View source for Milwaukee District North Line

{{Short description|Commuter rail service in Illinois}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width          = 
| name               = {{ric|Metra|mdn}} Milwaukee District North Line
| color              = {{rcr|Metra|mdn}}
| logo               = 
| logo_width         = 
| image              = Metra City of Woodstock in Deerfield.jpg
| image_width        = 300px
| alt                = 
| caption            = [[EMD F40PH]] {{Abbr|No.|Number}} 120 leads an outbound train at {{stl|Metra|Deerfield}}
| type               = [[Commuter rail]]
| status             = Operating
| locale             = Northern [[Chicago metropolitan area]]
| predecessor        = Milwaukee Road
| first              = 
| website            = {{Official URL}}
| operator           = [[Metra]]
| formeroperator     = 
| ridership          = 23,257 (Avg. Weekday 2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtams.org/rtams/metraHistoricalRidership.jsp?ridershipID=15&level=branch|title=Milwaukee District North Line Weekday Ridership|publisher=Regional Transportation Authority Mapping and Statistics (RTAMS)|access-date=2016-07-21|archive-date=2016-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820085823/http://www.rtams.org/rtams/metraHistoricalRidership.jsp?ridershipID=15&level=branch|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| ridership2         = 2,786,215 (2023)
| start              = [[Chicago Union Station|Union Station]]
| stops              = 22
| end                = {{stn|Fox Lake}}
| distance           = {{convert|49.7|mi|km}}
| journeytime        = 97 minutes, stopping at all stops
| frequency          = 
| trainnumber        = 
| line_used          = [[C&M Subdivision]], [[Fox Lake Subdivision]]
| class              = 
| access             = 
| seating            = 
| sleeping           = 
| autorack           = 
| catering           = 
| observation        = 
| entertainment      = 
| baggage            = 
| otherfacilities    = 
| stock              = 
| gauge              = 
| el                 = 
| speed              = 
| trainlength        = 
| owners             = [[Metra]] (dispatched by [[Canadian Pacific Kansas City]] Railway between Rondout and Pacific Junction)
| routenumber        = 
| maintenance        = 
| sharing            = 
| map                = {{switcher
|{{maplink-road|from=Milwaukee District North Line.map}} Milwaukee District North Line highlighted in orange<hr>
|Show interactive map
|{{Milwaukee District North Line}}
|Show route diagram map
}}
| map_state          = 
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}}

The '''Milwaukee District North Line''' ('''MD-N''') is a [[Metra]] [[commuter rail]] line in [[Chicago, Illinois]] and its northern suburbs, running from  [[Chicago Union Station|Union Station]] to {{stl|Metra|Fox Lake}}. Although Metra does not refer to any of its lines by color, the timetable accents for the Milwaukee District North line are pale "Hiawatha Orange" in honor of the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad|Milwaukee Road]]'s ''[[Hiawatha (Milwaukee Road trains)|Hiawatha]]'' [[passenger train]]s.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Did you know? | journal=On the Bi-Level |date=June 2009 | url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/about-metra/news/bi-level/OTBLJune09.pdf | pages=3}}</ref>

The line utilizes the [[Canadian Pacific Kansas City]] Railway's [[C&M Subdivision]] from Union Station to [[Rondout, Illinois|Rondout]] and Metra's [[Fox Lake Subdivision]] from Rondout to [[Fox Lake, Illinois|Fox Lake]].

== Operations ==
[[File:METX 99 on a MD-N train to Chicago.jpg|thumb|left|Metra F59PH #99 pushes an inbound train through Deerfield]]
Metra is the primary user of the C&M Subdivision, with commuter services operating between Union Station and Fox Lake. As of June 3, 2024, the public timetable shows 54 trains (27 in each direction) operating on weekdays, with 16 trains running to and from Fox Lake, five running to and from {{stl|Metra|Grayslake}}, one running to and from {{stl|Metra|Libertyville}}, four running to and from {{stl|Metra|Lake Forest|mdn}}, and one running to and from {{stl|Metra|Deerfield}}. Metra operates a reduced schedule on weekends, with nine trains operating between Union Station and Fox Lake, with an additional train on Saturday afternoons that short-turns at Lake Forest. This service is supplemented by [[Amtrak]], whose ''[[Empire Builder]]'', ''[[Hiawatha (Amtrak train)|Hiawatha]]'' and ''[[Borealis (train)|Borealis]]'' [[Inter-city rail|inter-city]] trains operate on the line between Union Station and Rondout, and also stop at {{stl|Metra|Glenview}}.

