METRA TIPS

NORTH CENTRAL SERVICE

Metra trains started operating on this line on August 19, 1996, making it the Chicago area's first new commuter rail line in 70 years. Metra's Milwaukee District West Line is followed to Tower B-12 in Franklin Park. River Grove is the last station on the Milwaukee District before Tower B-12, and is a stop for the new Metra trains. At Tower B-12, the new trains turn north onto the Canadian National Railroad. The area between Franklin Park and Buffalo Grove is mostly industrial or warehouses. The line also passes Canadian National's yard at Schiller Park. One Metra station is near an O'Hare Airport remote parking lot, where shuttle buses connect with the O'Hare people mover system. In Des Plaines is Deval interlocking, where the line crosses two Union Pacific (ex C&NW) lines. Trains do not stop in Des Plaines, which has always been served by the UP Northwest Line trains. All of the new suburban stations were funded by the suburbs themselves, including Prospect Heights, the first stop after O'Hare. It is this support from each suburb which helped make this new Metra line possible, in these days when the development of transit projects is largely contingent on the dwindling availability of federal and state funds. All suburban stations have sufficient parking, an important requirement for new commuter lines developed in this age of the automobile. The route becomes more rustic north of Buffalo Grove, although there are some pockets where large suburban homes have been constructed. A few lakes are visible along the northern portion of the route. At Leithton is a crossing with the former Elgin Joliet & Eastern, acquired by CN in 2009, with plans to increase traffic switching between the former railroads. And at Prairie Crossing is the crossing with the Milwaukee District North Line. The new Metra trains now stop at Prairie Crossing, and in 2004, Milwaukee District trains began stopping there. The Wisconsin Central was originally single track CTC, but extensive double tracking enabled Metra to increase service effective January 30, 2006.

Speed Limit: 60 mph