Blue Island–Vermont Street is a Metra station in Blue Island, Illinois, servicing the Rock Island District and Metra Electric Lines. On the Rock Island, it is from LaSalle Street Station. For the Metra Electric, it is the southern terminus of the Blue Island Branch. The two stations share the same parking facilities and the same bus connections. Although these two stations are across the street from each other and trains do not use the same platform areas, the proximity of the two to each other functionally allows riders to transfer from one to the other with only a very short walk between them. Blue Island-Vermont Street is one of the busiest stations on the RockIsland District. It is the centerpiece of the entire line, historically and presently. Many trains terminate here, most of them locals on the Beverly Branch, and most rush hour trains stop at this station, running express to and from this station. A coach yard is located just north of the station and is used to store out-of-service trains when not in use. Vermont Street is a favorite of railfans due to its unique four-track setup, frequent train action, and switching movements. Later on in the day, Iowa Interstate Railroad runs a daily freight train along the Rock Island tracks, from Blue Island to Council Bluffs, Iowa. For this reason, this daily freight train is officially named the BICB. Blue Island's police and fire departments are located several blocks away from Vermont Street. Blue Island–Vermont Street Station is in zone D of Metra's zone-based fare system.
History
Rock Island service was established in Blue Island in 1852, and the current brick station at Vermont Street replaced the original frame depot in 1868. The Beverly Branch splits from the main line here and runs at the base of the ridge serving stations in Blue Island and the Chicago neighborhoods of Morgan Park and Beverly before veering east to serve Brainard and reconnecting to the main line at the Gresham station at 87th and Vincennes. This branch line was created in 1889 through the influence of the Blue Island Land and Building Company to serve its interests in the development of what was then the village of Morgan Park and carries most of the passenger traffic for the area, although some rush-hour trains travel north-east on the main line. In 1891, the Metra Electric station was built as a branch of the Illinois Central's commuter line from Kensington-115th Street. On July 12, 1971 the station began service to Amtrak trains. By the 1980s, the station became part of the Metra system.
Tracks
The station has six tracks for in-service trains, four for the Rock Island and two for the Metra Electric. Of the Rock Island platforms, two are on the Beverly Branch, and two are on the main line. Most trains on the Beverly Branch terminate at this station, the lone exception being weekday middays, and run inbound back to LaSalle Street Station. The Metra Electric station, being a stub terminus, has two tracks and one island platform. It is one of only two stations on the Blue Island Branch to have more than one track, the other being West Pullman where the line has a passing siding.
