63rd Street station (Metra)

63rd Street station is a commuter rail station within the city of Chicago that serves the Metra Electric Line north to Millennium Station and south to University Park, Blue Island, and the Chicago neighborhood of South Chicago and the South Shore Line to Gary and South Bend, Indiana. Most South Shore Line trains do not stop at this station, except for one inbound train during the AM rush and three outbound trains during the PM rush.

63rd Street
The 63rd Street station in November 2016.
Location	63rd Street & Dorchester Street Woodlawn, Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates	41.779785°N 87.590539°W / 41.779785; -87.590539
Owned by	Metra
Line(s)	University Park Sub District
Platforms	2 island platforms
Tracks	4
Connections	CTA Bus
Other information
Fare zone	B (Metra) 2 (South Shore Line)
History
Opened	1903
Electrified	1500v DC
Previous names	Woodlawn Park, 63rd Street (Woodlawn)
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station 59th Street/University of Chicago toward Millennium Station Metra Electric District Main Line & Blue Island Branch 75th Street (Grand Crossing) toward University Park or Blue Island Metra Electric District South Chicago Branch Stony Island toward South Chicago Preceding station NICTD Following station 55th–56th–57th Street toward Millennium Station South Shore Line Hegewisch toward South Bend Airport
Former services Preceding station NICTD Following station 55th–56th–57th Street toward Millennium Station South Shore Line Kensington/115th Street toward South Bend Airport Preceding station Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad Following station 53rd Street toward Randolph Street South Shore Line Kensington/115th Street toward South Bend Preceding station Illinois Central Railroad Following station Kensington toward New Orleans Main Line 53rd Street toward Chicago 67th Street toward Richton, 91st Street or Blue Island Electric Suburban 59th Street toward Randolph Street Preceding station New York Central Railroad Following station Kensington toward Detroit Michigan Central Railroad Main Line Chicago Terminus Kensington toward Cincinnati Chicago – Cincinnati (Big Four)

The station was originally built by the Illinois Central Railroad (ICRR) in 1903, and served both ICRR commuter trains and long-distance passenger trains until the railroad relinquished its passenger train service to Amtrak in 1971. A large combination station and office building for the Illinois Central was built in 1917, and demolished in the 1980s. The station had another island platform between the two non-electrified tracks on the eastern side to serve the long distance trains, such as the Panama Limited and James Whitcomb Riley. It is now removed, but evidence still remains. This also serves as a stop for Mount Carmel High School students, which is directly across from the station. The station was originally used as a local and express station until the schedules were shifted in 1975 to make 55th–56th–57th Street station the express station.[1]

This is the last stop on the main line for trains of the South Chicago branch, which splits off south of the station. Prior to 1982, the Jackson Park branch of the South Side 'L' crossed the Metra Electric tracks on a bridge just north of this station. Trains stopped at nearby Dorchester station.

Bus connections

CTA

• 63 63rd (Owl Service)

External links

• Media related to 63rd Street train station (Illinois) at Wikimedia Commons

• Metra – Stations – 63rd Street
• South Shore Line - Stations

References

1. Joseph P. Schwieterman (2014). Terminal Town. Lake Forest College. p. 148–149. ISBN 978-0-9823156-9-9.