 Commuter lines terminating at Randolph Street, shown in Panama Orange and Dark South Shore Burgundy on this schematic, serve Chicago's southern and eastern suburbs in Illinois and Indiana |
Millennium Station (formerly Randolph Street terminal; sometimes called Randolph Street station or Randolph/South Water Street station) is a major commuter rail terminal in downtown Chicago that serves the Metra Electric District to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago; and the South Shore Line to Gary and South Bend, Indiana. Located under Millennium Park, the terminal was established in the 1800's by the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). It was rebuilt in the early 21st century and is now owned by the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra). Not counting commuters on the South Shore Line, over 18,000 people board Metra trains at Millennium Station each day.[1] During peak periods, trains leave the terminal as frequently as twice a minute.
History
Randolph Street station, 1895
As Great Central Station, Randolph Street terminal, along with Van Buren Street a few blocks south, was IC's primary downtown Chicago terminal until the completion in 1893 of Central Station (closed 1972) just south of Grant Park at today's Roosevelt Road. It still received many trains thereafter, but was of secondary importance. Its importance increased dramatically in 1926 with the electrification of commuter services on IC's main line and its Blue Island and South Chicago branches. Commuter trains from all three branches were now routed into the Randolph Street terminal, while intercity traffic continued to terminate at Central Station.
Originally, the station platforms were exposed and the ticketing facilities and the waiting room were located in the attached facility. The construction of Millennium Park gradually placed the entire station "underground." Millennium Station existed in a state of perpetual construction from the mid-1980s until 2005: exposed steel girders covered in flame retardant, unpainted plywood walls, bare concrete floors, and dim utility lights created a notoriously unfriendly, cave-like environment. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill was the architect for the station redesign.[2]
Bus connections
CTA Buses
- 3 King Drive
- 4 Cottage Grove (Owl Service)
- 6 Jackson Park Express
- 19 United Center Express
- 20 Madison
- 26 South Shore Express
- 60 Blue Island/26th
- N66 Chicago (Owl Service)
- 124 Navy Pier
- 129 West Loop/South Loop
- 143 Stockton/Michigan Express
- 145 Wilson/Michigan Express
- 147 Outer Drive Express
- 148 Clarendon/Michigan Express
- 151 Sheridan
- 157 Streeterville/Taylor
Pace Buses
- 855 Plainfield-East Loop Express
ChicaGo Dash
- Shuttle Service between Downtown Chicago and Valparaiso (Rush Hour Only)
Pedway connections
Millennium Station serves as a nexus of several Chicago Pedway connections, which links it to several hotels, residential buildings, office buildings, "L" stations and other notable locations. The pedway itself hosts a number of shops, eateries and services. While some portions of the system remain open at all hours, most of them close by 7:00 PM on weekdays and 6:00 PM on the weekends, rendering a significant portion of the system unusable during non-business hours.
Westbound corridor
Eastbound corridor
Northbound corridor
Via South Water Street exit
In popular culture
In the 2008 film The Dark Knight, there is a brief shot where the Batpod is driven through Millennium Station's concourse during a chase scene.
References
External links
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