Union Pacific North Line#Route

{{Short description|Commuter rail line in Wisconsin and Illinois}}

{{Infobox rail line

| name = {{ric|Metra|upn}} Union Pacific North Line

| image = Highland Park Metra train 070915.jpg

| image_width = 300px

| caption = A southbound train departs {{stl|Metra|Highland Park}} station

| type = Commuter rail

| system = Metra

| status = Operational

| locale = Chicago metropolitan area

| start = Ogilvie Transportation Center

| end = {{stl|Metra|Waukegan}} (Most trips)
{{stl|Metra|Kenosha}}

| stations = 28

| color = {{rcr|Metra|upn}}

| daily_ridership = 41,000 (Avg. Weekday 2009){{cite web|url=http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/about_metra/planning_records_reports/ridership_reports.html|title=Ridership Reports – System Facts|publisher=Metra|access-date=April 6, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102073002/http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/about_metra/planning_records_reports/ridership_reports.html|archive-date=January 2, 2010|df=mdy-all}}

| ridership2 = 4,131,189 (2023)

| open =

| close =

| owner = Union Pacific Railroad

| operator = Metra

| website = {{Official URL}}

| character =

| stock =

| linelength = {{convert|51.6|mi|km}}[http://hometown.aol.com/chirailfan/mmupn.html Metra Railfan Tips – Union Pacific/North Line] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050912020218/http://hometown.aol.com/chirailfan/mmupn.html |date=September 12, 2005 }}

| tracklength =

| tracks =

| gauge = {{RailGauge|ussg}}

| electrification =

| speed =

| elevation =

| map = {{switcher

|{{maplink-road|from=Union Pacific North Line.map}} Union Pacific North Line highlighted in dark green

|Show interactive map

|{{Union Pacific North Line}}

|Show route diagram map

}}

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.{{cite journal | title=Did you know? | journal=On the Bi-Level | date=June 2009 | url=http://metrarail.com/content/dam/metra/documents/Bi_Level/OTBLJune09.pdf | pages=3 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102070558/http://metrarail.com/content/dam/metra/documents/Bi_Level/OTBLJune09.pdf | archive-date=January 2, 2010 | df=mdy-all }}

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 May 20, 2024 shows 71 trains (35 inbound and 36 outbound) on weekdays. Of these, ten inbound trains originate from {{stl|Metra|Kenosha}}, 16 from {{stl|Metra|Waukegan}}, seven from {{stl|Metra|Highland Park}}, and two from {{stl|Metra|Winnetka}}. Three outbound trains terminate at Winnetka, six at Highland Park, 17 at Waukegan, nine at Kenosha, and one at {{stl|Metra|Ravinia Park}}.

During the summer concert season, outbound train no. 393 terminates at {{stl|Metra|Ravinia Park}} on weekdays.

Otherwise train no. 393 terminates at {{stl|Metra|Winnetka}}.

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 {{stl|Metra|Evanston Central Street}}, then runs express to {{stl|Metra|Ravinia Park}} during events, with a train returning to Chicago after the concert.

