51st–53rd Street (Hyde Park) station

51st–53rd Street (Hyde Park)
Hyde Park/53rd St Station
Location	53rd Street at Lake Park Avenue Hyde Park, Chicago, IL
Coordinates	41°48′04″N 87°35′14″W / 41.8010°N 87.5872°WCoordinates: 41°48′04″N 87°35′14″W / 41.8010°N 87.5872°W
Owned by	METRA
Line(s)	Metra Electric District
Platforms	2 island platforms (formerly 3)
Tracks	4
Connections	CTA Bus
Construction
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	B
History
Rebuilt	2002
Previous names	Madison Park
Services
Preceding station   Metra   Following station 47th Street (Kenwood) toward Millennium Station Metra Electric District 55th–56th–57th Street toward University Park, South Chicago, or Blue Island   Former services   Illinois Central 63rd Street toward New Orleans Main Line Chicago Central Station Terminus 63rd Street toward St. Louis St. Louis – Chicago

51st–53rd Street (Hyde Park) is a commuter rail station within the City of Chicago serves the Metra Electric Line north to Millennium Station and south to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago. The station location, one of the oldest in the United States, has been in continuous use by commuters since 1856.

During peak commute hours, many express trains stop at this station. At off-peak hours, it is served mainly by local trains. Station entrances are located at E. Hyde Park Boulevard (5100 S.)/Lake Park Avenue and at 53rd Street/Lake Park Avenue. The station is located near Kenwood Academy High School and the 53rd Street commercial district.

The East Hyde Park Blvd (aka 51st Street) viaduct was once the site of a graffiti mural, painted by non-profit youth organization Higher Gliffs with Metra's permission. In September, 2006, the murals were whitewashed, possibly by mistake.^[1]

The station was served by Illinois Central Railroad intercity-trains from Chicago to points south at an island platform on the two track non-electrified east of the electrified tracks.^[2] Amtrak's City of New Orleans, Illini, and Saluki still pass by the station without stopping. Prior to October 16, 1966, the South Shore Line also stopped at this station. On that date trains ceased calling at 53rd and instead began stopping at 57th Street,^[3] the next station south.

Bus connections

CTA

• #2 Hyde Park Express
• #6 Jackson Park Express
• #15 Jeffery Local
• #28 Stony Island
• #X28 Stony Island Express
• #171 University of Chicago/Hyde Park
• #172 University of Chicago/Kenwood

See also

• Paul Cornell

References

1. "City destroys local murals". Hyde Park Herald. September 20, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
2. Illinois Central Schedule June 1942.
3. "South Shore Switches Stop to 57th Street". Chicago Tribune. October 16, 1966. p. 2 Section 4.

External links

• Media related to Hyde Park/53rd Street (Metra) at Wikimedia Commons

• Metra – Stations – 51st–53rd Street (Hyde Park)

• Hyde Park Boulevard entrance from Google Maps Street View