Metra began increased [[reverse commute]] service on the line on March 4, 2019. This service is part of a pilot-program funded under a two-year, [[Public–private partnership|public-private partnership]] between Metra and Lake County Partners.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Metra-to-begin-reverse-commute-service-from-Chicago-to-Lake-County--56832|title=Metra to begin reverse-commute service from Chicago to Lake County|publisher=Progressive Railroading|date=February 22, 2019|access-date=March 3, 2019}}</ref> The increased reverse commute service was temporarily suspended during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], but was reinstated in December 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metra.com/newsroom/metra-upgrade-service-4-lines-dec-12|title=Metra to upgrade service on 4 lines Dec. 12|access-date=December 2, 2022}}</ref> On June 3, 2024, Metra updated the timetable and stopping patterns for trains to better reflect current conditions, along with adding an additional late evening departure in each direction, with an inbound 10:30&nbsp;p.m. train from Fox Lake to Union Station, and a 12:32&nbsp;a.m. outbound train from Union Station to Fox Lake.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Schedule changes coming June 3 to Milwaukee District North line {{!}} Metra |url=https://metra.com/newsroom/schedule-changes-coming-june-3-milwaukee-district-north-line |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=metra.com}}</ref>

Metra has included the possibility of extending the Milwaukee District North Line along one of two routes in their Cost Benefit Analysis report. If this were to happen, the line could continue northwest via the Fox Lake branch to [[Richmond, Illinois|Richmond]], with an additional stop in [[Spring Grove, Illinois|Spring Grove]]. Alternatively, the line could be extended north along the [[C&M Subdivision]] and continue from Rondout to [[Wadsworth, Illinois|Wadsworth]], with additional stops in [[Green Oaks, Illinois|Green Oaks]], [[Waukegan, Illinois|Waukegan]] (separate from the [[Union Pacific North Line]]'s [[Waukegan station|station]],) and [[Gurnee, Illinois|Gurnee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metra.com/sites/default/files/assets/cba_final_report_20190116.pdf|title=Systemwide Cost Benefit Analysis of Major Capital Improvements|access-date=May 7, 2022}}</ref>

== History ==
Before 1982, this line was operated by the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad]] (Milwaukee Road). When the Milwaukee Road went bankrupt, the [[Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois)|Regional Transportation Authority]] took over operation of the line. By 1984, the line passed to RTA's newly created Commuter Rail Division, which rebranded as Metra in 1985 (that same year, the [[Soo Line Railroad]] acquired controlling interest in the Milwaukee Road and absorbed it the following year). Metra acquired the line from the Soo Line in 1987. The Soo Line then ran freight trains on the line via trackage rights until it was absorbed into the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] in 1990. CP Railway merged with the [[Kansas City Southern Railway]] in April 2023 into the [[Canadian Pacific Kansas City]] Limited, or CPKC Railway. Today this service is one of several Metra routes operated by Metra crews, but trains are dispatched under contract by the CPKC, which continues to hold trackage rights.<ref>{{Citation|last=s_c_kos|title=CP 9633 East at Libertyville, Ill.|date=2008-06-17|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/s_c_kos/2590116958/|access-date=2022-01-04}}</ref>

The Milwaukee District North Line route and Metra's track ownership diverge from the Chicago - Milwaukee - Minneapolis mainline at [[Rondout, Illinois]] and proceeds northwesterly toward Fox Lake. This secondary route, owned by Metra, was known as the Janesville Subdivision (J-Sub) of the [[Milwaukee Road]]. The mainline north of Rondout is owned by the CPKC<ref>[http://www.chicagorailfan.com/mmmilwn.html Metra Railfan Tips - Milwaukee District/North Line]</ref> through its American subsidiary [[Soo Line Railroad]] and sees [[Amtrak]] and freight traffic only. Metra service and track ownership end at Fox Lake. The tracks beyond Fox Lake are owned by the State of Wisconsin and operated for freight service by the [[Wisconsin and Southern Railroad]]. Commuter service beyond Fox Lake, abolished in 1982, served the communities of [[Spring Grove, Illinois|Spring Grove]], [[Solon Mills, Illinois|Solon Mills]], [[Zenda, Wisconsin|Zenda]], and [[Walworth, Wisconsin|Walworth]].<ref>[http://www.chicagorailfan.com/tt7milwn.html Chicago's Lost Stations - Milwaukee Road Suburban Service; North Timetable (November 14, 1971)]</ref>

Until 1984, there was a stop in Rondout. The station building itself was demolished in the mid-1960s. The station was located at Rondout Junction, where the line crosses the [[Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway]]'s tracks at a diamond junction.<ref>[http://www.chicagorailfan.com/mscmsp.html Chicago's Lost Stations - Milwaukee Road Chicago-Fox Lake]</ref> Before 1982, service ran as far north as [[Walworth, Wisconsin]].

