Waukegan station

{{short description|Commuter rail station in Waukegan, Illinois}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox station | style = Metra | name = {{Metra header|Waukegan | icon={{ric|Metra|upn}}}} | type = | image = Metra Union Pacific Waukegan, Illinois.jpg | image_caption = Platform along the station house | address = 95 North Spring Street, [[Waukegan, Illinois]] | coordinates = {{coord|42.3607|-87.8283|type:railwaystation_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}} | line = | other = {{bus icon|12px|Local Transit}} '''[[Pace (transit)|Pace Buses]]''' | structure = | platform = 1 [[side platform]], 1 [[island platform]] | levels = | tracks = 3 | parking = Yes | bicycle = | passengers = 764 (average weekday)<ref name=":0" /> | pass_year = 2018 | pass_percent = -16.1 | pass_system = | opened = 1900{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} | closed = | rebuilt = 1988{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} | electrified = | accessible = Yes | code = | owned = Union Pacific, City of Waukegan | zone = 4 | former = | pass_rank = 67 out of 236<ref name=":0" /> | services = {{Adjacent stations|system=Metra|line=Union Pacific/North|left=Zion|right=North Chicago}} |other_services_header = Former services |other_services_collapsible =yes |other_services={{Adjacent stations|system=Chicago and North Western Railway|line1=Chicago-Minneapolis via Milwaukee|left1=Kenosha|right1=Lake Forest|line2=Milwaukee Division|left2=Asbestos|right2=North Chicago}} | mpassengers = | map_state = collapsed | route_map = {{Routemap|legend=track|inline=y|map= \\vSTRgf!~MFADEg ~~ ~~ ~~ {{rint|Chicago|UPN}} north to {{stl|Metra|Kenosha}} RP1+l\RP1+r\vSTR \RP1e!~RP1n!~RP2s\RP1wns!~PLTl\vSTR\PLTr \RP2\RP1!~PLTl\vSTR\PLTr RP2q!~MFADEgq\RP1s!~RP2w!~RP2n\RP1!~PLTl\vSTR\PLTr ~~ ~~ {{rmri|left}} Washington St. \RP1l\RP1rf\vSTR\PLTr \\vSTRgf!~MFADEf ~~ ~~ ~~ {{rint|Chicago|UPN}} south to {{stl|Metra|Ogilvie}} }} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 15 | mapframe-marker-color = #0f5200 | mapframe-marker = rail }} '''Waukegan''' is a railroad station in [[Waukegan, Illinois]], served by [[Metra]]'s [[Union Pacific North Line]]. It is officially located on 95 North Spring Street, is {{convert|36.0|mi|km}} away from [[Ogilvie Transportation Center]], the inbound terminus of the Union Pacific North Line,<ref>[http://www.chicagorailfan.com/mmupn.html Metra Railfan Tips - Union Pacific/North Line]</ref> and also serves commuters who travel north to [[Kenosha, Wisconsin]]. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Waukegan is in zone 4. As of 2018, Waukegan is the 67th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 764 weekday boardings.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/2018_summary_results_report_final.pdf|title=Commuter Rail System Station Boarding/Alighting Count: Summary Results Fall 2018|date=April 2019|website=Metra|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526034459/https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/2018_summary_results_report_final.pdf|archive-date=26 May 2019|url-status=}}</ref>

As of September 20, 2025, Waukegan is served by 51 trains (26 inbound, 25 outbound) on weekdays, and by all 30 trains (15 in each direction) on weekends and holidays.

A total of 16 outbound trains terminate at Waukegan, along with 16 inbound trains originating here, on weekdays. On weekends and holidays, seven trains originate, and seven trains terminate, at Waukegan.

Although Waukegan Station is not the terminus of the Union Pacific North Line, most trains along the line end at Waukegan. The station not only contains storage tracks for Metra trains,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100706011453/http://chicago.railfan.net/cgi/photos.pl/?show=at:Waukegan_Metra_yard Waukegan Metra Yard (Chicago Railfan.net)]</ref> but is also located near freight lines for the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] as well as the former [[Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100706005946/http://chicago.railfan.net/cgi/photos.pl/?show=at:Waukegan_EJE_yard Waukegan Elgin Joliet and Eastern Yard (Chicago Railfan.net)]</ref> There is also a Union Pacific freight yard adjacent to the station and freight trains are often parked and sorted here. In addition, the station serves as a stop for the [[Great Lakes Naval Training Center]]. Passengers who wish to travel to the {{stl|Metra|Zion}} Metra station can use Pace's route 571, which provides daily service between the two stations.

Waukegan Station is located very near to downtown Waukegan, home to attractions such as the [[Genesee Theatre]]. Located at the bottom of the bluff that overlooks [[Lake Michigan]], the station is immediately downhill from the historic Carnegie Library building. Other historic buildings in the area include the old houses of the [[Shimer College]] Historic District, site of that school's campus until 2006. Buses connect the station to attractions further inland, such as [[Six Flags Great America]] in Gurnee.

==Bus connections== '''[[Pace (transit)|Pace]]''' *<nowiki> 561 Castlecrest via McAree </nowiki> *<nowiki> 562 Gurnee via Sunset </nowiki> *<nowiki> 563 Great Lakes Naval Station </nowiki> *<nowiki> 564 Jackson/14th </nowiki> *<nowiki> 565 Grand Avenue </nowiki> *<nowiki> 568 Belvidere </nowiki> *<nowiki> 571 Zion </nowiki> *<nowiki> 572 Washington </nowiki>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline|Waukegan (Metra)}} *[http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map/up-n/station.WAUKEGAN.html Metra - Waukegan station] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413224346/http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map/up-n/station.WAUKEGAN.html |date=April 13, 2010 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060903064251/http://hometown.aol.com/chirailfan/pmupn6.jpg Freight Yard near Waukegan Station (Metra Fan Photos)] *[http://www.umcycling.com/cnwrta513-136.jpg Metra & Chicago & Northwestern locomotives at Waukegan Yards (Trains.Net)] *Chicago Railfan.net: **[https://web.archive.org/web/20100706035842/http://chicago.railfan.net/cgi/photos.pl/?show=at:Waukegan_UP_locomotive_yard Waukegan Union Pacific Locomotive Yard], [https://web.archive.org/web/20100706035842/http://chicago.railfan.net/cgi/photos.pl/?show=at:Waukegan_UP_locomotive_yard Shop Yard], [https://web.archive.org/web/20100706001740/http://chicago.railfan.net/cgi/photos.pl/?show=at:Waukegan_UP_yard Other Yard] *[https://www.google.com/maps/@42.360617,-87.828597,3a,75y,156.53h,91.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2_Bm5AFxk4rxoDk9g0laVw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 Station House from Google Maps Street View]

[[Category:Metra stations in Illinois]] [[Category:Former Chicago and North Western Railway stations]] [[Category:Waukegan, Illinois]] [[Category:Railway stations in Lake County, Illinois]] [[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1900]] [[Category:Union Pacific North Line]]