Rock Island District

Rock Island District Rock Island District Beverly branch Rock Island District
Metra Rock Island heritage unit at Joliet Gateway Center
Overview
OwnerMetra
Termini
Stations15 (via Main Line)
24 (via Beverly Branch)
26 (total) (1 under construction)
Websitemetra.com/train-lines/ri Edit this at Wikidata
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemMetra
Operator(s)Metra, CSX, IAIS, Chicago Rail Link
Daily ridership32,100 (avg. weekday 2009)[1]
Ridership3,363,873 (2025)[2]
History
OpenedApril 1, 1870 (Beverly Branch)[3]
Technical
Line length40.0 mi (64.4 km)
6.7 mi (10.8 km) Beverly Branch (Gresham Jct.—Blue Island)
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map
Rock Island District highlighted in red
◇ = under construction
Blue
to O'Hare  Up arrow
Left arrow to Forest Park
LaSalle
0
LaSalle Street Station
Red to Howard
IC West to Randolph Street
Amtrak to Carbondale & New Orleans
IC West to Addison (1892-1931)
Amtrak to Union Station
Up arrow
Green to Harlem/​Lake
Orange to the Loop
Left arrow Orange to Midway 
I-55.svg I-55
3.2 mi
5.1 km
 35th Street
Chicago "L"
Stock Yards branch
47th/49th Street shops & yard
Green to Ashland/​63rd
Green to Cottage Grove
Amtrak
to Michigan, Miami,
New York, and Boston
6.7 mi
10.8 km
 Englewood Union Station
Red to 95th/​Dan Ryan│I-90.svgI-94.svg I-90 / I-94
7.2 mi
11.6 km
 Normal Park
7.8 mi
12.6 km
 Hamilton Park
 Left arrow SouthWest Service
SouthWest Service
to Manhattan (planned)
Amtrak to Union Station
8.6 mi
13.8 km
 Auburn Park ◇
Amtrak to New York
9.8 mi
15.8 km
 Gresham
Brainerd
10.6 mi
17.1 km
Rock Island District Beverly branch
 LowerLeft arrow Beverly Branch
Major Taylor Trail
north section
enlarge…
SouthEast Service
proposed
91st Street/​Beverly Hills
11.3 mi
18.2 km
95th Street/​Beverly Hills
11.7 mi
18.8 km
10.9 mi
17.5 km
 95th Street/​Longwood
99th Street/​Beverly Hills
12.3 mi
19.8 km
11.4 mi
18.3 km
 99th Street/Longwood Manor
103rd Street/​Beverly Hills
12.8 mi
20.6 km
12.0 mi
19.3 km
 103rd Street/​Washington Heights
107th Street/​Beverly Hills
13.3 mi
21.4 km
Major Taylor Trail
south section
111th Street/​Morgan Park
13.8 mi
22.2 km
12.9 mi
20.8 km
 Givins
115th Street/​Morgan Park
14.3 mi
23 km
119th Street
14.8 mi
23.8 km
123rd Street
15.2 mi
24.5 km
Prairie Street
15.8 mi
25.4 km
enlarge… Metra Electric Blue Island branch
Metra Electric District
to Millennium Station
Blue Island coach yard
Blue Island Metra Electric Blue Island branch
16.4 mi
26.4 km
15.7 mi
25.3 km
 Blue Island/​Vermont Street Rock Island District Beverly branch Rock Island District
Cal-Sag Channel
CSX Transportation
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
CSX Transportation
to Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
17.2 mi
27.7 km
 Robbins
I-294.svg I-294
18.4 mi
29.6 km
 Midlothian
20.4 mi
32.8 km
 Oak Forest
23.5 mi
37.8 km
 Tinley Park
25.1 mi
40.4 km
 80th Avenue/​Tinley Park
Cook County
Will County
border
I-80.svg I-80
27.0 mi
43.5 km
 Hickory Creek
29.6 mi
47.6 km
 Mokena
 enlarge… SouthWest Service
SouthWest Service
Left arrow to Union Station│to Manhattan Right arrow
34.0 mi
54.7 km
 New Lenox
I-80.svg I-80
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway
Joliet coach yard
enlarge… Heritage Corridor
Heritage Corridor/Amtrak
to Union Station
40.0 mi
64.4 km
 Joliet
Amtrak to St. Louis,
San Antonio, and Los Angeles
40.1 mi
64.5 km
 Joliet Union Station
CSX Transportation
Key
 Rock Island District
 Other Metra lines
 Other freight lines
 CTA lines
Mileage source[4]
Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible except
Gresham, 123rd Street, and Prairie Street.

