Van Buren Street station

Van Buren Street station is a commuter rail station in downtown Chicago that serves the Metra Electric Line to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago neighborhood; and the South Shore Line to Gary and South Bend, Indiana.

Van Buren Street
Hector Guimard entrance near Grant Park
General information
Location	132 East Van Buren Street Chicago Loop, Chicago, Illinois 60604
Coordinates	(400 S/100 E) 41.877326°N 87.622844°W / 41.877326; -87.622844
Owned by	Metra
Line(s)	University Park Sub District
Platforms	1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks	4
Connections	CTA Bus Pace Buses
Construction
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	1 (Metra and South Shore)
History
Rebuilt	1896
Electrified	Overhead line, 1,500 V DC
Passengers
10,000 daily (Metra)[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station Museum Campus/11th Street toward University Park, South Chicago or Blue Island Metra Electric Millennium Station Terminus Preceding station NICTD Following station Museum Campus/11th Street toward South Bend Airport South Shore Line Millennium Station Terminus
Future services Preceding station NICTD Following station Museum Campus/11th Street toward Munster/Dyer Main Street Monon Corridor peak hours Millennium Station Terminus
Former services Preceding station Illinois Central Railroad Following station Roosevelt Road toward Richton, 91st Street or Blue Island Electric Suburban Randolph Street Terminus Roosevelt Road toward Addison West Suburban
Track layout Legend ME north to Millennium Jackson Dr. Van Buren St. pedestrian bridge Ida B. Wells Dr. (WB) Ida B. Wells Dr. (EB) ME south to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago south to South Bend Airport
Location

The station has three tracks, with one side and one island platform. During the morning rush hour, platform 1 serves all outbound trains. Platform 2 serves local trains arriving from South Chicago, and trains from Blue Island. Platform 3 serves trains from the University Park mainline, which are usually expresses. During the off-peak hours and evening rush hour, Platform 1 serves express trains serving the University Park mainline. Platform 2 serves local trains headed for South Chicago, and trains headed for Blue Island. Platform 3 serves all inbound trains. In addition, South Shore Line trains from Millennium Station use platform 1, while trains to Millennium Station use platform 3, regardless of the time of day.

One of the station's entrances is a replica of an Hector Guimard-designed, Art Nouveau-style Paris Métro entrance. The entrance was given to Chicago as a gift by the city of Paris in 2001.^[2]

A refurbishment project will begin in 2024, with the station receiving new entrances and a green roof.^[3]

Bus connections

CTA Buses

• 1 Bronzeville/Union Station
• 3 King Drive
• 4 Cottage Grove (Owl Service)
• X4 Cottage Grove Express
• 6 Jackson Park Express
• 7 Harrison
• J14 Jeffery Jump
• 26 South Shore Express
• 126 Jackson
• 130 Museum Campus (Summer Service Only)
• 147 Outer DuSable Lake Shore Express
• 148 Clarendon/Michigan Express
• 151 Sheridan

Gallery

• 
  South Shore train approaching from Millenium Station
• 
  Interior of the Van Buren Street station
• 
  Metra train approaching from Kensington and points south
• 
• 
• 

References

1. "Metra:Van Buren Street Station". Archived from the original on 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
2. "Paris Gives Chicago touch of Belle Epoque," Chicago Sun-Times, May 13, 2001 (retrieved 23 December 2006)
3. Achong, Ian (2023-04-23). "Plan Commission Approves Metra Van Buren Station Overhaul". Chicago YIMBY. Retrieved 2023-04-23.

External links

• Metra – Stations – Van Buren Street
• South Shore Line - Stations
• Jackson Drive entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Van Buren Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Article from Railway Review (1897) with original floor plan