Station Review #117: Grayland (Metra)



Grayland is a station on Metra's MD-N line. The station is located at Milwaukee Avenue and Kilbourn Avenue in the Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago. 

History

Grayland station in 2009

Grayland was originally built in 1873, as a concession from John Gray to the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad to stop at the subdivision he made from his farm named Grayland so long as he gave them the land and depot he built himself. A town grew from this named Grayland, which then got annexed into Chicago in the 1880s. 

Sometime later, the station was rebuilt and downgraded to two shelters to facilitate a grade separation project. Far into the future, this station was closed in 2021 to be rebuilt and a temporary station was built, which isn't all that different. 

Tour

Metra EMD SD70MACH leaving Greyland Station, going towards Union Station

Grayland is a dreary station. There is absolutely little to nothing good about this station whatsoever. 

Bench

Shelter

Map

Schedule

The other platform

Salt storage

The platforms

Just because Metra is a lot more lenient with what works for accessibility than SEPTA's Regional Rail system doesn't make this station accessible for either. There's no tactile strip at the ends of the platform, for example.

Platform crossover 

Metra, why. There's no crossing signal, you're supposed to just cross and hope there's not a train coming. 

Staircase

Again, not at all accessible. This was not a fun staircase to use in the rain. 

Sign for parking lot

The parking lot in question

There's a small parking lot right outside of the station. 

Future Plans for Greyland Station

Since 2021, Metra has been rebuilding the station so that it can be accessible. The current version of Grayland station is a temporary station. The new Grayland station was supposed to be finished in October of 2024, but has since been delayed, and will instead open on August 14th, 2025. 

The reason I'm reviewing this station now is because it's basically the same as the old station, just slightly newer and in a worse location. Much of this station's continued reason for existence seems to stem from it being near Milwaukee Avenue. Grayland station moving back to its old location would make getting to Milwaukee Avenue easier. 

Bus Connections

There are two bus connections at Grayland station:

  • 56 -  Milwaukee: This bus goes from Millenium Station to Jefferson Park station via Milwaukee Avenue. This bus usually runs about once every 10 minutes or so. 
  • 152 - Addison: This bus just goes along Addison, from Lake Shore Drive to the Addison and Cumberland Terminal, where Addison Avenue ends. This bus is very frequent, usually running a bus every five minutes at its most frequent.  

Points of Interest Near Grayland Station


There's things here, but not a huge amount. The Carl Schurz High School is the most prominent, but there are also a lot of stores, a playground, medium density housing, industry and businesses, and a few restaurants as well. The current iteration of Grayland station is closer to Addison Avenue than Irving Park Road, which has a lot more going on. 

The immediate surroundings though? It's just a business park. If you go west, it's more business park for miles, and going east from Grayland station requires you to go north, and then back south. It's a little annoying to try exiting this to go anywhere. 

Statistics


Name: Grayland
Agency: Metra
Line(s): MD-N
Locality: Irving Park 
Municipality: Chicago
County: Cook
State: Illinois
Ridership: 681 riders per average weekday (2018)

Amenity Checklist


Accessibility: ×
Bicycle parking: ×
Clean: ×
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage to either side: ×
Existence is justifiable: ✓
Fare Payment Kiosks: ×
Good Wayfinding: ✓
Lighting: ✓
Maps: ✓
Near places people are: × (only on one side)
Adequate Parking: ✓
Safe to use: ×
Shelters: ✓
Seating: ✓
Station in Good Condition: ×
Train Departure/Arrival Info: ×
Updated/Useful Signage: ✓

Final Verdict: 2.5/10

Station Directory

--------Cook County--------
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
Chicago Union
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Western Avenue
Healy
Grayland
Mayfair
Forest Glen
Edgebrook
Morton Grove   
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Golf
Glenview
North Glenview
Northbrook
Lake Cook Road
--------Lake County--------
''''''''Zone 4''''''''
Deerfield
Lake Forest
Libertyville
Prarie Crossing
Grayslake
Round Lake
Long Lake
Ingleside
Fox Lake 

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