Last updated October 13, 2026
The ‘L’ is Chicago’s train system: 8 color-coded lines and 146 stations, run by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Most lines head out from downtown like spokes, and five of them run around the elevated rectangle of track called the Loop. A ride costs $2.50 and includes up to two free transfers within two hours. The Red and Blue lines run 24 hours a day, and the Blue and Orange lines go to O’Hare and Midway airports. Learn which line serves your neighborhood and how to read the direction signs, and you can get around most of the city without a car.
What is the ‘L’?
The ‘L’ (short for “elevated”) is Chicago’s rapid transit train network. Much of it runs on steel structures above the streets, but parts run in subways downtown, down the middle of expressways, or at ground level. Chicagoans call the whole system the ‘L’ regardless, so “take the L” means take the train, even if your station is underground.
The ‘L’ works alongside CTA buses (127 routes) and Metra, a separate commuter rail system that connects downtown with the suburbs. The ‘L’ and buses share one fare system; Metra has its own fares.
What are the 8 ‘L’ lines, and where does each one go?
Each line is named by its color and signed by its last stop at each end. Here’s where they run and the parts of the city they serve.
| Line | Runs between | What it serves | Through downtown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Howard ↔ 95th/Dan Ryan | The North Side lakefront neighborhoods and the South Side; the busiest line. Runs 24 hours. | Subway under State Street |
| Blue | O’Hare ↔ Forest Park | O’Hare Airport and the Northwest Side, including Logan Square and Wicker Park, then west to Forest Park. Runs 24 hours. | Subway under Dearborn Street |
| Brown | Kimball ↔ the Loop | The North Side, including Lincoln Square and Lakeview. | Circles the Loop |
| Green | Harlem/Lake ↔ Ashland/63rd or Cottage Grove | The West Side and Oak Park, and two South Side branches. | Crosses the Loop on Lake and Wabash |
| Orange | Midway ↔ the Loop | Midway Airport and the Southwest Side. | Circles the Loop |
| Pink | 54th/Cermak ↔ the Loop | The Lower West Side, including Pilsen, and the suburb of Cicero. | Circles the Loop |
| Purple | Linden ↔ Howard (to the Loop on weekday rush hours) | Evanston and Wilmette. On weekday rush hours, Purple Line Express trains continue to downtown. | Circles the Loop at rush hour only |
| Yellow | Dempster-Skokie ↔ Howard | A short shuttle to the suburb of Skokie. | Doesn’t go downtown |
What is the Loop, and why do trains go around it?
The Loop is a rectangle of elevated track around the heart of downtown, running above Lake Street, Wabash Avenue, Van Buren Street and Wells Street. It opened in 1897 and gave its name to Chicago’s whole downtown area: when people say they work “in the Loop,” they mean downtown.
Five lines use it. The Brown, Orange, Pink and rush-hour Purple lines come in from their neighborhoods, make one full lap around the Loop stopping at every station, and head back out the way they came. The Green Line crosses part of the Loop and keeps going. The Red and Blue lines don’t use the Loop at all; they run in subways under State and Dearborn streets, a block or two inside it.
That’s why a Brown Line train headed “to the Loop” will bring you back to where you started if you stay on it: once it finishes its lap, it becomes a train going back to Kimball.
How do you know which direction to take?
Chicago trains aren’t signed “northbound” or “southbound.” They’re signed by the last stop, so you need to know which end of the line you’re heading toward. On the Red Line, for example, a train going north is signed “Howard” and a train going south is signed “95th/Dan Ryan.” On lines that end downtown, the train toward downtown is signed “Loop.”
- Check before you go through the turnstile. At some stations, the platform for each direction has its own entrance, sometimes across the street. If you enter the wrong side, you’ll have to pay again or ride to a station where you can switch sides.
- Read the sign on the front of the train, not just its color. Lines share tracks in places, so a Brown Line and a Purple Line train can stop at the same platform.
- Listen for announcements about trains running express or ending early, especially late at night and during weekend track work.
How do you pay for the ‘L’?
You pay when you enter the station, by tapping at the turnstile. There’s no fare to pay when you leave. You can tap any of these:
- A contactless bank card or your phone’s wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay and similar). The easiest option for your first few rides.
