Elgin station (Illinois)

Elgin is one of three stations on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line in Elgin, Illinois. The station is 36.6 miles (58.9 km) away from Chicago Union Station, the eastern terminus of the line.^[2] In Metra's zone-based fare system, Elgin is in zone 4. As of 2018, Elgin is the 116th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 411 weekday boardings.^[1]

Elgin
Elgin station in October 2023.
General information
Location	109 West Chicago Street Elgin, Illinois 60120
Coordinates	42.0362°N 88.2861°W / 42.0362; -88.2861
Owned by	City of Elgin
Line	Elgin Subdivision
Platforms	2 side platforms (1 becomes an island platform)
Tracks	4 (2 end at the station)
Connections	Pace Buses at Elgin Transportation Center
Construction
Parking	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	4
History
Opened	1947
Passengers
2018	411 (average weekday)[1]  5.7%
Rank	116 out of 236[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station Big Timber Road Terminus Milwaukee District West National Street toward Union Station
Former services Preceding station Milwaukee Road Following station Almora toward Omaha Omaha – Chicago Western Avenue toward Chicago Terminus Suburban Service West Line National Street toward Chicago Services at Elgin (West Side) station Preceding station Chicago and North Western Railway Following station Gilberts toward Freeport Freeport Branch South Elgin toward West Chicago
Future services Preceding station Metra Following station Belvidere toward Rockford Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail Optional Union Station Terminus
Track layout Legend MDW to Big Timber Road Chicago St. Rail yard MDW to Union Station
Location

As of February 15, 2024, Elgin is served by 44 trains (22 in each direction) on weekdays, by all 24 trains (12 in each direction) on Saturdays, and by all 18 trains (nine in each direction) on Sundays and holidays. All weekend trains originate and terminate here, in addition to three inbound trains originating from here on weekdays.^[3]

The station was built by The Milwaukee Road and was a stop on numerous intercity trains, such as the Midwest Hiawatha, Arrow, and Southwest Limited.^[4] It was also the terminus station for by more frequent commuter trains to Chicago Union Station, until Metra took over service.^[5]

The Elgin Metra station is also proposed as a stop on the Black Hawk, a proposed revival of a former Amtrak train of the same name. However, service to Rockford, Illinois is planned to begin operations in late 2027 with Metra instead of Amtrak.^[6]

Notable places nearby

• Fox River Trolley Museum
• Pace Elgin Transportation Center

Bus connections

Pace

• "Route 541 – Northeast Elgin". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 542 – Bluff City". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 543 – Dundee/Carpentersville". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 546 – Orange/Walnut". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 547 – Wing Park". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 548 – Highland". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 549 – South Randall". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 550 – Elgin Transportation Center/Crystal Lake". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 552 – North State/Spring Hill Mall". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 554 – Elgin/Woodfield". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 603 – Elgin Transportation Center/Rosemont Express". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.
• "Route 801 – Elgin/Geneva". PaceBus.com. Chicago: Pace Suburban Bus Service.