Passenger Trains > Metra Electric 79th Street Station

One of my recent projects has been leading the civil/site design for the reconstruction of Metra’s 79th Street Station on the Metra Electric. This is the first of three stations in this contract. The others are 87th Street and 103rd Street. A fourth station, 95th Street, is a separate construction contract. 

In preparation of 79th Street’s on 12/16/24, we conducted a site walkthrough last week. Here’s some views of the new station which will be fully ADA compliant with an elevator. 

All photos taken with permission to be on the property and while wearing PPE. 

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A few trains passed by:
A NICTD/South Shore train heading to Millennium Station 
Southbound CN grain train off the Freeport Sub 
Last up is a southbound Metra. 

That bridge above the CN train is an abandoned NKP structure



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/24 09:36 by kevink.

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Thanks for the insider's look here. Beautiful images of all the new construction on METRA Electrified.
Wish I lived a little closer, so I could actually ride some of these Trains, when they come into service.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/24 09:43 by OldPorter.

Nice looking station, I really like how wide the platform is.

Nathan

NKP was a remainder of Grand Crossing. Amtrak thought it was a good way to connect PRR with IC. But a connection at St. Charles Airline at 16th St. Will be likely cheaper and easier.

Posted from iPhone

The low level boarding area south of the main platform (seen in the South Shore picture) is nice. I assume it will be chained off unless needed once the station opens.

justalurker66 Wrote:
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> The low level boarding area south of the main
> platform (seen in the South Shore picture) is
> nice. I assume it will be chained off unless
> needed once the station opens.

Metra refers to this as a safe dispersal area and is required under the National Fire Protection Assiciation codes which the Chicago Building Code has incoporated. In this case, there is a ramp down from platform to the safe dispersal area. At the far end, there are roller gates as part of the railing and pedestrian crossings for the west two tracks.

MEKoch Wrote:
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> NKP was a remainder of Grand Crossing. Amtrak
> thought it was a good way to connect PRR with IC.
> But a connection at St. Charles Airline at 16th
> St. Will be likely cheaper and easier.

I am aware of plans to remove the bridge altogether.

Are the roller gates locked to keep folks from wandering over to the freight tracks ?

Englewood Wrote:
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> Are the roller gates locked to keep folks from
> wandering over to the freight tracks ?

Yes. At least until the lock is cut…

Posted from iPhone

Metra has been using the walkways at several stations (those without two platforms) during this year's construction. Most of them are located at the top of the stairs from the street with limited protection against wondering passengers. A second short flight of stairs takes passengers to the platform level.

79h St is one of the single platform "local trains only" stations where trains on the express tracks do not stop (except for as needed during track maintenance).

I expect the ramp will have a no trespassing sign at the top (similar to the one at the south end of the high platform at Van Buren St).