# McCormick Place station

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Commuter rail station in Chicago, Illinois

Not to be confused with [Cermak–McCormick Place station](/source/Cermak%E2%80%93McCormick_Place_station).

McCormick Place McCormick Place station in March 2019. General information Location 23rd Street, between King Drive & Lake Shore Drive Near South Side, Chicago, Illinois Coordinates 41°51′06″N 87°36′58″W / 41.851598°N 87.616160°W / 41.851598; -87.616160 Owned by Metra Line University Park Sub District Platforms 1 island platform Tracks 4 Construction Structure type Underground Accessible Yes Other information Fare zone 2 History Electrified 1926[1] Previous names 23rd Street Passengers 2018 124 (average weekday)[2] 14.8% (Metra) Rank 179 out of 236[2] Services Preceding station Metra Following station 27th Street toward University Park, South Chicago or Blue Island Metra Electric 18th Street toward Millennium Former services Preceding station Illinois Central Railroad Following station 27th Street toward Richton, 91st Street or Blue Island Electric Suburban 18th Street toward Randolph Street Preceding station NICTD Following station 55th–56th–57th Street toward South Bend Airport South Shore Line [note 1] Museum Campus/​11th Street toward Millennium Station Preceding station Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad Following station 53rd Street toward South Bend South Shore Line Roosevelt Road toward Randolph Street Track layout Legend Amtrak west to Union Station Metra Electric District north to Millennium Station McCormick Place Metra Electric District south to University Park, Amtrak south to Carbondale Blue Island, or South Chicago or New Orleans This diagram: view talk edit Location

**McCormick Place station** is a [commuter rail](/source/Commuter_rail) station in [Chicago](/source/Chicago) underneath [McCormick Place](/source/McCormick_Place), Chicago's main convention center, that serves the [Metra Electric Line](/source/Metra_Electric_Line) north to the [Millennium Station](/source/Millennium_Station) and south to [University Park](/source/University_Park%2C_Illinois), [Blue Island](/source/Blue_Island%2C_Illinois), and [South Chicago](/source/South_Chicago%2C_Chicago). Since August 2024, [South Shore Line](/source/South_Shore_Line) trains, which travel to [Gary](/source/Gary%2C_Indiana) and [South Bend, Indiana](/source/South_Bend%2C_Indiana), only stop there in exceptional cases like special events.[3][4][5]

## Structure

The main entrance to the station is from the Grand Concourse in the South Building of McCormick Place.[6] A passageway from the concourse leads to a waiting room,[7] which contains seats and displays showing upcoming arrivals.[8] The platform is accessed from the waiting room via a single staircase and elevator at the north end.[9]

Immediately north of the station, still underneath McCormick Place, the adjacent freight tracks cross over the Metra mainline, switching from running west of the Metra tracks and diverging towards [Downtown Chicago](/source/Downtown_Chicago) to the north of the station to east of and directly adjacent to the Metra tracks for the remainder of the line to [University Park](/source/University_Park_station).[10]

## History

The original station in this vicinity opened in 1868 at 22nd Street, originally consisting of a wooden station building and serving both suburban trains as well as long distance passenger trains. This station served as a temporary terminal for the Illinois Central and Michigan Central railroads after the [Great Chicago Fire](/source/Great_Chicago_Fire) inflicted significant damage on [Great Central Station](/source/Great_Central_Station), rendering it unsuitable as the line's primary terminal. In 1880, the wooden station building was replaced with a brick building. In 1907, long-distance trains ceased stopping there, leaving only suburban trains.[11]

In 1926, the original station at 22nd Street was closed and a new station was opened as its replacement at 23rd Street in conjunction with the Illinois Central Railroad's electrification program.[11]

When McCormick Place was expanded in 1996, the South Building was built over the existing 23rd Street station, which was then reconfigured to serve the expanded convention center. This reconfiguration was accompanied by replacing an outdated wooden platform with a newer concrete platform.[12]

In 2017, a series of upgrades were performed on the station. These upgrades included mural paintings, digital signage and audio announcements, better lighting, and better signage. Additionally, Metra is investigating the possibility of adding a crossover track to the south of the station to allow more trains to access the platform from the outer tracks.[13]

Beginning on August 20, 2024, [South Shore Line](/source/South_Shore_Line) trains no longer stop at McCormick Place station on weekends, ending regular service at the station. However, certain trains occasionally stop at this station to serve special events in the convention center.[14][15][3]

## Service

Select Metra Electric District trains stop at McCormick Place on weekdays, while most trains stop on weekends. All three branches have trains stopping at McCormick Place.[16] As of 2018, McCormick Place is the 179th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 124 weekday boardings.[2]

The South Shore Line stops at McCormick Place for special events only and will not board passengers northbound or discharge passengers southbound.[3][17]