History

The route followed by the UP North Line was constructed in 1854 by the Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad.{{cite web |url=http://www.gurnee.il.us/history/index.html |title=Gurnee History |access-date=September 16, 2007 |work=Village of Gurnee }} Passenger service between Chicago and Waukegan began on January 4, 1855. Initially, a single train operated each day, departing from a terminal in Chicago at Water St. and Kinzie St. at 8:30 am and returning from Waukegan at 3:30 pm.{{cite web |last=Mason |first=Blanche |year=1919 |url=http://www.highlandpark.org/hpg_about_sketch.htm |title=Historical Sketch of Highland Park |access-date=December 3, 2007 |publisher=Highland Park Public Library }}{{cite book |title=The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin |chapter=Wisconsin Railroads |pages=173–185 |last=Giles |first=H. H. |year=1879 |publisher=Western Historical Company |location=Chicago }} The president of the railroad, former Chicago mayor Walter S. Gurnee, speculated on land in Lake County spurring the development of railway suburbs along the line.{{cite encyclopedia |first=Michael H |last= Ebner |url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/706.html |title=Lake County, IL |access-date=September 21, 2007 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Chicago }} The railroad merged with the Green Bay, Milwaukee & Chicago Railroad in 1863, and was acquired by the Chicago and North Western Railway in 1866.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnwhs.org/ch_cnw.htm |title=Chicago & North Western – A Capsule History |access-date=September 16, 2007 |publisher=Chicago & North Western Historical Society |archive-date=May 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522052119/http://www.cnwhs.org/ch_cnw.htm |url-status=dead }} Commuter rail services along the line started operating into the new Chicago and North Western Terminal (now Ogilvie Transportation Center) in 1911. In 1966, the Chicago and North Western closed the Lake Front Depot and began operating into the new Milwaukee Union Station. This service would ultimately prove to be relatively short lived as the Chicago and North Western ended operations between Chicago and Milwaukee in 1971 and the line was truncated to Kenosha.

The North line became part of Metra when the agency was formed in 1984. The trains continued to be operated by the Chicago and North Western Railway under contract until that railroad was bought by Union Pacific in 1995. UP now operates passenger services along the line for Metra. Under a longstanding agreement that UP inherited from the C&NW, Metra owns the vehicles and the stations along the line, but Union Pacific employs the crew who actually operate the trains, and they also control the right-of-way along the route.

Beginning in 2023, the Union Pacific Railroad announced that commuter operations on all three of the Union Pacific lines would be transferred to Metra; the Union Pacific would continue to own and maintain the right-of-way.{{cite news |title=Union Pacific announces start of transition of Chicago commuter rail operations to Metra |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/union-pacific-announces-start-transition-of-chicago-commuter-rail-operations-to-metra/ |access-date=19 May 2025 |work=Trains |date=3 April 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.up.com/media/releases/metra-commuter-rail-nr-230330.htm?agfc=NewsRelease&agfm=LinkedIn&agfs=social |title=Union Pacific Transferring Commuter Rail Services to Metra |publisher=Union Pacific Railroad |access-date=April 1, 2023}} The transfer was initially expected to occur by Q1 2024;{{cite news |last1=Studenkov |first1=Igor |title=Metra and Union Pacific make progress on operations transfer; fate of stations to be decided |url=https://evanstonroundtable.com/2024/10/24/metra-and-union-pacific-make-progress-on-operations-transfer-fate-of-stations-to-be-decided/ |access-date=19 May 2025 |work=Evanston RoundTable |date=25 October 2024}} however, it was delayed by a year to May 16, 2025.{{cite news |title=Metra assumes operation of trains on UP commuter lines |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/metra-assumes-operation-of-trains-on-up-commuter-lines/ |access-date=19 May 2025 |work=Trains |date=19 May 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Hirsh |first1=Jeff |title=Metra completes takeover of UP commuter line operations |url=https://evanstonnow.com/metra-completes-takeover-of-up-commuter-line-operations/ |access-date=19 May 2025 |work=Evanston Now |date=19 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=UP lines now being operated directly by Metra |url=https://metra.com/up-lines-now-being-operated-directly-by-metra |website=Metra |access-date=19 May 2025}}

All stations on the line except for Ravinia Park are open daily. Ravinia Park is only open during the Ravinia Festival in the summer months.

