Matteson (Metra)

Matteson
Station statistics
Address	215th Street & Main Street Matteson, IL
Coordinates	41°29′55″N 87°42′09″W / 41.4985°N 87.7025°W / 41.4985; -87.7025Coordinates: 41°29′55″N 87°42′09″W / 41.4985°N 87.7025°W / 41.4985; -87.7025
Lines	Metra Electric
Structure	Elevated
Platforms	1 Island platform (formerly 2)
Tracks	2
Parking	Yes
Other information
Opened	1863
Electrified	1926
Owned by	Metra
Fare zone	F
Services
Ticket vending machines, pedestrian tunnel Preceding station   Metra   Following station 211th Street (Lincoln Highway) toward Millennium Station Metra Electric Main Line Richton Park toward University Park     Former services     Illinois Central Railroad Monee toward New Orleans Main Line Homewood toward Chicago Central Station

Matteson is one of two commuter rail stations along the Main Branch of the Metra Electric line in Matteson, Illinois. It is located at 215th and Main Streets, and is and is 28.24 miles (45.45 km) away from the northern terminus at Randolph Street Station.^[1] In Metra's zone-based fare system, Matteson Station is in zone F.

Matteson station was the terminus of the IC Electric line until 1946, when it was extended to Richton Park Station, in order to bring the cars closer to the south end of the "IC Electric" coach storage yard.^{[citation needed]} Originally built in 1863,^[2] and rebuilt in 1912,^[3] it was the southernmost station to be built before the line was electrified in 1926. Matteson is built on elevated tracks near the embankment of a bridge over Front Street. This bridge also carries the Amtrak line that runs parallel to it, carrying the City of New Orleans, Illini, and Saluki trains. Parking is available on both sides of the tracks on the south side of Front Street and a parallel bicycle path. The west side parking lot is along Main Street between the Front Street and Main Street bridges, while the larger east side parking lot is technically in Park Forest and located on the corner of North Street, Homan Avenue, and Front Street. A pedestrian tunnel which runs beneath the tracks, is also elevated and has staircases on each end connects the two parking lots.

No bus connections are available at this station, but the Old Plank Road Trail offers a human-powered right-of-way going east and west.

There is evidence of another island platform to the east of the current platform. This served the IC long-distance trains on a non-electrified double track line—the same tracks used by Amtrak today.

References

1. ^ Metra Railfan Tips - Metra Electric
2. ^ [Dynamic Depot Maps (Illinois)]
3. ^ "Train from Randolph Street: 150 Years of Service on the Illinois Central and Metra Electric," by Norman Carlson (2006)

External links

• Metra Electric - Matteson Station
• Front Street entrance from Google Maps Street View