Definition
Lombard station is a commuter‑rail station located in Lombard, Illinois, United States. It serves passengers on Metra’s BNSF Railway Line, which provides rail service between Chicago’s Union Station and suburbs to the west.
Overview
The station is situated within the village of Lombard, a western suburb of Chicago, and functions as a local stop on one of Metra’s busiest lines. It provides access to the regional rail network for residents of Lombard and surrounding communities, facilitating commuter travel to downtown Chicago and other destinations along the BNSF corridor. The facility includes basic passenger amenities such as sheltered platforms, ticket vending machines, parking lots, and bicycle racks.
Etymology / Origin
The name “Lombard station” derives directly from the municipality of Lombard, Illinois, in which the station is located. The village itself was named after “Lombardy,” a region in northern Italy, a naming convention adopted by early settlers in the 19th century.
Characteristics
- Service lines: Metra BNSF Railway Line (Chicago Union Station ↔ Aurora, IL).
- Platform layout: Two side platforms serving the two main tracks of the BNSF line.
- Facilities: Sheltered waiting areas, ticket vending machines, real‑time arrival displays, parking spaces (both daily and permit), and bicycle storage.
- Accessibility: The station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides ramps and tactile warning strips.
- Ridership: Metra publishes annual boarding figures; however, the most recent precise average weekday ridership for Lombard station is not confirmed in publicly available sources.
- Ownership and operation: The station is owned and maintained by the Village of Lombard in partnership with Metra.
- Historical notes: The exact opening date of the current station facilities is not definitively documented; the site has been served by commuter rail service since the establishment of the BNSF line in the early‑20th century, with various upgrades occurring over time.
Related Topics
- Metra (Chicago area commuter rail system)
- BNSF Railway Line
- Transportation in the Chicago metropolitan area
- Lombard, Illinois (municipality)
- Commuter rail station design and accessibility standards
Note: Where specific data such as opening dates or exact ridership numbers are not verified by reliable sources, the entry indicates the uncertainty.