Millennium Station

Millennium 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 1800s by the Illinois Central Railroad . It was rebuilt in the early 21st century and is now owned by the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation . Not counting commuters on the South Shore Line, over 18,000 people board Metra trains at Millennium Station each day. During peak periods, trains leave the terminal as frequently as twice a minute.HistoryAs 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.