## Bus connections

**[CTA bus routes](/source/List_of_Chicago_Transit_Authority_bus_routes)**

- **[3](/source/Chicago_Transit_Authority_bus_services)** King Drive

- **[21](/source/Chicago_Transit_Authority_bus_services)** Cermak[18]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Discontinued 2024, except for special events

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["CHICAGO WELCOMES ELECTRIFIED ROADS; Illinois Central Line Does Away With Coal-Burners on Its Suburban Trains"](https://www.nytimes.com/1926/08/08/archives/chicago-welcomes-electrified-roads-illinois-central-line-does-away.html). *The New York Times*. August 8, 1926. Retrieved February 17, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) ["Commuter Rail System Station Boarding/Alighting Count: Summary Results Fall 2018"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190526034459/https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/2018_summary_results_report_final.pdf) (PDF). *Metra*. April 2019. Archived from [the original](https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/2018_summary_results_report_final.pdf) (PDF) on May 26, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SSL_Aug20_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SSL_Aug20_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-SSL_Aug20_4-2) ["South Shore Line Schedule Revision - Aug. 20, 2024"](https://mysouthshoreline.com/south-shore-line-schedule-revision-aug-20-2024/). *South Shore Line*. August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["South Shore Line providing extra trains for Chicago Marathon"](https://www.wndu.com/2024/10/04/south-shore-line-providing-extra-trains-chicago-marathon/). *WNDU*. October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Chicago Marathon McCormick Place Service: October 11-12, 2024"](https://mysouthshoreline.com/chicago-marathon-mccormick-place-service-october-11-12-2024/). *South Shore Line*. October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Public Transportation"](https://www.mccormickplace.com/getting-here/public-transportation/). McCormick Place. May 31, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** G., Jacob (March 9, 2019). ["Entrance to Metra waiting room at McCormick Place"](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacob-x/46449011985/). Flickr.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** G., Jacob (March 9, 2019). ["Metra waiting room at McCormick Place"](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacob-x/46449011265/). Flickr.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** G., Jacob (March 9, 2019). ["Entrance to platform at McCormick Place"](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacob-x/46640746584/). Flickr.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [*Metra Ride Along - Metra Electric District: Outbound*](https://youtube.com/watch/?v=D1EyL5CdMvw&t=475). Metra. November 17, 2018. Event occurs at 7:55. Retrieved February 21, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ic-history_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ic-history_12-1) Mottier, Charles H. (April 1937). "History of Illinois Central Passenger Stations on the Chicago Lake Front". *The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin* (43): 69–76. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["ALL ABOARD! MCCORMICK PLACE GETS RAIL SERVICE"](https://www.plasticsnews.com/article/19960318/NEWS/303189976/all-aboard-mccormick-place-gets-rail-service). Plastics News. March 18, 1996. Retrieved February 8, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["McCormick Place Station Upgrades Complete"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226223440/https://metrarail.com/about-metra/newsroom/mccormick-place-station-upgrades-complete). Metra. November 8, 2017. Archived from [the original](https://metrarail.com/about-metra/newsroom/mccormick-place-station-upgrades-complete) on December 26, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["South Shore Line makes some schedule changes"](https://www.wndu.com/2024/08/15/south-shore-line-makes-some-schedule-changes/). *WNDU*. August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Lurea, Anne (July 30, 2024). ["Major schedule changes coming to South Shore Line"](https://wsbt.com/news/local/major-schedule-changes-coming-south-shore-line-commuter-rail-south-bend-chicago-sbn-millenium-station-double-track-schedule-indiana-illinois-transportation). *WSBT*. Retrieved August 20, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Metra Electric: Chicago to University Park"](https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/metra_81797_fm100_university_park_tt_web_2.pdf) (PDF). Metra. April 23, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["ADA Accessibility"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190921212021/https://www.mysouthshoreline.com/images/ADA-Accessibility-.pdf) (PDF). Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. Archived from [the original](https://www.mysouthshoreline.com/images/ADA-Accessibility-.pdf) (PDF) on September 21, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Stations/Parking"](https://metrarail.com/maps-schedules/train-lines/ME/stations/MCCORMICK). Metra. Retrieved December 26, 2019.

## External links

- Media related to [McCormick Place train station](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:McCormick_Place_train_station) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Metra – Stations – McCormick Place](http://metrarail.com/maps-schedules/train-lines/me/stations/MCCORMICK)

