Waukegan station
| Company type | Commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Headquarters | Waukegan, Illinois , United States |
Area served | Waukegan, Illinois and surrounding areas |
| Products | Rail transport services |
Waukegan station, situated in Waukegan, Illinois, is part of Metra's Union Pacific North Line network. Positioned at 95 North Spring Street, it is located from the line’s inbound terminus at Ogilvie Transportation Center and primarily serves passengers heading northbound toward Kenosha, Wisconsin. Within Metra’s fare zoning system, Waukegan falls under zone 4. In 2018, it was ranked as the 67th most frequented among Metra’s 236 stations outside downtown, with an average weekday boarding count of 764.
As of February 16, 2024, the station accommodates a total of 46 trains on weekdays—23 in each direction—as well as all 26 trains on Saturdays and all 18 on Sundays and holidays. On weekdays, 17 outbound services conclude their routes here while 17 inbound ones commence; Saturdays feature six outbound terminations and eight inbound departures; Sundays have six trains arriving and departing in both directions.
While not the ultimate terminus of the route, Waukegan serves as the final stop for most trains. The facility includes dedicated storage tracks for Metra equipment and is adjacent to freight lines operated by Union Pacific Railroad and the former Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway. A nearby Union Pacific freight yard regularly handles the parking and sorting of freight trains. Additionally, this station provides access to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Pace bus route 571 links Waukegan with the station, offering daily transit options.
Located close to downtown Waukegan, the station is near attractions such as the Genesee Theatre. It rests at the foot of a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, positioned just below the historic Carnegie Library building. The vicinity also includes notable historic buildings like those in the Shimer College Historic District, which was the former campus location until 2006. Bus services connect this station to inland destinations including Six Flags Great America in Gurnee.
Bus connections
- 561 Castlecrest via McAree
- 562 Gurnee via Sunset
- 563 Great Lakes Naval Station
- 564 Jackson/14th
- 565 Grand Avenue
- 568 Belvidere
- 571 Zion
- 572 Washington