Franklin Park station
 Franklin Park | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Franklin Park station in September 2016. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | 3148 Rose Street Franklin Park, Illinois | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°56′12″N 87°51′59″W / 41.9366°N 87.8664°W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Village of Franklin Park | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform, 1 island platform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections |  Pace Buses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fare zone | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1950 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 392 (average weekday)[1]  14.4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 123 out of 236[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Franklin Park is one of two stations on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line in Franklin Park, Illinois. The station is 13.2 miles (21.2 km) away from Chicago Union Station, the eastern terminus of the line.[2] In Metra's zone-based fare system, Franklin Park is in zone 2. As of 2018, Franklin Park is the 123rd busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 392 weekday boardings.[1]
As of February 15, 2024, Franklin Park is served by 48 trains (23 inbound, 25 outbound) on weekdays, by all 24 trains (12 in each direction) on Saturdays, and by all 18 trains (nine in each direction) on Sundays and holidays. On weekdays, three inbound trains originate here, and three outbound trains terminate here.
Franklin Park is a centerpiece of the Milwaukee District West Line. Located adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Railway's Bensenville Yard, the station sees a large volume of freight traffic, and many trains on the MD-W line run express to and from this station. With the two north tracks used by Metra and two south tracks used for freight (Canadian Pacific) as well as frequent Metra and freight action, Franklin Park and nearby smaller stations (Belmont Avenue and Mannheim) are a favorite of railfans. The annual Railroad Daze festival is held at this station, and is a festival catered to railfans and celebrates the railroad's role in Franklin Park's history. The historic B-12 interlocking tower for the Milwaukee Railroad is situated one block west of the station in a small park, accompanied by a preserved Milwaukee Road caboose. This tower, constructed in the 1890s, was located at the intersection of the MD-W line and the Canadian National (ex-Soo Line/Wisconsin Central) tracks. It closed permanently in July 1996 and was relocated the following year. In late 2004, the state of Illinois, along with CP, CN, and the Indiana Harbor Belt, took part in and executed a major rail relocation plan. This project included the consolidation of the IHB roadbed with the CN's at Richard Avenue in neighboring River Grove, the closedown and demolition of IHB grade crossings at Schiller Boulevard, Chestnut Avenue, Franklin Avenue, Edgington Street, and Grand Avenue, and the demolition and replacement of the CN grade crossing on Grand Avenue with a new green underpass bridge. Following the project, the old IHB right-of-way north of the railroad's Norpaul Yard became Martens Street. The bridge was formally dedicated by the village of Franklin Park in September 2007. Although the Milwaukee system as a whole ceased to exist in 1986, the tower still dons the Milwaukee Road logo.
Franklin Park Station is the last station outbound along the Milwaukee District West Line to use three tracks. It is also the closest full service Metra station to O'Hare International Airport.
Bus connections
[edit]- "Route 303 – Forest Park/Rosemont". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
- "Route 319 – Grand Avenue". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Commuter Rail System Station Boarding/Alighting Count: Summary Results Fall 2018" (PDF). Metra. April 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2019.
- ^ Metra Railfan Tips - Milwaukee District/West
External links
[edit]- Metra – Stations – Franklin Park station
- Railroad History of Franklin Park
- Station from 25th Avenue from Google Maps Street View
- Station from Calwanger Street from Google Maps Street View
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