The Rock Island District (RID or RI) is a Metra commuter rail line from Chicago, Illinois, southwest to Joliet. Metra does not refer to its lines by color, but the timetable accents for the Rock Island District line are "Rocket Red" in honor of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad's Rocket passenger trains.[5]

Its Beverly Branch (also called the Suburban Branch or Suburban Line) branches to the west of the main line at 89th Street to make local stops in the communities of Washington Heights, Beverly, Morgan Park and Blue Island, before merging back onto the main line at Blue Island/Vermont Street station.

History

The Suburban Line was built in 1870 as a steam dummy line, splitting from the main line just north of 99th Street, running west along 99th and turning south to the present line at the S-curve just south of 99th. The crossing of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway midway along 99th was known as Dummy Crossing. In the early 1890s the line was extended north to 89th Street in conjunction with the expansion of the Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad, and the portion on 99th was removed.

The track is owned by Metra, bought from the bankrupt Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad for $35 million in December 1982 (equivalent to $117 million in 2025).[6] The Regional Transportation Authority had signed a contract with the Rock Island in 1976 to fund service, and in 1980 the Chicago and North Western Railway began operating the Rock Island District (the Rock Island also ceased operations that year.) In spring 1981 the C&NW stepped away, and the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra) was formed to take over operations. Through freight trains on the line are operated by CSX and Iowa Interstate Railroad on a trackage rights agreement. In addition, Chicago Rail Link has rights to operate local freight service on the whole district, and it also uses the line between Gresham Wye and Blue Island to connect with the Iowa Interstate and Indiana Harbor Belt Railroads.

In 2005, a train derailed when it attempted to traverse a 10 mph (16 km/h) interlocking at 69 mph (111 km/h). Two people were killed and 83 were injured.[7][8]

35th Street "Lou" Jones is the newest station on the RID, opened in 2011

A new station at 35th Street and Federal Street opened on April 3, 2011 to serve U.S. Cellular Field (now Rate Field) and the Illinois Institute of Technology. It was named 35th Street/'Lou' Jones/Bronzeville Station after Lovana Jones who was an Illinois State Representative in the Bronzeville neighborhood.[9]

The Englewood Flyover, an overpass located in the Chicago neighborhood of Englewood, eliminated delays for the Rock Island. The overpass replaced a diamond crossing with the Norfolk Southern's Chicago Line.[10] The overpass proposed by Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE), which cost $142 million to construct, was completed in October 2014.[11]

In recent years, Metra has expressed a desire to electrify and modernize the line if funding became available.[12] In October of 2023, Metra announced the order of 16 lightweight Stadler FLIRT Akku electric multiple unit trainsets that would likely be used on the Beverly Branch. They could be used to increase frequency and speed.[13][14][15][16][17]

Location of the new third main track that would be built to accommodate future SWS and Amtrak trains

In 2022, an alternative project to those presented under the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) was presented, whereby Amtrak's Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle services running between Joliet and Chicago Union Station could be rerouted via Rock Island District. This option, due to the absence of diamond crossings and low freight train activity, will allow Amtrak services to reduce delays and increase higher speeds between Joliet and Chicago, bypassing the circuitous route through CN Joliet Subdivision they currently use.[18] The heavy freight traffic on the Joliet Sub causes frequent delays to Amtrak trains, and the option to reroute the Texas Eagle and Lincoln Service through the Rock Island District is Amtrak's preferred choice and has been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). However, for Amtrak trains to operate on the Rock Island District, modifications would be required in Joliet and Chicago. A third platform would need to be constructed at Joliet Gateway Center, and Amtrak would have to improve the current connection via the St. Charles Air Line between the RID and Union Station. The current connection sees occasional use during maintenance and emergencies, but it limits trains to a maximum speed of 5 mph (8 km/h) and requires trains to reverse into Union Station.[19]

Service

Metra Rock Island train in Chicago heading to LaSalle Street Station

As of June 1, 2026, Metra operates 84 trains (42 in each direction) on the Rock Island District on weekdays, with 22 inbound and 23 outbound trains providing service between LaSalle Street and Joliet, three to and from 80th Avenue/​Tinley Park, and 17 inbound and 16 outbound trains to and from Blue Island/​Vermont Street. Between Gresham and Blue Island, trains terminating at Blue Island as well as evening through-trains to and from Joliet operate via the suburban branch, while all other trains remain on the mainline.

