Joliet Union Station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joliet Union Station
Location	50 East Jefferson Street Joliet, Illinois 60432
Owned by	City of Joliet (⅔) and Metra (⅓)
Platforms	1 side platform (Rock Island District) 1 side, 1 island (Amtrak)
Tracks	1 (Rock Island District) 4 (Amtrak)
Connections	Pace Buses
Construction
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	JOL (Amtrak)
Fare zone	H (Metra)
History
Opened	1912
Closed	2014
Rebuilt	1989–1991
Traffic
Passengers (2017)	61,367  5.42% (Amtrak)
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Pontiac toward Laredo or Houston Inter-American Chicago Terminus Dwight toward St. Louis Lincoln Service Summit toward Chicago Streator toward Dallas or Houston Lone Star Until 1979 Chicago Terminus Pontiac toward Los Angeles or San Antonio Texas Eagle Streator toward Los Angeles Southwest Chief Until 1996 Preceding station Metra Following station Terminus Heritage Corridor Lockport toward Union Station Rock Island District New Lenox toward LaSalle Street Preceding station Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Following station Millsdale toward Los Angeles Main Line Lockport toward Chicago Preceding station Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Following station Bird's Bridge toward Colorado Springs Main Line Blue Island toward Chicago Terminus Suburban Service New Lenox toward Chicago Preceding station Alton Railroad Following station Elwood toward St. Louis Main Line State Prison toward Chicago
Joliet Union Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Illinois Show map of Illinois Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Joliet, Illinois, USA
Architect	Cook Engineering & Construction, Jarvis Hunt
Architectural style	Beaux Arts/Classical
NRHP reference No.	78001200
Added to NRHP	August 1, 1978

Joliet Union Station was a famous train station in Joliet, Illinois. It served both long-distance Amtrak trains and local Metra commuter trains. This historic station was a busy hub for many years.

However, train service to Joliet Union Station stopped in September 2014. A brand new station, the Joliet Transportation Center, was built right next to it. The new center opened in 2018, taking over all train services.

Train Services at Joliet Union Station

When it was open, Joliet Union Station was a very important spot for trains. It was where several major train lines met. These included the former Rock Island Line, Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe, and Alton Railroad main lines.

Trains from Joliet could reach Chicago Union Station in about 37 miles. This was for the Metra Heritage Corridor and Amtrak routes. For the Metra Rock Island District Line, trains traveled about 40 miles to LaSalle Street Station in downtown Chicago.

Train Tracks and Routes

The Rock Island District line went to LaSalle Street Station through Blue Island, Illinois. Metra owns these tracks. The Metra Heritage Corridor line traveled to Chicago's Union Station via Summit, Illinois. The Canadian National owns these tracks.

On the south side of the station, a single track was used for the Rock Island trains. On the east side, there were four tracks. These tracks served Amtrak, Metra Heritage, and freight trains from BNSF and Union Pacific.

Amtrak Connections

Joliet Union Station was a stop for several Amtrak trains. Five Amtrak trains on the Chicago – St. Louis route stopped there daily. These included the Texas Eagle and the Lincoln Service. The Ann Rutledge also stopped here until 2007.

History of Joliet Union Station

Train service first came to Joliet in 1852. This was thanks to the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad. Joliet Union Station itself was built much later, in 1912. It was designed by architect Jarvis Hunt. The building has a special look called Beaux Arts Classical style.

The City of Joliet owns most of the station (two-thirds). Metra owns the other one-third. The old waiting room inside the station has been changed into a large hall. It can now host parties and events for up to 350 people.

Joliet Union Station

This station was once a stop for the Southwest Chief train. But after the BNSF company merged in 1996, Amtrak changed the train's route. The Southwest Chief then went to Galesburg instead. Joliet Union Station is also where the old Rock Island Line tracks crossed.

Changes Over Time

When the station was first built, there were special tunnels for people to walk through. These tunnels led to platforms on both the south and east sides of the building. There were also canopies to protect people from the weather.

However, these tunnels were later closed. The canopies were also removed. Eventually, passengers on the east side had to cross over freight tracks to reach their trains. On the south side, the number of Rock Island tracks was reduced from four to just one.

Joliet Union Station is considered a very important building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1978. The station was updated between 1989 and 1991. These updates made it easier for everyone to use, including people with disabilities. U.S. Highway 30, also known as the Lincoln Highway, passes right by the station.

Why a New Station Was Built

In 2010, the state government of Illinois announced a big plan. They decided to replace Joliet Union Station. This project cost $42 million. The plan also included rebuilding some of the train tracks.

New tracks were laid just for freight trains. This helps keep them separate from passenger trains. Passengers now use a new building that combines train and bus services. The old Union Station building is still there, but the new terminal was built right next to it.

Improvements with the New Center

The new project included new tunnels. These tunnels allow Metra passengers to reach the Heritage Corridor Line trains safely. This means they no longer have to cross busy freight tracks. A new parking garage was also built, which can hold 500 cars. The new Joliet Transportation Center officially opened on April 11, 2018.

Before the new center, Metra controlled the train crossing where the Rock Island and BNSF tracks met. This meant Metra could make freight trains stop to let passenger trains go first. With the new plan, control of this crossing will go to BNSF and Union Pacific. The old tower building will be saved. The Metra Rock Island passenger platform will also be moved to avoid conflicts with freight trains.

Bus Connections

The new Joliet Transportation Center connects with several local bus routes. These buses are operated by Pace.

• 501
• 504
• 505
• 507
• 508
• 509
• 511
• 832
• 834

• Amtrak – Stations – Joliet, IL
• Joliet Union Station (Metra)
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