Franklin Park station information

Franklin Park
Franklin Park station in September 2016.
General information
Location	3148 Rose Street Franklin Park, Illinois
Coordinates	41°56′12″N 87°51′59″W / 41.9366°N 87.8664°W / 41.9366; -87.8664
Owned by	Village of Franklin Park
Platforms	1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks	4
Connections	Pace Buses
Construction
Parking	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	2
History
Opened	1950
Passengers
2018	392 (average weekday)[1]  14.4%
Rank	123 out of 236[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station Mannheim Weekday Limited toward Big Timber Road Milwaukee District West River Grove toward Union Station
Former services Preceding station Milwaukee Road Following station Mannheim towards Elgin Suburban Service West Line River Grove towards Chicago
Track layout Legend MD-W west to Big Timber Road Calwagner St. 25th Ave. MD-W east to Union Station
Location

Franklin Park is one of two stations on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line in Franklin Park, Illinois. The station is 13.2 miles (21.2 km) away from Chicago Union Station, the eastern terminus of the line.^[2] In Metra's zone-based fare system, Franklin Park is in zone 2. As of 2018, Franklin Park is the 123rd busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 392 weekday boardings.^[1]

As of February 15, 2024, Franklin Park is served by 48 trains (23 inbound, 25 outbound) on weekdays, by all 24 trains (12 in each direction) on Saturdays, and by all 18 trains (nine in each direction) on Sundays and holidays. On weekdays, three inbound trains originate here, and three outbound trains terminate here.

Franklin Park is a centerpiece of the Milwaukee District West Line. Located adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Railway's Bensenville Yard, the station sees a large volume of freight traffic, and many trains on the MD-W line run express to and from this station. With the two north tracks used by Metra and two south tracks used for freight (Canadian Pacific) as well as frequent Metra and freight action, Franklin Park and nearby smaller stations (Belmont Avenue and Mannheim) are a favorite of railfans. The annual Railroad Daze festival is held at this station, and is a festival catered to railfans and celebrates the railroad's role in Franklin Park's history. The historic B-12 interlocking tower for the Milwaukee Railroad is situated one block west of the station, accompanied by a preserved Milwaukee Road caboose. This tower, constructed in the 1890s, was located at the intersection of the MD-W line and the Canadian National (ex-Soo Line/Wisconsin Central) tracks, but closed in July 1996 and was relocated a year later. In late 2006, the state of Illinois, along with CP, CN, and the Indiana Harbor Belt, took part in and executed a major rail relocation plan. This project included the consolidation of the IHB roadbed with the CN's at Richard Avenue in neighboring River Grove, the closedown and demolition of IHB grade crossings at Schiller Boulevard, Chestnut Avenue, Franklin Avenue, Edgington Street, and Grand Avenue, and the demolition and replacement of the CN grade crossing on Grand Avenue with a new green underpass bridge. Following the project, the old IHB right-of-way north of the railroad's Norpaul Yard became Martens Street. The bridge was formally dedicated by the village of Franklin Park in September 2007. Although the Milwaukee system as a whole ceased to exist in 1986, the tower still dons the Milwaukee Road logo.

Franklin Park Station is the last station outbound along the Milwaukee District West Line to use three tracks. It is also the closest full service Metra station to O'Hare International Airport.