Rock Island District

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Rock Island District
Info
Type Commuter Rail
System Metra
Terminals Lasalle Street Station
Joliet
No. of stations 25
Operation
Owner Metra
Operator(s) Metra
Technical

The Rock Island District (RI) is a commuter rail line operated by Metra from Chicago, Illinois, United States, southwest to Joliet. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Rock Island District line are printed in "Rocket Red". This refers to the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad's Rocket series of passenger trains.

The trackage is all owned by Metra, bought from the bankrupt Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad for $35 million in December 1982. 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. But in spring 1981 the C&NW stepped away, and the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra) was formed to take over operations.

The Rock Island District consists of a main line over the Rock Island's former main line to Joliet. The slightly longer Suburban Line loops to the west between Gresham and Blue Island, carrying most trains; the two stations on that part of the main line are only served during rush hours.

The Suburban Line was originally 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 merge with the current 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 on that line. In the early 1890s the line was extended north in conjunction with the expansion of the Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad, and the portion on 99th was removed.

A new station at 35th Street and Federal Street will open in 2009 to serve U.S. Cellular Field. [1]

[edit] Station stops

Rock Island District trains make the following station stops: (not all trains stop at all stations)

A limited number of rush-hour express trains skip all stops between Gresham and Blue Island - Vermont Street, instead making the following stops:

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.southtownstar.com/news/880933,0407metrasox.article
  • J. David Ingles, Metra: "Best Commuter Train", Trains July 1993
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