Union Pacific/West Line
The Union Pacific/West (UP-W) is a commuter rail line provided by Metra and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Union Pacific/West line are printed in "Kate Shelley Rose" pink, honoring an Iowa woman who saved a Chicago & North Western Railway train from disaster in 1881.
Its eastern terminus is the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago. The line traverses Chicago's western neighborhoods and its western and far western suburbs to Elburn. This line travels on the oldest railway route in Chicago, the route of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad along Kinzie street.
In late spring 2009, Union Pacific began a major upgrade to the Union Pacific/West line. A third mainline track will be built between Elmhurst and River Forest, major signal system upgrades, the consolidation of the Bellwood and Melrose Park Stations (separate project), removal of all mid-platform pedestrian crossings at all stations, advanced warning systems for pedestrians, and new platforms. Work is being conducted in three phases and will be completed by late December 2010.
Speculation exists that the line could be extended from its current end in Elburn further west through Maple Park and Cortland to DeKalb. This would provide greater access for North-Central Illinois Residents to the Chicago area, as well as for students at Northern Illinois University. Maple Park has indicated that adding a Metra stop in the town is in the County's 2040 transportation plan. Further west, however, remains uncertain.
Read more about Union Pacific/West Line: Station Stops
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