Hubbard Woods station
| Company type | Commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Headquarters | Winnetka, Illinois , United States |
Area served | Chicago metropolitan area |
| Products | Commuter rail services |
Hubbard Woods serves as a stop on the Metra Union Pacific North Line located in Winnetka, Illinois at 1065 Gage Street. Positioned from Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center, the southern end of the route, trains proceed northward to Kenosha, Wisconsin. Within Metra’s fare zones, Hubbard Woods falls under Zone 3. In 2018, it was ranked 120th in usage among Metra’s 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 396 boardings on weekdays.
The station consists of two tracks flanked by side platforms; northbound trains utilize the platform on the west side, while southbound trains stop at the east platform. Set within a trench below street level, access to the platforms is provided via Scott Avenue and a pedestrian bridge adjacent to the station building. Operating hours extend from 5:15 A.M. until 1:00 P.M., and parking facilities are available for commuters.
As of February 16, 2024, Hubbard Woods is served by a total of 44 trains on weekdays—23 heading inbound and 21 outbound. On Saturdays, service includes 22 trains split evenly in both directions, while Sundays and holidays feature 16 trains with eight traveling each way.
Adjacent to the station is the Green Bay Trail, a multi-use path for hiking and cycling that runs alongside the rail line and can be reached directly from the platforms. Ticket agent services at Hubbard Woods were discontinued in November 2015.
History
Originally constructed at grade level by the former Chicago and North Western Railway, Hubbard Woods and Winnetka’s other two Metra stations resembled other stops north of Evanston Central Street on the Union Pacific/North Line. Between 1912 and 1937, railroad crossings in the area resulted in 29 fatalities, prompting community demands for safety enhancements following two deaths at Pine Street crossing in 1937. The chosen solution involved lowering the tracks into a trench beneath street level to eliminate dangerous crossings. This extensive project, partially financed by the Public Works Administration, took five years to complete and was finalized in 1943. Both Hubbard Woods and Winnetka stations are situated within this below-grade trench, whereas Indian Hill station remains elevated just south of them. During this period, tracks for the electric Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad ("North Shore Line") were also relocated; these have since been abandoned and transformed into what is now the recreational Green Bay Trail.