Chicago "L" ()

The Chicago "L" is a rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some surrounding suburbs in the U.S. state of Illinois. The "L" provides 24-hour service on the Red and Blue lines, making Chicago, New York City, and Copenhagen the only three cities in the world to offer 24-hour train service on some lines in their respective city limits. . The oldest sections of the Chicago "L" began operating in 1892, making it the second oldest rapid transit system in the US, after New York City's elevated lines. The "L" has been credited with promoting Chicago's dense downtown development, one of the city's distinguishing characteristics. It consists of eight rapid transit lines in a spoke-hub distribution paradigm focusing on transit towards the loop. The "L" gets its name because large parts of the system run on elevated tracks. As a testament to its historic importance, the Chicago "L" continues to evolve, meeting the city's dynamic needs and maintaining its position as a vital artery of urban transportation.

Operator
Operation start6 June 1892
Total Lines9 Metro Lines
Total Station108 Active Stations
Metro City/CountryChicago United States
Official Webhttps://www.transitchicago.com/

StationLayoutOperation starts
O'HareUnderground3 September 1984
RosemontExpressway median27 February 1983
CumberlandExpressway median27 February 1983
HarlemExpressway median20 March 1960
HarlemExpressway median20 March 1960
Jefferson ParkExpressway median1 February 1970
MontroseExpressway median1 February 1970
MontroseExpressway median1 February 1970
Irving ParkExpressway median1 February 1970
Irving ParkExpressway median1 February 1970
AddisonExpressway median1 February 1970
AddisonExpressway median1 February 1970
AddisonExpressway median1 February 1970
BelmontUnderground1 February 1970
BelmontUnderground1 February 1970
BelmontUnderground1 February 1970
BelmontUnderground1 February 1970
BelmontUnderground1 February 1970
Logan SquareUnderground1 February 1970
CaliforniaElevated25 May 1895
CaliforniaElevated25 May 1895
CaliforniaElevated25 May 1895
CaliforniaElevated25 May 1895
WesternElevated25 May 1895
WesternElevated25 May 1895
WesternElevated25 May 1895
WesternElevated25 May 1895
WesternElevated25 May 1895
DamenElevated6 May 1895
DamenElevated6 May 1895
DamenElevated6 May 1895
DivisionUnderground25 February 1951
ChicagoUnderground25 February 1951
ChicagoUnderground25 February 1951
ChicagoUnderground25 February 1951
ChicagoUnderground25 February 1951
GrandUnderground25 February 1951
GrandUnderground25 February 1951
Clark/LakeElevated/underground22 September 1895
Clark/LakeElevated/underground22 September 1895
Clark/LakeElevated/underground22 September 1895
Clark/LakeElevated/underground22 September 1895
Clark/LakeElevated/underground22 September 1895
Clark/LakeElevated/underground22 September 1895
Clark/LakeElevated/underground22 September 1895
WashingtonUnderground25 February 1951
MonroeUnderground25 February 1951
MonroeUnderground25 February 1951
JacksonUnderground25 February 1951
JacksonUnderground25 February 1951
LaSalleUnderground25 February 1951
LaSalleUnderground25 February 1951
ClintonUnderground22 June 1958
ClintonUnderground22 June 1958
ClintonUnderground22 June 1958
ClintonUnderground22 June 1958
UIC–HalstedExpressway median22 June 1958
RacineExpressway median22 June 1958
Illinois Medical DistrictExpressway median22 June 1958
Kedzie–HomanExpressway median22 June 1958
PulaskiExpressway median22 June 1958
PulaskiExpressway median22 June 1958
PulaskiExpressway median22 June 1958
PulaskiExpressway median22 June 1958
PulaskiExpressway median22 June 1958
CiceroExpressway median22 June 1958
CiceroExpressway median22 June 1958
CiceroExpressway median22 June 1958
CiceroExpressway median22 June 1958
AustinExpressway median20 March 1960
AustinExpressway median20 March 1960
AustinExpressway median20 March 1960
Oak ParkExpressway median20 March 1960
Oak ParkExpressway median20 March 1960
Oak ParkExpressway median20 March 1960
Forest ParkElevated11 March 1905
KimballAt-grade14 December 1907
KedzieAt-grade14 December 1907
KedzieAt-grade14 December 1907
KedzieAt-grade14 December 1907
KedzieAt-grade14 December 1907
KedzieAt-grade14 December 1907
FranciscoAt-grade14 December 1907
RockwellAt-grade14 December 1907
PaulinaElevated18 May 1907
