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Millennium Station

Millennium Station 1 Entrance to Millennium Station on Randoplh near Michigan Ave.
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Metra Electric (ME)

Millennium Station lies under Chicago’s newest landmark, the wildly popular Millennium Park, at Randolph and Michigan Avenue.

When a station was first built at this location in the 1860s, it was isolated from the city on the edge of Lake Michigan. Illinois Central Railroad tracks to the station were built on the shore and, from about Roosevelt to Randolph, over the lake waters on pilings. Gradually, the lake waters were filled in and the area grew around – and above –what was long known as Randolph Street Station. The terminal was substantially altered in the 1920s during a major renovation of Grant Park, and other rehabilitation work occurred in the 1960s and 1987. Meanwhile, much of the station’s structure and facilities was gradually covered by high-rises, including One Prudential Plaza in 1955, One Illinois Center in 1970 and Two Prudential Plaza in 1990. Metra bought the IC Electric line in 1987.

A major renovation of the station emerged out of and coincided with the city of Chicago’s emergency repairs to the Randolph Street viaduct and its construction of Millennium Park starting in the late 1990s. After years of complex, subterranean work, the sleek new Millennium Station was dedicated in March 2007, although the partially completed station had been unveiled as early as 2004. With its assortment of food and retail shops, blue-terrazzo floor, larger concourses and waiting area and its location under Chicago’s vibrant park, Millennium has become a new jewel of the Metra system.

The station now serves the Metra Electric Line and the South Shore Line, which is operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. It serves about 20,000 passengers a day.

The waiting room doors are open daily from 5 a.m. to 12:50 a.m. Ticket agents are on duty Monday to Saturday from 5:55 a.m. to 12:50 a.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 12:50 a.m.

A variety of CTA bus routes connect to the station, and CTA elevated and subway lines are a short walk away. The station has a conveniently placed CTA transit card vending machine. Taxis can be easily hailed in the area.

Millennium Station’s main entrance is at the intersection of Randolph and Michigan near the Chicago Cultural Center.

CTA Bus Route #124 Navy Pier operates daily, year-round service to provide connections to Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, all CTA rail lines, Millennium Station and Navy Pier. Service operates from 8:30am until 10:30pm. (Memorial Day Weekend thru Labor Day, service runs 90 mins later in both directions.)  Click here to see the complete #124 bus schedule.