Primary route out of Dearborn Station, which closed in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak, with virtually all passenger trains discontinued. Only the Norfolk & Western commuter train remained, one daily round trip which eventually evolved to the Metra Southwest service. From 1971 to 1976, that train used a platform immediately west of Dearborn Station. In 1976, a connection was constructed at 21st Street, enabling that train to use Union Station. Meanwhile, a few intercity passenger trains returned to this route during the mid 1970's, with the deterioration of Penn Central trackage in Indiana. Prior to construction of the connection at 21st Street, a backup move was required to and from the former Pennsylvania Railroad main line at 40th Street, for access to Union Station.
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Radio Frequency - 160.440 (AAR Channel 22)
Radio Frequency - 160.305 (AAR Channel 13) (Chicago Union Station)
Direction is southward from Chicago to Manhattan
Distance is from Chicago (Dearborn Station)
--- CHICAGO
1.7 21st Street (CN crossing/remote-Amtrak South Train Director)
4.0 CP 518 (junction-NS/remote-NS Dispatcher/Dearborn MI)
4.6 47th St.
5,6 55th St.
6.2 CP 59th Street
6.6 Englewood
7.7 CP 74th Street (junction-NS)
1 and 2 tracks from 21st Street to CP 74th Street. CTC in use between 21st Street and CP 74th Street, controlled from Metra's Consolidated Control Facility by Southwest Dispatcher. Trains may also use NS tracks from 21st Street to CP 518, 2 tracks with CTC in use. The NS Chicago West Dispatcher located in Dearborn, Michigan.
(Click for diagram of Chicago Union Station.)
Description of route as it existed at its peak, based on information from a 1940 employee timetable.