BNSF Railway (Metra)
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The BNSF Railway Line is a Metra commuter rail line operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. In 2010, the BNSF Railway Line continued to have the highest weekday ridership (average 64,600) of the 11 Metra lines.[2] While Metra does not refer to its lines by particular colors, the BNSF line's color on Metra timetables is "Cascade Green," a nod to the paint of the Burlington Northern Railroad.[3] In July 2017, the public timetable (published October 9, 2016)[4] showed 47 trains leaving Chicago each weekday, of which 31 run to Aurora. Of the 16 trains that do not reach Aurora, 5 terminate at Route 59, 1 at Naperville, 1 at Downers Grove-Main St., 5 at Fairview Avenue, 3 at Westmont, and 1 at Brookfield. The public timetable (published October 9, 2016)[4] also showed 47 trains arriving in Chicago each weekday, of which 29 start in Aurora. Of the 18 trains that do not start in Aurora, 6 start at Lisle, 1 at Downers Grove-Main St., 7 at Fairview Avenue, 1 at Highlands, and 3 at Brookfield.
The east end is Union Station in downtown Chicago. The line traverses Chicago and its western and far western suburbs to Aurora. BNSF Railway operates it under a "purchase of service agreement" with Metra, inherited from Burlington Northern. While Metra owns all rolling stock, the management and crews are BNSF employees. BNSF controls the right-of-way on the line and handles dispatching from corporate headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. The June 2007 timetable shows a 70 mph maximum allowed speed for passenger trains.
Metra has studied the feasibility of extending the line beyond Aurora, possibly as far as Plano, Illinois.[5]
History
The railroad between Chicago and Aurora was constructed in 1864 by the Chicago and Aurora Railroad, which later merged into the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The CB&Q operated the commuter service until the railroad merged into the Burlington Northern in 1970. Burlington Northern merged with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1995 to form the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. It later changed its name to the abbreviation, BNSF.
With three tracks, fast and frequent Amtrak and Metra passenger trains, and BNSF freight trains, the line nicknamed the "race track" is a favorite of rail fans.[6]
The Clyde station at South Austin Boulevard and West 29th Street in Cicero was closed on April 1, 2007 due to low ridership and its dilapidation. In the months before its closure, it was used by about 50 passengers a day.[7]
Rolling stock
The BNSF Railway's locomotive fleet consists mainly of the EMD F40PHM-2, with some EMD F40PH locomotives. Until 2012, MPI MP36PH-3S locomotives also operated on the line, however, they were all reassigned to the Milwaukee lines, the North Central Service and the Rock Island District due to operating difficulties. Rail cars include coaches from Budd, Morrison-Knudsen/Amerail, and Nippon Sharyo.
Stations
| Zone | Station | Municipality | County | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Union Station | Chicago | Cook | Connections:
|
| Halsted Street | Rush hour service only Connections: | |||
| Western Avenue | Connections:
| |||
| B | Cicero | Cicero | Connections:
| |
| Morton Park | Closed between 1938 and 1957 | |||
| Clyde | Closed April 1, 2007 | |||
| LaVergne | Berwyn | Rush hour service only Connections: | ||
| Berwyn | Connections:
| |||
| Harlem Avenue | Connections:
| |||
| C | Riverside | Riverside | ||
| Hollywood (Zoo Stop) | Brookfield | Points of interest: Brookfield Zoo | ||
| Brookfield | Connections:
| |||
| Congress Park | Rush hour service only Connections: | |||
| La Grange | La Grange | Connections:
| ||
| Stone Avenue | ||||
| D | Western Springs | Western Springs | Connections:
| |
| Highlands | Hinsdale | DuPage | Rush hour service only | |
| Hinsdale | Points of interest: Downtown Hinsdale Historic District | |||
| West Hinsdale | Rush hour service only | |||
| Clarendon Hills | Clarendon Hills | Connections:
| ||
| Westmont | Westmont | Connections:
| ||
| E | Fairview Avenue | Downers Grove | ||
| Downers Grove Main Street | Connections:
| |||
| Belmont | Connections:
| |||
| Lisle | Lisle | Connections:
| ||
| F | Naperville | Naperville | Connections:
| |
| G | Route 59 | Aurora | Connections:
| |
| N/A | Eola | Eola | Closed to passengers prior to 1971, closed entirely later | |
| H | Aurora Transportation Center | Aurora | Kane | Connections:
|
References
- ↑ "Operations and Ridership Data". Retrieved 2017-10-07.
- ↑ "Ridership Reports -System Facts". Metra. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
- ↑ "Did you know?" (PDF). On the Bi-Level: 3. June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2010.
- 1 2 "BNSF Railway Full Timetable" (PDF). Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
- ↑ "A step closer on local Metra station". Oswego Ledger-Sentinel. March 12, 2009. Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
- ↑ Mann, Leslie (23 March 2011). "When that lonesome whistle blows, rail fans know where to line up". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ↑ Ruzich, Joseph (21 February 2007). "Cicero's Metra stop to receive makeover". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
External links
Route map:
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Metra BNSF Railway Line. |
- Metra BNSF Railway service schedule