The Chicago Metro, popularly known as the Chicago “L”, is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). It consists of eight distinct lines that serve both residents and visitors, providing transportation within the city and extending into some of the surrounding suburbs.
The entire system spans 165.4 km (102.8 mi) and consists of 145 stations distributed along the eight lines. Timetables vary by the hour and a single ticket, valid for 3 journeys within 2 hours, costs $3.
The ‘L’, as it’s commonly known, carries around 542,000 passengers a day. The fare for a single trip is $1.58. Some lines, notably the Red and Blue lines, offer 24-hour service every night. The trains are air-conditioned for passenger comfort. However, passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms and the trains are not driverless. In addition, the platforms do not have screen doors.
Operations are managed by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the system operates 24 hours a day. The standard fare is $2.25. For more information, visit the Chicago Metro Official Website or call +1 888 968 7282.
Chicago Metro Map
Map of Chicago Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it.
History
The rapid growth of Chicago in the late 19th century required a more efficient transport system than horse-drawn carriages. Due to the high cost of building an underground system, elevated railways were chosen. In 1892, the earliest version of the modern subway began operating. It was a steam locomotive that could carry a dozen passengers. The original tracks are still in use today as part of the Green Line.
The technological advances of the time generated enough revenue to build two more lines. However, neither line extended into the city centre due to the regulations of the time, which required a large number of permits to complete construction in that area. Charles Tyson Yerkes managed to secure the necessary permits in 1897 and construction began on what is now known as the Loop.
Since then, the system has been expanded to connect existing lines to the Loop and to build lines that allow Chicagoans and visitors to travel comfortably throughout the city.
Lines and Stations
The Chicago Metro, also known as the Chicago “L”, consists of eight lines. Seven of these lines run through a section of downtown known as the “Loop” – a rectangle about 2 miles (3 kilometres) long. This is the busiest section of the Chicago subway system. The entire system covers 165.4 km (102.8 mi) and has 145 stations along the eight lines. Each line has a route name and colour, which is usually used as a reference.
Red Line
The Red Line is the busiest line in the Chicago subway system. It has 33 stations and covers 37.7 kilometres (23.4 miles), starting at Howard Station in the north, running through the underground section known as State Street, and ending at 95th/Dan Ryan Station in Roseland in the south. Like the Blue Line, the Red Line operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
- Line color: Red
- Number of stations: 33
- Length: 37.7 kilometers (23.4 miles)
- Total trip duration: 65 minutes
- Operating hours: This line operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
Blue Line
The Blue Line runs from O’Hare International Airport in the north-east of the city, through the Loop and ends at Forest Park Station in the far south-east. It is the second busiest line after the Red Line and operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Notably, this line has one station with two repeating names (Harlem and Western), which can cause confusion among passengers.
- Line color: Blue
- Number of stations: 33
- Length: 43.3 kilometers (27 miles)
- Total trip duration: 46 minutes
- Operating hours: This line runs every day, 24 hours a day.
Brown Line
The Brown Line has 27 stations spread over 18 kilometres (11.18 miles). It starts and ends at Kimball Station. After leaving Kimball Station in the northeast part of the city, the line extends to the “Loop”, circles it counterclockwise, stops at all “Loop” stations, and returns to Kimball Station on the same route.
- Line color: Brown
- Number of stations: 27
- Length: 18.3 kilometers (11.18 miles)
- Total trip duration: 43 minutes (from Kimball to Clark/Lake, the last station on the “Loop”)
- Operating hours: 4:00 am to 1:30 am Monday to Saturday and from 5:00 am to 1:30 am on Sundays.
Green Line
The Green Line offers two different services, both of which originate at Harlem/Lake, travel through the Loop and branch off after Garfield to terminate at two different locations: Ashland/63rd and Cottage Grove. It is the only completely elevated line in the Chicago Metro system and includes the oldest sections of the system.
- Line color: Green
- Number of stations: 30
- Length: 33.3 kilometers (20.7 miles)
- Total trip duration: 57 minutes to Cottage Grove and 61 minutes to Ashland/63rd
- Operating hours: Both routes run from 4:00 am to 1:00 am on weekdays and from 5:00 am to 1:00 am on weekends.
Orange Line
The Orange Line connects 16 stations from Midway International Airport to the Loop. Like the Brown Line, it circles the Loop and then follows the same route back to Midway.
- Line color: Orange
- Number of stations: 16
- Length: 20.1 kilometers (12.5 miles)
- Total trip duration: 33 minutes to Adams
- Operating hours: 3:30 am to 1:25 am on weekdays and from 4:30 am to 1:25 am on the weekends.