Ridership

Between 2014 and 2019, annual ridership declined by 8.3% from 9,328,441 passengers to 8,552,117 passengers.{{cite web |title=RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANNUAL REPORT 2018 |url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/2018_annual_ridership_report.pdf |publisher=Metra |access-date=12 May 2019 | page=4}}{{cite web |title=RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANNUAL REPORT 2019 |url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/annual_report_2019_standalone.pdf |publisher=Metra |access-date=27 February 2021}} Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ridership dropped to 2,300,363 passengers in 2020.{{Cite web|title=RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANNUAL REPORT 2020|url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/2020_annual_ridership_report_v5.pdf|access-date=2021-04-04|archive-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423173302/https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/2020_annual_ridership_report_v5.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |last=RTAMS |title=Metra Ridership by Line |url=https://rtams.org/dataset/metra-ridership}} As of October 2024, the line has Metra's highest ridership recovery rate at 83% of pre-pandemic weekday ridership. Peak-direction ridership is at 70% of pre-pandemic numbers, while all other metrics (reverse-peak, midday, evening, Saturday, and Sunday ridership) is at or above pre-pandemic ridership.{{Cite web |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Ridership Reports, October 2024 |url=https://metra.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/October%202024%20Ridership%20Trends%20Memo.pdf |access-date=November 26, 2024 |website=Metra.com}}

{{#invoke:Chart | bar chart

| group 1 = 9328443:9248834:9212628:9029620:8689776:8552117:2300363:1954284: 3060621:4131189:4782490

| units suffix =

| group names = Annual ridership

| x legends = 2014:2015:2016:2017:2018:2019:2020:2021:2022:2023:2024

| colors = #{{rcr|Metra|Union Pacific/North}}

}}

Route

The service shares the Union Pacific Railroad's Harvard Subdivision with the Union Pacific Northwest Line from Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago to a junction just before {{stl|Metra|Clybourn}} station. From Clybourn, the North Line splits from the Northwest Line and traverses the Kenosha Subdivision north to Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Kenosha Subdivision continues to St. Francis, Wisconsin and a junction with the Union Pacific's Milwaukee Subdivision.{{cite web | title=Illinois State Rail Plan | date=2012 | url=https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/Plans/Illinois%20State%20Rail%20Plan%202012.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913071656/http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/Plans/Illinois%20State%20Rail%20Plan%202012.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 13, 2015 | publisher=Illinois Department of Transportation | pages=4–28 }} No passenger trains operate north of Kenosha.

The Green Bay Trail parallels the Union Pacific North Line, using the former right of way of the North Shore Line for over {{convert|51.9|mi|km}} from the Chicago Loop to Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Stations

class="wikitable"

!State

!County

!Zone

!Location

!Station

!Connections and notes

rowspan=9|WI

|rowspan=6|Milwaukee

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|rowspan=7|

| rowspan="3" |Milwaukee

|Lake Front Depot

|Closed 1966

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|Union Station

|Closed April 30, 1971

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|National Avenue

|Closed between 1943 and 1956

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|Cudahy

|Closed 1957

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|South Milwaukee

|Closed between 1956 and 1961

rowspan=2|Racine

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|Racine

|Closed April 30, 1971

Kenosha

|rowspan=4|4

|Kenosha

|{{stl|Metra|Kenosha}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} Kenosha Area Transit: 1, 4
{{rint|tram|link=Kenosha Streetcar}} Kenosha Streetcar

rowspan="42" |IL

| rowspan=17|Lake

|Winthrop Harbor

|{{stl|Metra|Winthrop Harbor}}

rowspan="2" |Zion

|bgcolor=dfdfdf|Camp Logan

|bgcolor=dfdfdf|Closed after October 28, 1956, served Camp Logan

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 571

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|rowspan=2|

|Beach Park

|Dunes Park

|Closed after October 28, 1956

rowspan="2" |Waukegan

|bgcolor=dfdfdf|Asbestos

|bgcolor=dfdfdf|Closed after October 28, 1956

rowspan=9|4

|{{stl|Metra|Waukegan}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 568, 571, 572

rowspan="3" |North Chicago

|bgcolor=dfdfdf|Abbott's Platform

|bgcolor=dfdfdf|Closed 1986{{cite report |title=Ridership Trends - Annual Report 2017 |url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/ridership_report_-_annual_report_2017_standalone.pdf |publisher=Metra Division of Strategic Capital Planning |access-date=December 2, 2018 |page=32 |date=February 2018}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 563, 564

