Main Street/Evanston is the southernmost of 3 Metra Union Pacific North Line Stations in the City of Evanston. The station is located on an elevated ROW between the bridges of Main Street and Washington Street. The station has two side platforms for the two track line, although a third track was once east (with extra overpass bridges) of the Outbound platform which was once an island platform. The Main Street Purple Line Station is across the alley east from the Metra Station although all access to the 'L' Station is in the middle of the station, along Chicago Avenue way east of the Metra Station. The next stop north Davis Street is the announced connection point on CTA and Metra trains.
The station contains a two story station house, brick on the upper level, built into the concrete on the lower level. The station was the home of the Piccolo Theatre until the theater company left the Metra Station after the final show of its season closed on May 22, 2016. The troop now performs in other venues. Inside the station building is the ADA elevator to the Inbound platform. Except for the elevator, no other passenger amenities are provided in the station other than slight shelter from the depot's overhanging roof. Staircases lead up to the Inbound platform from Main Street and Washington Street at each end of the platform.
The Outbound platform contains a short black canopy structure with a gabled roof for shelter. At the southern end, a staircase leads down to the NE corner of Custer Avenue and Washington Street. Near the SE corner of Custer Avenue and Main Street, the east sidewalk of Custer Avenue becomes a ramp which leads up (with a staircase in the middle of the platform providing a shortcut) to the elevated platform with one switchback, making the station fully ADA accessible.
All Photos taken on 25 October, 2011
Davis St./Evanston 