63rd Street station (Metra)
| Company type | Commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Predecessor | Woodlawn station (Illinois Central Railroad) |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago metropolitan area |
| Products | Commuter rail services on Metra Electric Line and limited South Shore Line service |
63rd Street station functions as a commuter rail stop in Chicago, providing service on the Metra Electric Line with routes extending northbound to Millennium Station and southbound toward University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago. It also connects with the South Shore Line traveling to Gary and South Bend, Indiana. While the majority of South Shore Line trains do not stop here, there are exceptions during weekday peak hours with one inbound train in the morning and two outbound trains in the evening making stops. In 2018, this station was ranked 169th out of Metra’s 236 non-downtown stations based on an average of 167 boardings on weekdays.
History
Originally named Woodlawn,, this station was constructed by the Illinois Central Railroad (ICRR) in 1903. It served both commuter and long-distance ICRR trains until passenger operations were transferred to Amtrak in 1971. A substantial combined station and office structure was erected in 1917 but was demolished during the 1980s. The station once featured an additional island platform on its eastern side catering to Illinois Central and certain New York Central long-distance services; although this platform has been removed, traces remain visible.
Prominent named trains that stopped at Woodlawn included:
- Illinois Central:
- City of New Orleans (route to New Orleans)
- Green Diamond (service to St. Louis)
- Louisiane (destination New Orleans)
- Panama Limited (heading to New Orleans)
- Seminole (bound for Jacksonville, Florida)
- New York Central:
- Cincinnati Special (to Cincinnati)
- James Whitcomb Riley (traveling to Cincinnati)
Recent years
Located directly opposite the station is Mount Carmel High School, which it serves. While originally designated as both a local and express stop, the station's status changed in 1975 when express services were shifted to 55th–56th–57th Street station.
This station represents the final main line stop before the South Chicago branch diverges southward. Prior to 1982, the Jackson Park branch of the South Side 'L' intersected with Metra Electric tracks just to the north of this location, with nearby stops at Dorchester station.
Bus connections
- 63 63rd (Owl Service)