Western Avenue on the Milwaukee District North, Milwaukee District West, and North Central Service (not to be confused with the Western Avenue stop on the BNSF Railway 2.5 miles south of this Metra Station) is the first stop on all 3 lines after Union Station. Nearly all trains on the 3 Metra Routes that serve the station stop, just a few Rush Hour trains don't. The stop is just after the ex-Milwaukee Road tracks cross the ex-Chicago and Northwestern tracks at a grade, just south of the station. These tracks are used by the Union Pacific West Line and trains running on this line are visible in the distance from the station platforms, beyond the edge of a railroad yard.
The station itself has 2 platforms, for the three track line. There is an island platform primarily used by Inbound trains and a side platform for outbound trains. The island platform is accessed by an underground tunnel at it's southern end accessed by a staircase and ADA compliant ramp at its southern end. This ADA ramp is surrounded by an overhanging canopy structure that provides the only shelter on the platform. This tunnel leads to an opening beneath the tracks at the dead end of Artesian Avenue (a block west of Western Avenue). Here the Inbound platform has a boarded-up brick station house at it's southern end. Access to the Inbound platform is from a staircase and ramp on the opposite side of the station house from the tunnel via a small parking lot that angles upwards towards the level of the platform. This parking lot forms a triangle with the platform, the end of Atesian Avenue and Hubbard Street. The overhaning porch on the platform-side of the station house provides the only shelter to Outbound waiting passengers (which are plentiful at this station).
Photos 1-24 taken on 4 June, 2017; 25-33: 2 November, 2011
Grand/Cicero 
Healy 