Type Commuter Rail Line length 37.3 mi (60.0 km) Operator Metra | System Metra Dist Station Stations 6 | |
Daily ridership 2,700 (Avg. Weekday 2009) Track gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Owners Metra, Canadian National Railway Terminis Joliet Union Station, Chicago Union Station | ||
Cta railfanning featuring metra heritage corridor 2 45 p m train
The Heritage Corridor Line (HC) is a Metra commuter rail line in Chicago, Illinois, and its suburbs. Metra does not refer to its lines by colors, but the timetable accents for the Heritage Corridor line are "Alton Maroon". (The Alton Railroad once ran trains on this route.) The name Heritage Corridor refers to the Illinois and Michigan Canal Heritage Corridor. Established in 1984, it runs parallel to the line.
Contents
- Cta railfanning featuring metra heritage corridor 2 45 p m train
- Metra heritage corridor time lapse
- Route
- References
The Heritage Corridor runs during weekday rush hours only in the peak direction (to Chicago in AM rush, to Joliet in PM rush). The Heritage Corridor Line takes less than 1 hour to reach Joliet, significantly faster than the Rock Island District Line which also serves Joliet.
A fourth outbound train was added on March 14, 2016. Now, 8 trains run on the Heritage Corridor, 3 of them inbound, 4 outbound, and one running as a deadhead (it picks up no passengers). All trains run through to (and start at) Joliet.
Metra heritage corridor time lapse
Route
The line runs from Union Station in downtown Chicago through southwestern suburbs to Joliet, Illinois. In March 2016, the public timetable shows four Chicago to Joliet trains each weekday. An additional train runs inbound during the afternoon rush hour but as an empty equipment move or deadhead.
Amtrak's Texas Eagle and Lincoln Service use these tracks from Union Station to Joliet. The Texas Eagle only stops at Chicago and Joliet, while the Lincoln Service also stops at Summit.
Plans for a new station on the Heritage Corridor to be located in Romeoville have been announced. The station and accompanying parking would be on property of the Citgo oil refinery between Lemont and Lockport. The line may also be extended to Braidwood.