Harvard station (Metra)

Harvard station is a Metra commuter rail station in Harvard, Illinois. It is the terminus of the Union Pacific Northwest Line. Harvard is the farthest Metra station from Chicago at 63.16 miles (101.65 km) from Chicago; the next furthest stop, Antioch on the North Central Service, is over 10 miles closer to Chicago at 52.9 miles (85.1 km).[2] The station contains a parking lot operated by the City of Harvard. A coach yard is adjacent to the station and is used to store trains during weekends and overnight hours. Harvard was the only Metra station located in the M zone, until all fare zones beyond J were retired by Metra in 2018. Trains that traveled to Chicago passed through an entire fare zone to reach Woodstock. No stations were located in zone L. Originally, Hartland was the only station located in zone L, however, the stop was closed in 1984. Harvard was then located in fare zone J until February 2024, when the fare structure was simplified across the system. Harvard is now in Zone 4. It is the westernmost station of the Metra system; the next most westerly stop is Elburn on the Union Pacific West Line. Harvard is the last station to use more than one track, as further beyond this station, the UP line is single tracked until reaching Janesville, Wisconsin.

Harvard
Harvard Metra station, looking northwest
General information
Location1 North Ayer Street
Harvard, Illinois
Coordinates42°25′12″N 88°37′03″W / 42.4199°N 88.6175°W / 42.4199; -88.6175
Owned byUnion Pacific
Platforms1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks3
ConnectionsLocal Transit Pace Buses
Construction
Structure typeBrick
ParkingYes, parking lot operated by City of Harvard
AccessibleYes
Other information
Fare zone4
History
Opened1993
Passengers
2018265 (average weekday)[1]Increase 19.9%
Rank151 out of 236[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station
Terminus Union Pacific Northwest
Harvard Branch
Woodstock
toward Ogilvie
Former services
Preceding station Metra Following station
Terminus Union Pacific Northwest
Harvard Branch
Hartland
closed 1984
toward Ogilvie
Preceding station Chicago and North Western Railway Following station
Sharon
via Clinton
Chicago – Minneapolis via Madison Hartland
toward Chicago
Capron
via Beloit
Chemung
toward Rockford
KD Line Alden
toward Kenosha
Location
Map

Being Chicago's most northwesterly commuter rail station, the Harvard station attracts commuters from the Rockford and Belvidere region of northern Illinois as well as south-central Wisconsin. As of 2018, Harvard is the 151st busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 265 weekday boardings.[1]

As of February 16, 2024, Harvard is served by 27 trains (14 inbound, 13 outbound) on weekdays, by 20 trains (10 in each direction) on Saturdays, and by 15 trains (seven inbound, eight outbound) on Sundays.

Bus connections

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Pace

  • 808 Crystal Lake/Harvard

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Commuter Rail System Station Boarding/Alighting Count: Summary Results Fall 2018" (PDF). metrarail.com. April 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Railroad Operating Information: Union Pacific". Chicago Railfan.
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