51st–53rd Street (Hyde Park) station

51st–53rd Street (Hyde Park) is a commuter rail station within the City of Chicago serves the Metra Electric Line north to Millennium Station and south to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago. As of 2018, the station is the 78th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 671 weekday boardings.^[1] The station location, one of the oldest in the United States, has been in continuous use by commuters since 1856.

51st, 53rd St./Hyde Park At Lake Park Avenue
Hyde Park/51st–53rd Street station
General information
Location	53rd Street at Lake Park Avenue Hyde Park, Chicago, IL
Coordinates	41°48′04″N 87°35′14″W / 41.8010°N 87.5872°W / 41.8010; -87.5872
Owned by	Metra
Line(s)	University Park Sub District
Platforms	2 island platforms (formerly 3)[citation needed]
Tracks	4
Connections	CTA Bus
Construction
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	2
History
Rebuilt	2002
Electrified	Overhead line, 1,500 V DC
Previous names	Madison Park
Passengers
2018	671 (average weekday)[1]  4.5%
Rank	78 out of 236[1]
Services
Preceding station Metra Following station 55th–56th–57th Street toward University Park, South Chicago or Blue Island Metra Electric 47th Street (Kenwood) toward Millennium Station
Former services Preceding station Illinois Central Railroad Following station 55th–56th–57th Streets toward New Orleans Main Line 43rd Street toward Chicago 91st Street toward Richton, 91st Street or Blue Island Electric Suburban 47th Street toward Randolph Street Preceding station Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad Following station McCormick Place toward Randolph Street South Shore Line 63rd Street toward South Bend
Track layout Legend ME north to Millennium Hyde Park Blvd. (51st St.) 53rd St. ME south to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago
Location

During peak commute hours, many express trains stop at this station. At off-peak hours, it is served mainly by local trains. Station entrances are located at E. Hyde Park Boulevard (5100 S.)/Lake Park Avenue and at 53rd Street/Lake Park Avenue. The station is located near Kenwood Academy High School, the 53rd Street commercial district, and the Regents Park apartment complex.

The East Hyde Park Boulevard (51st Street) viaduct was once the site of a graffiti mural, painted by non-profit youth organization Higher Gliffs with Metra's permission. In September 2006, the murals were whitewashed, possibly by mistake.^[2]

The station was served by Illinois Central Railroad intercity-trains from Chicago to points south at an island platform on the two non-electrified tracks east of the electrified tracks.^[3] Amtrak's City of New Orleans, Illini, and Saluki still pass by the station without stopping. Prior to October 16, 1966, the South Shore Line also stopped at this station. On that date trains ceased calling at 53rd and instead began stopping at 57th Street,^[4] the next station south.