8 9 0 s ▁the ▁line ▁was ▁extended ▁north ▁to ▁ 8 9 th ▁Street ▁in ▁conj unction ▁with ▁the ▁expansion ▁of ▁the ▁Chicago ▁Terminal ▁Transfer ▁Rail road , ▁and ▁the ▁portion ▁on ▁ 9 9 th ▁was ▁removed . ▁ ▁The ▁track ▁is ▁owned ▁by ▁Met ra , ▁bought ▁from ▁the ▁bank rupt ▁Chicago , ▁Rock ▁Island ▁and ▁Pacific ▁Rail road ▁for ▁$ 3 5 ▁million ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 8 2 . ▁The ▁Regional ▁Transport ation ▁Author ity ▁had ▁signed ▁a ▁contract ▁with ▁the ▁Rock ▁Island ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁to ▁fund ▁service , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁the ▁Chicago ▁and ▁North ▁Western ▁Railway ▁began ▁operating ▁the ▁Rock ▁Island ▁District . ▁In ▁spring ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁the ▁C & N W ▁stepped ▁away , ▁and ▁the ▁N ortheast ▁Illinois ▁Regional ▁Comm uter ▁Rail road ▁Corporation ▁( Met ra ) ▁was ▁formed ▁to ▁take ▁over ▁operations . ▁Through ▁fre ight ▁trains ▁on ▁the ▁line ▁are ▁operated ▁by ▁CS X ▁and ▁Iowa ▁Inter state ▁Rail road ▁on ▁a ▁track age ▁rights ▁agreement . ▁In ▁addition , ▁Chicago ▁Rail ▁Link ▁has ▁rights ▁to ▁operate ▁local ▁fre ight ▁service ▁on ▁the ▁whole ▁district , ▁and ▁it ▁also ▁uses ▁the ▁line ▁between ▁G res ham ▁W ye ▁and ▁Blue ▁Island ▁to ▁connect ▁with ▁the ▁Iowa ▁Inter state ▁and ▁Indiana ▁Har bor ▁B elt ▁Rail ro ads . ▁ ▁A ▁new ▁station ▁at ▁ 3 5 th ▁Street ▁and ▁Federal ▁Street ▁opened ▁on ▁April ▁ 3 , ▁ 2