Harvard station (Metra)
| Company type | Commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Headquarters | Harvard, Illinois , United States |
Area served | Northern Illinois, south-central Wisconsin |
| Products | Commuter rail services |
Harvard station functions as a terminal for the Metra commuter rail system in Harvard, Illinois, positioned from Chicago along the Union Pacific Northwest Line. It holds the distinction of being the most distant Metra station from Chicago, with the second most remote station, , located over 10 miles closer to the city. The facility includes a parking area managed by the city and an adjacent coach yard used for storing trains overnight and on weekends.
In terms of fare zones, Harvard was once the sole Metra stop within the M zone until the elimination of zones beyond J in 2018. Subsequently, it was categorized under zone J until February 2024, when Metra revamped its fare system and moved Harvard into Zone 4. It represents the westernmost point on the Metra network; the subsequent station to the west is on the Union Pacific West Line. Past Harvard, the Union Pacific line reduces to a single track extending toward Janesville, Wisconsin.
The station caters to passengers commuting from northern Illinois areas such as Rockford, Illinois and Belvidere, Illinois, in addition to parts of south-central Wisconsin. In 2018 data, Harvard ranked 151st among 236 non-downtown Metra stations, with an average weekday boarding count of 265.
Effective February 16, 2024, service at Harvard includes 27 trains on weekdays (14 inbound and 13 outbound), 20 trains on Saturdays (10 in each direction), and 15 trains on Sundays (seven inbound and eight outbound).
Bus connections
- 808 Crystal Lake/Harvard