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 563

Lake Bluff

|{{stl|Metra|Lake Bluff}}

Lake Forest

|{{stl|Metra|Lake Forest|upn}}

rowspan="2" |Highwood

|{{stl|Metra|Fort Sheridan}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 472

rowspan="4" |Highland Park

|{{stl|Metra|Highland Park}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 213, 471, 472

rowspan=8|3

|{{stl|Metra|Ravinia}}

|Seasonal

rowspan=25|Cook

|Glencoe

|{{stl|Metra|Glencoe}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 213

rowspan="3" |Winnetka

|{{stl|Metra|Hubbard Woods}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 213

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 213, 423

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 213

Kenilworth

|{{stl|Metra|Kenilworth}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 213

rowspan=12|2

|Wilmette

|{{stl|Metra|Wilmette}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 213, 421, 422

rowspan="5" |Evanston

|{{stl|Metra|Evanston Central Street}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 201, 206
{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 213

|{{rint|chicago|l}} Chicago "L": {{rcb|CTA|Purple|inline=route}} (at {{cta|Davis}})
{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 93, 201, 206
{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 208, 213, 250
{{rint|bus|brt}} Pace Pulse: 101 Dempster Line

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|{{stn|Dempster Street

C&NW}}

|Closed December 1, 1958

|{{rint|chicago|l}} Chicago "L": {{rcb|CTA|Purple|inline=route}} (at {{cta|Main}})
{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 206
{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 213

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|{{stn|Calvary

C&NW}}

|Closed December 1, 1958

rowspan="14" |Chicago

|{{stl|Metra|Rogers Park}}

|{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 22, 96

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|{{stl|Chicago and North Western Railway|Kenmore}}

|Closed December 1, 1958,{{cite web |title=Chicago & North Western Railroad: History of Milwaukee line |url=http://www.edgewaterhistory.org/ehs/local/chicago-north-western-railroad-history-milwaukee-line |website=Edgewater Historical Society |access-date=August 10, 2018}} replaced with Peterson/Ridge

|{{rint|Bus|1}} CTA Bus: 84

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|{{stl|Chicago and North Western Railway|Rose Hill}}

|Closed December 1, 1958

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|{{stl|Chicago and North Western Railway|Summerdale}}

|Closed December 1, 1958

|{{rint|chicago|l}} Chicago "L": {{rcb|CTA|Brown|inline=route}} (at {{cta|Damen|Brown}})
{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 9, 81

bgcolor=dfdfdf

|rowspan=4|

|{{stn|Ravenswood–Wilson|

}

|Closed after July 3, 1963, replaced with Ravenswood

|-bgcolor=dfdfdf

|{{stn|Northcenter||}}

|Closed December 1, 1958

|-bgcolor=dfdfdf

|{{stn|Belmont Avenue||Chicago and North Western Railway}}

|Closed December 1, 1958

|-bgcolor=dfdfdf

|{{stn|Deering||}}

|Closed after June 13, 1943

|{{stl|Metra|Clybourn}}

|{{rint|chicago|metra}} Metra: {{rcb|Metra|upnw|inline=square}}
{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 9, X9, 73

|--bgcolor=dfdfdf

|rowspan=2|

|{{stl|Chicago and North Western Railway|Kinzie|}}

|Closed {{circa|1879}}

|--bgcolor=dfdfdf

|Wells Street Station

|Closed 1911, replaced by the Chicago and Northwestern Terminal (Ogilvie Transportation Center)

|Ogilvie
Transportation Center

|{{rint|chicago|metra}} Metra: {{rcb|Metra|upnw|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|upw|inline=square}}
{{rint|chicago|l}} Chicago "L": {{rcb|CTA|Green|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Pink|inline=route}} (at {{cta|Clinton|Green and Pink}})
{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: J14, 19, 56, 60, 120, 124, 125, 126, 128, 130, 157, 192

References

External links

[https://metrarail.com/maps-schedules/train-lines/UP-N Metra Union Pacific/North] service schedule

Category:Metra lines

Category:Chicago and North Western Railway

Union Pacific North Line#Route

History

Ridership

Route

Stations

See also

References

External links