Purple Line
The Purple Line normally runs from Linden to Howard, with nine stops in between. However, during peak periods (5:20am to 10:15am and 2:30pm to 7:15pm) it runs from Howard to the last station on the Loop.
- Line color: Purple
- Number of stations: 26 stations during peak hours, and 9 stations during non-peak hours
- Length: 24 kilometers (15 miles)
- Total trip duration: 12 minutes from Linden to Howard and 52 minutes from Linden to Washington/Wells
- Operating hours: 4:25 am to 1:30 am from Monday to Thursday; 4:30 am to 2:10 am on Fridays; 5:05 am to 2:15 am on Saturdays; and from 6:05 am to 1:45 am on Sundays.
Pink Line
The Pink Line, Chicago’s newest line, has 22 stations and connects Cicero with downtown Chicago. After leaving the 54th/Cermak station, it enters the “Loop” and after leaving the Washington/Wells station, it returns along the same route.
- Line color: Pink
- Number of stations: 22
- Length: 18 kilometers (11.2 miles)
- Total trip duration: 42 minutes to Washington/Wells station
- Operating hours: 4:05 am to 1:25 am on weekdays and from 5:05 am to 1:25 am on weekends.
Yellow Line
The Yellow Line is the only line in the Chicago subway system that doesn’t run through the Loop. Its three stations cover 8 kilometres (5 miles), starting at Howard Station on the north side of Chicago, passing through Evanston and ending in Skokie.
- Line color: Yellow
- Number of stations: 3
- Length: 8.2 kilometers (5.1 miles)
- Total trip duration: 8 minutes
- Operating hours: 4:45 am to 11:15 pm on weekdays and from 6:15 am to 11:15 pm on weekends.
Schedules and Frequency
Red Line and Blue Line
The Red and Blue Lines run 24 hours a day, every day of the year, making them two of the few lines in the United States that offer continuous service. On weekdays, they run every 2-7 minutes during peak hours and every 7-8 minutes during off-peak hours. On Saturdays, trains run every 10 minutes in the morning, every 6-7 minutes during the day and every 6-8 minutes at night. On Sundays trains run every 10 minutes in the morning, every 6-9 minutes during the day and every 10 minutes at night.
Brown Line
The Brown Line operates from 4:00am to 1:30am Monday to Saturday and from 5:00am to 1:30am on Sundays. On weekdays trains run every 3-8 minutes at peak times, every 7-8 minutes during the day and every 6-12 minutes at night.
Green Line
The Green Line operates from 4:00 am to 1:00 am on weekdays and from 5:00 am to 1:00 am on weekends.
Orange Line
The Orange Line operates from 3:30 am to 1:25 am on weekdays and from 4:30 am to 1:25 am on weekends.
Purple Line
The Purple Line operates from 4:25 am to 1:30 am from Monday to Thursday, 4:30 am to 2:10 am on Fridays, 5:05 am to 2:15 am on Saturdays, and 6:05 am to 1:45 am on Sundays.
Yellow Line
The Yellow Line operates from 4:45 am to 11:15 pm on weekdays and from 6:15 am to 11:15 pm on weekends.
Connections
Transfers between Chicago’s eight subway lines are free and unlimited. Transfers between the Metro and buses cost $0.25 and allow for two additional trips within two hours.
