Van Buren Street Station (Metra) The Metra Electric platform at Van Buren Street, shared with the South Shore Line - Westbound South Shore trains stop to drop off passengers on the way in to Chicago, Eastbound South Shore trains stop to make their second pickup on the way out of Chicago. There are two platforms serving three tracks at this station. The furthest platform, built into the side wall, is for outbound trains leaving downtown - the closest platform is for arrivals from inbound trains. The other side of the close platform is for Track 2 and trains travel either direction on this track. The photo above was taken in 1998 facing southwest showing the high level portion of the platform. The southern portion of the platform can serve low level boarding trains. Metra is in the final planning stages for remodeling the station at Van Buren St, changing entrances and adding a second elevator from the station level to the street level above. As part of the remodel, NICTD is paying for a fourth main track to be installed. The fourth track will have its own high level platform and provide a second track into the Millenium Station complex to the north. The fourth main will replace the second track from the platform in the picture above with the platform on the photographer's side of the track. The storage tracks will be moved to the east (left in the photo above) and expanded to provide additional storage space for Metra and NICTD trains. | |
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| Overhead from the south ... Track 1 and Track 2. | Overhead from the south ... Track 3 and the storage track. |
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| Tracks 1 and 2 from platform level. | Track 3 and the storage track from platform level. |
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| Looking south along the main outbound platform on Track 1. Track 1 is used for most outbound trains. |
The low level platform at the south end of the station. Note the extended length of the platform on Track 1 which allows multiple trains to stop at the platform at the same time. |
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| Benches in the waiting area near Track 1. | An information booth and standing room only waiting area near Track 1. |