55th–56th–57th Street station

55th–56th–57th Street is a commuter rail station in Hyde Park, Chicago that serves the Metra Electric Line north to Millennium Station and south to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago; and the South Shore Line to Gary and South Bend, Indiana. The South Shore Line calls the station 57th Street. It is the closest station to the Museum of Science and Industry, and also serves the residential neighborhood adjoining the University of Chicago. As of 2018, the station is the 39th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 1,133 weekday boardings.[1]

55th-56th-57th Street
An inbound Metra Electric train of Highliner cars (left) and an outbound South Shore Line train (right) meeting
General information
Location55th to 57th Streets,
at Lake Park Avenue
Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates41°47′36″N 87°35′15″W / 41.793354°N 87.587476°W / 41.793354; -87.587476
Line(s)University Park Sub District
Platforms2 island platforms
Tracks4
ConnectionsCTA Bus
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zone2 (Metra and South Shore)
History
Rebuilt2002
ElectrifiedOverhead line1,500 V DC
Passengers
20181,133 (average weekday)[1]Decrease 26.5% (Metra)
Rank39 out of 236[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station
59th Street/University of Chicago Metra Electric 51st–53rd Street (Hyde Park)
Preceding station NICTD Following station
63rd Street South Shore Line Museum Campus/11th Street
Future services
Preceding station NICTD Following station
63rd Street Monon Corridor
peak hours
Museum Campus/11th Street
Former services
Preceding station Illinois Central Railroad Following station
59th Street Electric Suburban 53rd Street
Location
Map

History

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The South Shore Line began stopping at 57th Street on October 16, 1966, at noon.[2] Prior to this, the South Shore Line had stopped at 53rd Street. The switch was made to better serve the University of Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry.[3]

This station, and the adjacent 53rd Street station, were rebuilt in 2002 with concrete platforms to replace wooden platforms built in the 1920s.[4]

Until November 2014 (when the staffed station closed), this was the only station along the route outside of Downtown Chicago's two main stations that had a staffed ticket office, as many express trains on both lines stop at the station and it is the South Side's main station.

Bus connections

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CTA

  • 15 Jeffery Local
  • 28 Stony Island
  • 55 Garfield (Owl Service)
  • 171 University of Chicago/Hyde Park

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Commuter Rail System Station Boarding/Alighting Count: Summary Results Fall 2018" (PDF). Metra. April 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2019.
  2. ^ "South Shore Switches Stop to 57th Street". Chicago Tribune. October 16, 1966. p. 2 Section 4.
  3. ^ "Move Stops 4 Blocks Is Railway Plea". Chicago Tribune. June 12, 1966. p. 2 Section 10.
  4. ^ "The HP Metra stations and other Metra accommodations and fleet updates; new cars and coffee shops coming". Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
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