47th Street/Kenwood is a simple Metra electric flagstop. Service to the station is hourly or better throughout the day, although except on rush hour weekday trains, passengers must either be standing on the platform and visible to the conductor to board, or tell the conductor if they wish to detrain. The station was renovated by Metra in 2004. A plaque at the station entrance thanks John A. McDermott who founded the Kenwood commuters association and worked with Metra to renovate the station.
The stop is an extremely simple single car wooden island platform (passengers should be in the front car to get on or off at Kenwood) in the middle of the wide four-track with two more for freight Metra Electric (ex-Illinois Central) Main Line. All access to the station is from a single staircase at the northern end of the platform. This leads down to the southern sidewalk of 47th Street underpass of the tracks that leads only to Lake Shore Drive and the Lakefront Trail. The station renovations consist of a nicer glass and brick shed with that surrounds the platform staircase that leads to a small low-level area before stairs lead up to the short high-level platform. On the platform is a waiting room with a single bench but a green gabled roof. Murals, including one with an abstract picture of a diesel Metra locomotive and maps of the area, line the 47 Street underpass and station entrance staircase.
Photos 1-5: 15 July, 2006; 6-23: 4 August, 2011; 24-28: 4 August, 2012
27th Street 