Metra has conducted studies on extending the Milwaukee District North Line to [[Richmond, Illinois]], and constructing a second branch, running along the CPKC main line from [[Rondout, Illinois|Rondout]] north to [[Wadsworth, Illinois|Wadsworth]]. However, there are not any plans to construct the extension.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wadsworth Extension Commuter Rail Feasibility Study|url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/about-metra/wadsworthfeasibilitystudy_062001.pdf|access-date=2021-04-23|website=[[Metra]]}}</ref>

==Ridership==
Between 2014 and 2019, annual ridership declined from 7,237,913 to 6,549,143, an overall decline of 9.5%.<ref name=2018report>{{cite web |title=RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANNUAL REPORT 2018 |url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/2018_annual_ridership_report.pdf |publisher=Metra |access-date=12 May 2019 | page=4}}</ref><ref name="2019report">{{cite web |title=RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANNUAL REPORT 2019 |url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/annual_report_2019_standalone.pdf |publisher=Metra |access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref> Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], ridership dropped to 1,556,783 passengers in 2020 and to 1,094,292 in 2021. Despite this overall annual decline, from April to December 2021, ridership was higher than in the same period in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Metra |title=2021 Annual Ridership Report |url=https://metra.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/2021%20Annual%20Ridership%20Report%20v6.1.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=RTAMS {{!}} Regional Transportation Authority Mapping and Statistics |url=https://rtams.org/dataset/metra-ridership/resource/4524acc4-f5d0-48b2-bd52-cd8b0c4af6d1#%7B%7D |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=rtams.org}}</ref>

{{#invoke:Chart | bar chart
| group 1 = 7237917:7094564:6930770:6819623:6610059:6548838:1557160:1094293:1905473:2841354:3153280
| units suffix =
| group names = Annual ridership
| x legends = 2014:2015:2016:2017:2018:2019:2020:2021:2022:2023:2024
| colors = #{{rcr|Metra|Milwaukee District/North}}
}}

