the concert.

  1. ^ "Ridership Reports – System Facts". Metra. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  2. ^ Metra Railfan Tips – Union Pacific/North Line Archived September 12, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ State of the System - Union Pacific North Line
  4. ^ "Did you know?" (PDF). On the Bi-Level: 3. June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2010.