Palatine station
Palatine station serves as a commuter rail stop on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line in Palatine, Illinois. Situated at 137 West Wood Street, the station is supported by several nearby parking facilities. It represents the farthest point on the UP-NW line equipped with three tracks and two platforms: inbound trains utilize the platform on the north side, whereas outbound and express services operate from the southern island platform. Positioned at a distance from Ogilvie Transportation Center, Palatine acts as an intermediate station between Ogilvie and Harvard, frequently accommodating simultaneous arrivals of inbound and outbound trains. Within Metra's zone-based fare structure, this station falls under zone 4.
In 2018, Palatine was ranked as the seventh busiest station out of Metra’s 236 non-downtown locations, with an average of 2,482 boardings on weekdays.
As of May 30, 2023, the station is served by a total of 69 trains during weekdays (35 inbound and 34 outbound), 33 trains on Saturdays (16 inbound and 17 outbound), and 20 trains on Sundays (nine inbound and 11 outbound). On weekdays, one inbound train begins its route at Palatine, while three outbound trains conclude there.
History
The initial Palatine train depot, built by the Chicago and North Western Railway, was positioned between Plum Grove Road and Bothwell Street until 1971. It was then replaced by a facility that included an adjoining strip mall and restaurant located across Smith Street. The present-day station, completed in 2001 and designed by Chicago’s DLK Civic Design, incorporates features such as a clock tower, outdoor café seating, a pedestrian concourse, ornamental canopies, and concession areas. The original location has since been redeveloped into a mixed-use condominium and commercial complex. Meanwhile, the site used from 1971 to 2001 was cleared to make way for a parking structure, office building, and a relocated Durty Nellie's restaurant and nightclub.
Until its termination on February 8, 2010, Pace route 699 provided northbound transit to northeast Palatine and southbound service connecting to Harper College, the Woodfield Mall area in Schaumburg, Alexian Brothers Medical Center, and Elk Crossing Shopping Center in Elk Grove Village.