== Stations ==
{| class="wikitable"
!State
!County
!Zone
!Location
!Station
!Connections and notes
|-bgcolor=dfdfdf
|rowspan=2|[[Wisconsin|WI]]
|rowspan=2|[[Walworth County, Wisconsin|Walworth]]
| rowspan="5" |&nbsp;
|[[Walworth, Wisconsin|Walworth]]
|Walworth
|Closed October 1, 1982
|-bgcolor=dfdfdf
|[[Zenda, Wisconsin|Zenda]]
|Zenda
|Closed October 1, 1982
|-
|rowspan=28|[[Illinois|IL]]
|rowspan=3|[[McHenry County, Illinois|McHenry]]
|bgcolor=dfdfdf|[[Richmond, Illinois|Richmond]]
|bgcolor=dfdfdf|Richmond
|bgcolor=dfdfdf|Proposed new stop{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
|-bgcolor=dfdfdf
|[[Solon Mills, Illinois|Solon Mills]]
|Solon Mills
|Closed October 1, 1982
|-bgcolor=dfdfdf
|[[Spring Grove, Illinois|Spring Grove]]
|Spring Grove
|Closed October 1, 1982
|-
|rowspan=11|[[Lake County, Illinois|Lake]]
|rowspan=8|4
|[[Fox Lake, Illinois|Fox Lake]]
|{{stl|Metra|Fox Lake}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} [[Pace (transit)|Pace]]: 570, 806
|-
|[[Ingleside, Illinois|Ingleside]]
|{{stl|Metra|Ingleside}} {{BSflag}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 570
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Long Lake, Illinois|Long Lake]]
|bgcolor=dfdfdf|{{stn|Wilson Road}}
|bgcolor=dfdfdf|Closed 1984<ref name="2017 trends">{{cite report |title=Ridership Trends - Annual Report 2017 |url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/ridership_report_-_annual_report_2017_standalone.pdf |publisher=Metra Division of Strategic Capital Planning |access-date=December 2, 2018 |page=32 |date=February 2018}}</ref>
|-
|{{stl|Metra|Long Lake}}
|
|-
|[[Round Lake, Illinois|Round Lake]]
|{{stl|Metra|Round Lake}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 570
|-
|[[Grayslake, Illinois|Grayslake]]
|{{stl|Metra|Grayslake}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 570
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Libertyville, Illinois|Libertyville]]
|{{stl|Metra|Prairie Crossing|mdn}}
|{{rint|chicago|metra}} [[Metra]]: {{rcb|Metra|nc|inline=square}}
|-
|{{stl|Metra|Libertyville}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 574
|-bgcolor=dfdfdf
|&nbsp;
|[[Rondout, Illinois|Rondout]]
|{{stn|Rondout||Illinois}}
|Closed 1984<ref name="2017 trends" />
|-
|rowspan=2|4
|[[Lake Forest, Illinois|Lake Forest]]
|{{stl|Metra|Lake Forest|mdn}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Deerfield, Illinois|Deerfield]]
|{{stl|Metra|Deerfield}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 471
|-
|rowspan=14|[[Cook County, Illinois|Cook]]
|rowspan=2|3
|{{stl|Metra|Lake Cook Road}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 626
|-
|[[Northbrook, Illinois|Northbrook]]
|{{stl|Metra|Northbrook}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 422
|-bgcolor=dfdfdf
|
|[[Techny, Illinois|Techny]]
|Techny
|Closed 1971
|-
|rowspan=3|3
|rowspan=2|[[Glenview, Illinois|Glenview]]
|{{stl|Metra|North Glenview}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 423
|-
|{{stl|Metra|Glenview}}
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Borealis (train)|Borealis]]'', ''[[Empire Builder]]'', ''[[Hiawatha (Amtrak train)|Hiawatha]]''<br>{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 210, 422, 423
|-
|[[Golf, Illinois|Golf]]
|{{stl|Metra|Golf}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 208, 210
|-
|rowspan=7|2
|[[Morton Grove, Illinois|Morton Grove]]
|{{stl|Metra|Morton Grove}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 210, 250
|-
|rowspan=7|[[Chicago]]
|{{stl|Metra|Edgebrook}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} [[List of Chicago Transit Authority bus routes|CTA Bus]]: 84, 85A<br>{{rint|bus|1}} Pace: 225, 226
|-
|{{stl|Metra|Forest Glen}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 92
|-
|{{stl|Metra|Mayfair}}
|{{rint|chicago|l}} [[Chicago "L"]]: {{rcb|CTA|Blue|inline=route}} <small>(at {{cta|Montrose|Blue}})</small><br>{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 54, 54A, 78
|-
|{{stl|Metra|Grayland}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 56, 152
|-
|{{stl|Metra|Healy}}
|{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 53, 74
|-
|{{stl|Metra|Western Avenue|Milwaukee District}}
|{{rint|chicago|metra}} Metra: {{rcb|Metra|mdw|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|nc|inline=square}}<br>{{rint|bus|1}} CTA Bus: 49, X49, 65
|-
|1
|{{stl|Metra|Chicago}}
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]] (long-distance): ''[[California Zephyr]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Cardinal}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|City of New Orleans}}, ''[[Empire Builder]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, ''[[Lake Shore Limited]]'', ''[[Southwest Chief]]'', ''[[Texas Eagle]]''<br>{{rint|us|Amtrak}} Amtrak (intercity): {{lnl|Amtrak|Blue Water}}, ''[[Borealis (train)|Borealis]]'', ''[[Hiawatha (Amtrak train)|Hiawatha]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Illini and Saluki}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg}}, ''[[Lincoln Service]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Pere Marquette}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Wolverine}}<br>{{rint|chicago|metra}} [[Metra]]: {{rcb|Metra|bnsf|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|hc|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|mdw|inline=square}}, {{rcb|Metra|nc|inline=square}},  {{rcb|Metra|sw|inline=square}}<br>{{rint|chicago|l}} Chicago "L": {{rcb|CTA|Blue|inline=route}} <small>(at {{cta|Clinton|Blue}})</small>, {{rcb|CTA|Brown|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Orange|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Pink|inline=route}} {{rcb|CTA|Purple|inline=route}} <small>(at {{cta|Quincy}})</small><br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[List of Chicago Transit Authority bus routes|CTA Bus]]: 1, 7, J14, 19, 28, 56, 60, 120, 121, 124, 125, 126, 128, 130, 151, 156, 157, 192<br>{{rint|bus|1}} [[Pace (transit)|Pace]]: 755<br>{{rint|bus}} [[Amtrak Thruway]]: Chicago–Madison and Chicago–Rockford ([[Van Galder Bus Company|Van Galder]]), Chicago–Louisville ([[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]])
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{Attached KML |display=title,inline}}
* [http://metrarail.com/content/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map/md-n/map.html Metra Milwaukee District/North] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628050334/http://metrarail.com/content/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map/md-n/map.html |date=2016-06-28 }} service schedule

{{Metra}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Milwaukee District North Line}}
[[Category:Metra lines]]
[[Category:Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad]]
[[Category:Richmond, Illinois]]
[[Category:Transportation in McHenry County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Grayslake, Illinois]]
[[Category:Libertyville, Illinois]]
[[Category:Lake Forest, Illinois]]
[[Category:Deerfield, Illinois]]
[[Category:Transportation in Lake County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Northbrook, Illinois]]
[[Category:Glenview, Illinois]]
[[Category:Morton Grove, Illinois]]
[[Category:Albany Park, Chicago]]
[[Category:Transportation in Cook County, Illinois]]