Homewood station
| Company type | Commuter rail and intercity rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Headquarters | Homewood , United States |
Area served | Homewood, Illinois and surrounding areas |
| Products | Passenger train services (Amtrak, Metra) |
Homewood station functions as both an Amtrak intercity and Metra commuter train station located in Homewood, Illinois, and it also accommodates the Homewood Railroad Park Museum.
Positioned on the Metra Electric District line, Homewood is situated from the northern endpoint at Millennium Station and lies six stops away from the southern terminus at . Within Metra's fare zones, it falls under zone 3. In 2018, Homewood was ranked as the 32nd busiest station out of 236 non-downtown Metra locations, with an average weekday boarding figure of 1,171 passengers. The station is roughly distant from Chicago Union Station, which serves as the northern terminus for the three Amtrak routes stopping here.
History
The Illinois Central Railroad initiated the construction of a rail line extending southward from Chicago to the area now known as Homewood in 1851. The inaugural passenger train journeyed from Chicago to Kankakee on August 5, 1853, making a stop at what is currently Homewood. That same year, Illinois Central erected a one-and-a-half-story depot named "Illinois Central Thornton Depot," referencing the nearby village of Thornton, IL. In 1869, this facility was renamed Homewood Station.
The existing Homewood Depot was constructed in 1923 by Illinois Central to accommodate trains such as the Panama Limited and Seminole Limited. Its mission revival architectural style was chosen to harmonize with the adjacent Ravisloe Country Club clubhouse. Today, this station serves Amtrak operations. Commuter train service commenced three years later, with the station also hosting intercity trains including the City of New Orleans, Creole, and Green Diamond. When Amtrak assumed control of Illinois Central’s passenger services in 1971, it continued operations at Homewood; Metra took over commuter services in 1987. A platform for train enthusiasts was added in 2003 to enhance railfan experiences. Connections to bus transit are available through Pace Transit Systems.
Homewood is regularly served by Metra Electric’s main line and by Amtrak’s regional Illini/Saluki services as well as the long-distance City of New Orleans trains.
2020s renovation
During the early 2020s, Homewood station underwent extensive upgrades aimed at enhancing its amenities and achieving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Previously, there were no accessible routes from the west side where Amtrak’s station building is situated.
The initial phase involved a $15 million Amtrak-funded renovation supported by federal funds, which required closing the station in August 2020. Due to its inclusion on the Illinois Register of Historical Places, architectural elements were carefully preserved. This project expanded the facility and replaced the old boarding platform with a new covered island platform that serves two tracks.
After Amtrak completed its improvements, Metra launched a $14 million project to renovate its facilities by replacing the station building located at Harwood Avenue and Ridge Road and upgrading the tunnel providing track access. Funding sources included $9 million from the Federal Transit Administration and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, alongside contributions from Metra ($4 million), Homewood ($585,000), and Cook County ($300,000). Announced in 2020, this renovation formed part of a five-year capital plan addressing nine stations within the Metra Electric District.
Bus connections
- 356 route serving Harvey, Homewood, and Tinley Park
- 359 route along Robbins and South Kedzie Avenue (operates on weekdays only)