Red Line Connections
- Blue Line: Lake, Jackson
- Brown Line: Belmont, Fullerton, Lake, Jackson
- Green Line: Lake, Roosevelt
- Orange Line: Lake, Jackson, Roosevelt
- Purple Line: Howard, Wilson, Belmont, Fullerton, Lake, Jackson
- Pink Line: Lake, Jackson
- Yellow Line: Howard
Blue Line Connections
- Red Line: Washington, Jackson
- Brown Line: Clark/Lake, Jackson
- Green Line: Clark/Lake
- Orange Line: Clark/Lake, Jackson
- Purple Line: Clark/Lake, Jackson
- Pink Line: Clark/Lake, Jackson
- Yellow Line: No connection
Brown Line Connections
- Red Line: Belmont, Fullerton, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, State/Lake
- Blue Line: Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Clark/Lake
- Green Line: Adams/Wabash, Clark/Lake
- Orange Line: Washington/Wells, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Adams/Wabash
- Purple Line: Belmont, Fullerton, Merchandise Mart, Washington/Wells, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Adams/Wabash, Clark/Lake
- Pink Line: Washington/Wells, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Adams/Wabash, Clark/Lake
- Yellow Line: No connection
Green Line Connections
- Red Line: State/Lake, Roosevelt
- Blue Line: Clark/Lake
- Brown Line: Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash
- Orange Line: Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash, Roosevelt
- Purple Line: Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash
- Pink Line: Ashland, Clinton, Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash
- Yellow Line: No connection
Orange Line Connections
- Red Line: Roosevelt, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, State/Lake
- Blue Line: Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Clark/Lake
- Brown Line: Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Washington/Wells, Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash
- Green Line: Roosevelt, Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash
- Purple Line: Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Washington/Wells, Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash
- Pink Line: Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Washington/Wells, Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash
- Yellow Line: No connection
Purple Line Connections
- Red Line: Howard, Wilson, Belmont, Fullerton, State/Lake, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren
- Blue Line: Clark/Lake, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren
- Brown Line: Belmont, Fullerton, Merchandise Mart, Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Washington/Wells
- Green Line: Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash
- Orange Line: Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Washington/Wells
- Pink Line: Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Washington/Wells
- Yellow Line: Howard
Pink Line Connections
- Red Line: State/Lake, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren
- Blue Line: Clark/Lake, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren
- Brown Line: Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Washington/Wells
- Green Line: Ashland, Clinton, Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash
- Orange Line: Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, Washington/Wells
- Purple Line: Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash, Washington/Wells
- Yellow Line: No connection
Yellow Line Connections
- Red Line: Howard
- Purple Line: Howard
Prices, Tickets, and Passes
Ventra Card
The Ventra Card is a reloadable plastic card that can be used for individual rides or for purchasing passes. It costs $5 and can be bought and reloaded at station machines, online, or at various locations throughout the city.
Ventra Card Fares:
- Metro ticket: $2.50
- Bus ticket: $2.25
- Transfer: $0.25 (2 additional trips within 2 hours)
- Unlimited day pass: $10
- Unlimited 3 day pass: $20
- Unlimited 7 day pass: $28
- Unlimited 30 day pass: $105
Single Tickets
For those who don’t wish to use the Ventra Card, single tickets can be purchased from machines at each station.
- Single ticket: $3 (valid for three trips within two hours)
- Single ticket from the airport: $5 (valid for three trips within two hours)
- Unlimited 1 day pass: $10
- Unlimited 3 day pass: $20
Rules, Tips, and Warnings
- On some lines, such as the Blue Line, there are two stations with the same name. Check the map before you set off to avoid confusion.
- With the exception of the Yellow Line, all lines run through the Loop, which is a great place to make connections between lines.
- Although the Red and Blue lines operate 24 hours a day, stations can be deserted and potentially unsafe late at night and in the early hours of the morning. Please exercise caution.
Notable Facts
- The Chicago subway system is the fourth largest in the United States, with a total length of 102.5 miles (165 kilometres).
- It is the second busiest subway system in the United States, surpassed only by New York City.
- The Red and Blue Lines operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year, making the Chicago subway one of only six subway systems in the United States to offer 24-hour service.
- The oldest sections of the Chicago subway began operating in 1892, making it America’s second oldest subway system after the elevated sections of New York City’s system.
- The system is often referred to as the Chicago “L”, a nickname derived from the elevated sections of the system.
- The Lake and Wells junction, known as the Loop, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s busiest railway junction.
Future Expansions
One of the largest planned projects is the maintenance, modernisation and extension of the Red Line, the system’s busiest line. This project includes not only the modernisation of several Red Line stations, but also the extension of the line from its current terminal at 95th/Dan Ryan to 130th Street.
Work is also underway to modernise Blue Line stations and eliminate slow zones along the line. When completed, this project is expected to cut up to 10 minutes off the travel time between O’Hare Airport and downtown Chicago.
Airport Connections
Chicago has two airports: Midway International Airport and O’Hare International Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the world. The Chicago Metro provides direct service to both airports:
- Midway International Airport: The Orange Line provides direct service to this airport.
- O’Hare International Airport: The Blue Line provides direct service to this airport.
Sightseeing Via Metro
Willis Tower: Once the world’s tallest building, this 442-metre, 110-storey skyscraper is still a sight to behold. Its glass-walled skyboxes offer stunning views of the city. The Brown, Orange, Pink and Purple lines take you to Quincy/Wells station, just five minutes from the tower.
Millennium Park: One of the city’s most visited sites and host to many concerts and exhibitions. It’s home to the famous sculpture The Bean, one of Chicago’s icons, and is just steps from the Art Institute. The Washington/Wabash train station, served by five lines, is just minutes from the park.