- [South Shore Line - Stations](http://www.mysouthshoreline.com/tickets/maps-stations) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170821214735/http://www.mysouthshoreline.com/tickets/maps-stations) August 21, 2017, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

v t e Metra stations BNSF Union Station Halsted Street Western Avenue Cicero Clyde (closed) LaVergne Berwyn Harlem Avenue Riverside Hollywood Brookfield Congress Park LaGrange Road Stone Avenue Western Springs Highlands Hinsdale West Hinsdale Clarendon Hills Westmont Fairview Avenue Main Street Belmont Lisle Naperville Route 59 Aurora Heritage Corridor Union Station Glenn (closed) Summit Willow Springs Lemont Romeoville 5th Street (closed) Lockport Joliet Metra Electric Millennium Station Van Buren Street Museum Campus 18th Street McCormick Place 27th Street 47th Street 51st/​53rd Street 55th/56th/57th Street 59th/​60th Street 63rd Street 75th Street 79th Street 83rd Street 87th Street 91st Street 95th Street 103rd Street 107th Street 111th Street 115th Street Riverdale Ivanhoe 147th Street Harvey Hazel Crest Calumet Homewood Flossmoor Olympia Fields 211th Street Matteson Richton Park University Park South Chicago Branch Stony Island Bryn Mawr South Shore 75th Street 79th Street 83rd Street 87th Street 91st Street (closed) 93rd Street Blue Island Branch State Street Stewart Ridge West Pullman Racine Avenue Ashland/​Calumet Park Burr Oak Blue Island Milwaukee District North Union Station Western Avenue Healy Grayland Mayfair Forest Glen Edgebrook Morton Grove Golf Glenview The Glen Northbrook Lake Cook Road Deerfield Lake Forest Libertyville Prairie Crossing Grayslake Round Lake Long Lake Ingleside Fox Lake Milwaukee District West Union Station Western Avenue Hermosa (closed) Grand/​Cicero Cragin (closed) Hanson Park Galewood Mars Mont Clare Elmwood Park River Grove Franklin Park Mannheim Bensenville Wood Dale Itasca Medinah Roselle Schaumburg Hanover Park Bartlett National Street Elgin Big Timber Road Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail Belvidere (future) Rockford (future) North Central Service Union Station Western Avenue River Grove Belmont Avenue Schiller Park Rosemont O'Hare Transfer Prospect Heights Wheeling Buffalo Grove Prairie View Vernon Hills Mundelein Prairie Crossing Washington Street Round Lake Beach Lake Villa Antioch Rock Island LaSalle 35th Street Auburn Park (closed; future) Gresham 95th Street 99th Street (closed) 103rd Street Blue Island/​Vermont Street Robbins Midlothian Oak Forest Tinley Park 80th Avenue Hickory Creek Mokena New Lenox Joliet Beverly Branch Brainerd 91st Street 95th Street 99th Street 103rd Street 107th Street 111th Street 115th Street 119th Street 123rd Street Prairie Street SouthWest Service Union Station Wrightwood Ashburn Oak Lawn Patriot Chicago Ridge Worth Palos Heights Palos Park 143rd Street 153rd Street 179th Street Laraway Road Manhattan Union Pacific North Ogilvie TC Clybourn Ravenswood Peterson/​Ridge Rogers Park Main Street Davis Street Central Street Wilmette Kenilworth Indian Hill Winnetka Hubbard Woods Glencoe Braeside Ravinia Park Ravinia Highland Park Highwood Fort Sheridan Lake Forest Lake Bluff Great Lakes North Chicago Abbott's Platform (closed) Waukegan Zion Winthrop Harbor Kenosha Union Pacific Northwest Ogilvie TC Clybourn Irving Park Jefferson Park Gladstone Park Norwood Park Edison Park Park Ridge Dee Road Des Plaines Cumberland Mount Prospect Arlington Heights Arlington Park Palatine Barrington Fox River Grove Cary Pingree Road Crystal Lake Woodstock Harvard McHenry Branch McHenry Union Pacific West Ogilvie TC Kedzie Oak Park River Forest Maywood Melrose Park Bellwood Berkeley Elmhurst Villa Park Lombard Glen Ellyn College Avenue Wheaton Winfield West Chicago Geneva La Fox Elburn Category Bold denotes downtown terminals Italics denote closed stations, future stations, and unused line segments.

v t e South Shore Line Current stations Metra-owned Millennium Station Van Buren Street Museum Campus/​11th Street 57th Street 63rd Street Hegewisch Lakeshore Corridor Hammond Gateway East Chicago Gary/​Chicago Airport Gary Metro Center Miller Portage/​Ogden Dunes Dune Park Beverly Shores 11th Street Carroll Avenue Hudson Lake South Bend International Airport Monon Corridor Hammond Gateway South Hammond Munster Ridge Munster/Dyer Planned/proposed stations Lakeshore Corridor New Carlisle South Bend International Airport (replacement station) Monon Corridor Downtown Hammond Former stations Metra-owned McCormick Place 115th Street/Kensington 51st/53rd Street/Hyde Park Lakeshore Corridor Ambridge Dune Acres Hammond Kemil Road LaLumiere New Carlisle Rolling Prairie South Bend 1928 station 1970 station Tremont Willard Avenue See also Metra Electric District Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [McCormick Place station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCormick_Place_station) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCormick_Place_station?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.