SouthportElevated18 May 1907
WellingtonElevated31 May 1900
WellingtonElevated31 May 1900
DiverseyElevated9 June 1900
DiverseyElevated9 June 1900
FullertonElevated31 May 1900
FullertonElevated31 May 1900
FullertonElevated31 May 1900
ArmitageElevated9 June 1900
ArmitageElevated9 June 1900
SedgwickElevated31 May 1900
SedgwickElevated31 May 1900
Merchandise MartElevated5 December 1930
Merchandise MartElevated5 December 1930
Washington/WellsElevated17 July 1995
Washington/WellsElevated17 July 1995
Washington/WellsElevated17 July 1995
Washington/WellsElevated17 July 1995
QuincyElevated3 October 1897
QuincyElevated3 October 1897
QuincyElevated3 October 1897
QuincyElevated3 October 1897
Harold Washington Library–State/Van BurenElevated22 June 1997
Harold Washington Library–State/Van BurenElevated22 June 1997
Harold Washington Library–State/Van BurenElevated22 June 1997
Harold Washington Library–State/Van BurenElevated22 June 1997
Adams/WabashElevated8 November 1896
Adams/WabashElevated8 November 1896
Adams/WabashElevated8 November 1896
Adams/WabashElevated8 November 1896
Adams/WabashElevated8 November 1896
Adams/WabashElevated8 November 1896
Randolph
Randolph
Randolph
Randolph
Randolph
Randolph
State/LakeElevated22 September 1895
State/LakeElevated22 September 1895
State/LakeElevated22 September 1895
State/LakeElevated22 September 1895
State/LakeElevated22 September 1895
State/LakeElevated22 September 1895
Harlem/LakeElevated28 October 1962
Harlem/LakeElevated28 October 1962
RidgelandElevated25 January 1901
RidgelandElevated25 January 1901
CentralElevated15 April 1899
CentralElevated15 April 1899
CentralElevated15 April 1899
LaramieElevated23 April 1894
LaramieElevated23 April 1894
Conservatory–Central Park DriveElevated30 June 2001
Conservatory–Central Park DriveElevated30 June 2001
AshlandElevated6 November 1893
AshlandElevated6 November 1893
AshlandElevated6 November 1893
AshlandElevated6 November 1893
MorganElevated6 November 1893
MorganElevated6 November 1893
RooseveltElevated/underground6 June 1892
RooseveltElevated/underground6 June 1892
RooseveltElevated/underground6 June 1892
RooseveltElevated/underground6 June 1892
Cermak–McCormick PlaceElevated6 June 1892
Cermak–McCormick PlaceElevated6 June 1892
35th–Bronzeville–IITElevated6 June 1892
35th–Bronzeville–IITElevated6 June 1892
IndianaElevated15 August 1892
IndianaElevated15 August 1892
43rdElevated15 August 1892
43rdElevated15 August 1892
47thElevated15 August 1892
47thElevated15 August 1892
47thElevated15 August 1892
51stElevated28 August 1892
51stElevated28 August 1892
GarfieldElevated12 October 1892
GarfieldElevated12 October 1892
GarfieldElevated12 October 1892
HalstedElevated24 December 1906
HalstedElevated24 December 1906
Ashland/63rdElevated6 May 1969
King DriveElevated1 May 1893
Cottage GroveElevated23 April 1893
MidwayAt-grade31 October 1993
35th/ArcherElevated31 October 1993
LaSalle/Van BurenElevated3 October 1897
LaSalle/Van BurenElevated3 October 1897
LaSalle/Van BurenElevated3 October 1897
54th/CermakAt-grade1 August 1912
KostnerAt-grade22 May 1907
Central ParkElevated9 December 1951
18thElevated28 April 1896
PolkElevated28 April 1896
LindenAt-grade2 April 1912
NoyesElevated16 May 1908
FosterElevated6 January 1909
DavisElevated16 May 1908
DempsterElevated16 May 1908
MainElevated16 May 1908
South BoulevardElevated1 July 1931
South BoulevardElevated1 July 1931
HowardElevated16 May 1908
HowardElevated16 May 1908
HowardElevated16 May 1908
WilsonElevated31 May 1900
WilsonElevated31 May 1900
JarvisElevated16 May 1908
MorseElevated16 May 1908
LoyolaElevated16 May 1908
GranvilleElevated16 May 1908
ThorndaleElevated14 February 1915
Bryn MawrElevated16 May 1908
BerwynElevated30 March 1905
ArgyleElevated16 May 1908
LawrenceElevated27 February 1923
SheridanElevated31 May 1900
North/ClybournUnderground17 October 1943
Clark/DivisionUnderground17 October 1943
LakeUnderground18 November 1997
HarrisonUnderground17 October 1943
Cermak–ChinatownElevated28 September 1969
Sox–35thExpressway median28 September 1969
63rdExpressway median28 September 1969
69thExpressway median28 September 1969
79thExpressway median28 September 1969
87thExpressway median28 September 1969
95th/Dan RyanExpressway median28 September 1969
Oakton–SkokieAt-grade28 March 1925
Dempster–SkokieAt-grade28 March 1925