Line Early Late
1940's 1950's 1971 2009
Arrive Depart Arrive Depart Arrive Depart Arrive Depart
UP-N 33 33 31 28 34 32 35 35
UP-NW 37 33 38 36 34 33 32 33
UP-W 23 23 25 27 28 31 29 30
MILW-N 13 13 13 13 18 17 30 30
MILW-W 14 14 14 14 18 18 29 29
RI-CITY 35 36 25 24 18 19 11 10
RI-SUBN 15 14 12 12 13 13 23 24
BNSF 31 33 33 33 31 31 47 47
SW 1 1 1 1 1 1 15 15
HC 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3
EL-CITY 151 155 102 103 61 61 33 35
EL-SUBN 42 41 42 40 39 39 40 36
NC 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 11
All three Union Pacific (former Chicago & North Western) lines remained relatively stable over the years. Although there was a shift in emphasis towards outer suburban areas, with more closer in traffic assumed by paralleling CTA rapid transit lines.Growth is notable on the Milwaukee District lines, the BNSF (former Burlington) line, and the three smaller Metra operations.
Declines are notable for the services within the city of Chicago, with the Rock Island and the Electric (former Illinois Central) lines. The city and suburban trains on those lines are counted separately. Trains terminating in Blue Island on both lines are counted as "city" trains. While "suburban" trains include trains on the Rock Island line beyond Blue Island to Joliet, and on the Electric main line beyond Kensington to University Park.
On the Rock Island and the Electric lines, many of the "suburban" trains also served the "city" markets, so the distinction is not always clear. On the Electric line during slack periods, trains serving South Chicago and Blue Island would make connections with the main line trains. Those trains and are not counted here, not operating directly to and from downtown. And on the Rock Island line, except during rush hours, all trains now operate between Chicago and Joliet, using the branch through Beverly Hills. While in the past, nearly all trains via Beverly Hills terminated in Blue Island, with trains serving Joliet operating via the more direct main line.