On weekends, Metra operates 40 trains (20 in each direction) on the line, with 13 trains in each direction running between LaSalle Street and Joliet, and seven trains running between LaSalle Street and Blue Island. The Blue Island short-turn trains, as well as the last inbound and last two outbound through-trains to and from Joliet operate over the suburban branch, while the other through-trains operate via the mainline.

In June 2015, Metra began weekend express service on the Rock Island District. The six express trains that operate on both Saturday and Sunday run express from 35th Street to Blue Island-Vermont Street via the main line before making all stops to Joliet, bypassing the suburban branch entirely. Local trains run as well, making all stops on the suburban branch and terminating at Blue Island-Vermont Street. This cuts about 20 minutes off the trips from Blue Island to downtown.[20] On August 23, 2015, Metra announced that the weekend express service would become permanent upon completion of the trial period on November 29, 2015.

The Rock Island District runs a few empty equipment move (deadhead) trains, most during weekdays. Inbound deadheads are scheduled between the Joliet, Mokena-Front Street, and Tinley Park stations and run to Blue Island-Vermont Street.

There have been proposals to extend the line from Joliet to LaSalle-Peru in LaSalle County with intermediate stations at Rockdale, Minooka, Morris, Seneca, Marseilles, Ottawa, and several other towns. A feasibility study was completed in 2003.[21][22] As of 2022, an extension only as far as Minooka has been considered feasible in the near future, and there are no currently active plans to carry out the extension.

Construction of the new Auburn Park station in July 2024

After the passage of the Rebuild Illinois, $20 million was allocated for the long planned construction of a new Auburn Park station. Construction is expected to start in 2020.[23]

In the beginning of 2021, fares on the Rock Island, as well as the Metra Electric District, were cut in half for all passengers as part of a pilot program.[24][25]

NITA regional rail pilot

On June 1, 2026, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act (SB 2111) took effect. The new law replaces Metra's current parent agency, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), with the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA). A provision of the new law mandates that Metra launch a regional rail pilot on the Rock Island District by 2027.[26]

Metra announced at its May 2026 board meeting its phased plan to implement the regional rail pilot:[27]

  • Phase 0.5: Beginning on June 1, 2026, additional trains will be added on weekday evenings and weekends to the current schedule, with flag stops changing to regular stops.
  • Phase 1.0: In late 2026, Beverly branch service will be separated from the main line which will result in headways of 30-minutes or better at all stations within the City of Chicago.
  • Phase 2.0: 30-minute headways on the main line between LaSalle Street Station and either Tinley Park or Mokena. Some additional sidings and crossovers may need to be built.
  • Phase 3.0: 30-minute headways on the entire length of the main line to the Joliet Gateway Center. In order for this to be implemented, a flyover would need to be built at the diamond crossing of the RID with Canadian National's Matteson Subdivision (ex-EJ&E). The proposed flyover would also allow Amtrak trains to travel on the RID rather than the Heritage Corridor as there would no longer be any freight train conflicts.

Ridership

From 2014-2019 annual ridership declined from 8,544,753 to 7,338,133, an overall decline of 14.1%.[28][29] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ridership dropped to 1,952,547 passengers in 2020 and 1,669,273 passengers in 2021.[30][2] The line's 3,363,873 riders in 2025 made it the seventh busiest Metra line.

1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
6,000,000
7,000,000
8,000,000
9,000,000
10,000,000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024

Stations

County Zone Location Station Connections and notes
Cook 1 Chicago LaSalle Street Station
2 35th Street
  Englewood Closed late 1970s
Normal Park Closed
Hamilton Park Closed
Auburn Park Closed 1978,[31] to reopen in 2027[32]
2 Gresham Bus interchange CTA buses:  8A   24   87 
Beverly branch begins
95th Street/​Longwood
99th Street/Longwood Closed 1985[33]
103rd Street/​Washington Heights Bus interchange CTA buses:  9   103   112 
Givins Closed 1984[33]
Blue Island Blue Island/​Vermont Street
Beverly branch ends
Robbins Robbins Bus interchange Pace: 359
Midlothian Midlothian Bus interchange Pace: 354
3 Oak Forest Oak Forest Bus interchange Pace: 354, 364, 383
Tinley Park Tinley Park Bus interchange Pace: 386
4 80th Avenue/​Tinley Park
Mokena Hickory Creek
Will Mokena
New Lenox New Lenox
Joliet Joliet

Beverly branch

The entire branch is in Cook County, Illinois.

Zone Location Station Connections and notes
2 Chicago Brainerd Bus interchange CTA buses:  9 
91st Street/​Beverly Hills
95th Street/​Beverly Hills
  • Bus interchange CTA buses:  95 
  • Bus interchange Pace: 381, 395
99th Street/​Beverly Hills
103rd Street/​Beverly Hills Bus interchange CTA buses:  103 
107th Street/​Beverly Hills
111th Street/​Morgan Park Bus interchange CTA buses:  112 
115th Street/​Morgan Park
Blue Island 119th Street Bus interchange CTA buses:  119 
123rd Street
(rush only)
Prairie Street
(rush only)
Blue Island/​Vermont Street

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Ridership Reports - System Facts". Metra. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  2. 1 2 RTAMS. "Metra Ridership By Line".
  3. ↑ Carlson, Norman (ed.). "Metra 2020: My Metra, Major Construction Projects and New Car Procurement". First & Fastest. 37 (1). Shore Line Interurban Historical Society: 10.
  4. ↑ 2020 State of the System Report
  5. ↑ "Did you know?" (PDF). On the Bi-Level: 3. June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-02.
  6. ↑ "Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific". BLACKHAWK RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  7. ↑ "One dead, dozens hurt in derailment". CNN. September 17, 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  8. ↑ Kristine Severson; Dan Parent. "Accident Report of Chicago Metra Commuter Train Derailment on September 17, 2005" (PDF). US Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  9. ↑ Metra. "Metra to open new station at 35th St. in time for White Sox home opener". Archived from the original on 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
  10. ↑ "P1 63rd and State (Englewood) Flyover" (PDF). CREATE. October 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  11. ↑ Wronski, Richard (October 23, 2014). "'Flyover' aimed at cutting rail congestion". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  12. ↑ Lassen, David (January 7, 2019). "Metra's big 'ask:' a $5 billion plan for improvements". Trains Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  13. ↑ METRA (2023-02-20). "SUMMARY OF METRA PROCUREMEN" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "Metra to receive $169.3m grant for zero-emission trainsets | Metra". metra.com. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  15. ↑ "Metra lands federal grant to purchase battery-powered trainsets". Trains. 2023-10-22. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  16. ↑ Vitale, Cat (2023-10-23). "Metra to receive $169.3m grant for battery-powered trainsets". Railway Technology. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  17. ↑ Metra aims to invest $170 million in zero-emission, battery-powered trains, 17 October 2023, retrieved 2023-10-25
  18. ↑ "A New Approach to Chicago". High Speed Rail Alliance. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  19. ↑ Johnston, Bob (June 10, 2022). "Amtrak unveils infrastructure plan to transform Chicago operations". Trains. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  20. ↑ Sullivan, Dennis (May 28, 2015). "Weekend express trains starting on Rock Island Line". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  21. ↑ Illinois Valley Commuter Rail Feasibility Study (PDF) (Report). CTE Engineers, LTK Engineering Services. August 2003. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  22. ↑ O'Brien, Ken (January 24, 2002). "Will panel endorses extension of Metra". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  23. ↑ Freund, Sara (August 12, 2019). "Construction on two Metra stations starts up again after state funding kicks in". Curbed. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Cook County's Pilot Program Aims To Boost Metra Electric, Rock Island Ridership By Slashing Fares In Half". Block Club Chicago. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Fair Transit South Cook | CookCountyIL.gov". www.cookcountyil.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  26. ↑ Struett, David (2026-05-27). "Metra adding trains to Rock Island, Electric lines". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  27. ↑ "May 21, 2026 CRD (Metra) Board Meeting". May 21, 2026.
  28. ↑ "RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANNUAL REPORT 2018" (PDF). Metra. p. 4. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  29. ↑ "RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANNUAL REPORT 2019" (PDF). Metra. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  30. ↑ "RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANNUAL REPORT 2021" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  31. ↑ Carlson, Norman (ed.). "Metra 2020: My Metra, Major Construction Projects and New Car Procurement". First & Fastest. 37 (1). Shore Line Interurban Historical Society: 9.
  32. ↑ Golden, Jamie Nesbitt (8 December 2020). "Construction Starts Soon On Auburn Park Metra Station Along Rock Island Line". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

References

  • J. David Ingles, Metra: "Best Commuter Train", Trains July 1993
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