- A Ventra card, Chicago’s reusable transit card. It costs $5, which comes back as ride credit if you register the card within 90 days.
- The Ventra app, which holds a virtual Ventra card, lets you buy passes and shows train arrival times.
| Fare | Price |
|---|---|
| ‘L’ ride | $2.50 |
| Bus ride | $2.25 |
| Transfers | Up to 2 more rides within 2 hours, free |
| ‘L’ ride starting at O’Hare | $5 (free with a pass) |
| 1-day pass | $5 |
| 7-day pass | $20 |
| 30-day pass | $75 |
Should you get a 30-day pass? At $2.50 a ride, the $75 pass pays for itself at 30 rides a month, which is roughly a weekday round trip to work plus a few extra rides. If you’ll commute by train, it’s usually worth it. Many employers also offer pre-tax transit benefits that lower the cost further.
Which ‘L’ lines run 24 hours?
Only the Red Line (Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan) and the Blue Line (O’Hare to Forest Park) run around the clock, every day. The other six lines stop running overnight, generally between about 1 a.m. and 4 or 5 a.m., with exact times varying by line and day. Overnight, CTA also runs a network of “Night Owl” bus routes that connect with the Red and Blue lines.
If you’ll often come home late, living near the Red or Blue line is worth considering. Trains run less often overnight, so check the CTA’s Train Tracker before you leave.
How do you get to O’Hare and Midway on the ‘L’?
- O’Hare: the Blue Line ends inside the airport, underneath the terminal parking garage, and runs 24 hours. From downtown, take the Blue Line toward O’Hare and ride to the last stop. Riding from O’Hare costs $5, unless you use a pass.
- Midway: the Orange Line ends at Midway. From downtown, take the Orange Line from any Loop station and ride to the last stop. The Orange Line doesn’t run overnight.
Chicago is one of the few cities in the world with train service to two major airports, which makes the ‘L’ one of the cheapest ways to start your move.
How do transfers work?
When you pay for a ride, you get up to two more rides within two hours for free, on the ‘L’ or CTA buses. Use the same card or phone each time and the transfer is applied automatically.
- Between ‘L’ lines, many transfers happen without leaving the station, such as between Loop lines at Clark/Lake or between the Red, Brown and Purple lines at Belmont and Fullerton.
- Downtown, the Red and Blue lines connect through underground walkways at Jackson and at Lake/Washington, so you can switch without going outside.
- Transfers between the ‘L’ and a bus just mean tapping again when you board the bus.
How do you know when the next train is coming?
Use CTA’s Train Tracker, which shows estimated arrival times for every station. It’s built into the Ventra app and available on the CTA website, and you can also get arrival times by text message. Most stations also have screens showing the next trains. Google Maps and Apple Maps include CTA trains for trip planning.
What are the unwritten rules of riding the ‘L’?
- Let people off before you get on, and step aside from the doors.
- Move to the middle of the car when it’s crowded, and take your backpack off.
- Don’t block the doors to hold a train. Another one is usually a few minutes behind.
- Bikes are allowed on trains, except during weekday rush hours.
- Keep your phone out of sight when you’re standing near the doors, and stay aware of your surroundings, as you would in any big city.
- At night, ride in a car with other people, and know that every car has an emergency intercom to reach the train operator.
What mistakes do new riders make?
- Going through the turnstile on the wrong side. Check which platform serves your direction before you tap in.
- Expecting the Purple Line downtown outside rush hour. Outside weekday rush hours, it only runs between Linden and Howard.
- Assuming every line runs all night. Only the Red and Blue lines do.
- Staying on a Loop line too long. Brown, Orange and Pink trains circle the Loop and head back out.
- Forgetting the O’Hare fare. Starting a ride at O’Hare costs $5, not $2.50.
- Not checking for weekend work. Track work sometimes reroutes or bypasses stations, especially on weekends. CTA posts planned changes in advance.
Frequently asked questions about the ‘L’
Why is it called the ‘L’?
It’s short for “elevated,” because much of the system runs on elevated tracks above the streets. The name covers the whole train system, including the subways.
How much does the ‘L’ cost?
$2.50 a ride, including up to two free transfers within two hours. Unlimited passes cost $5 for a day, $20 for 7 days and $75 for 30 days. Rides starting at O’Hare cost $5 without a pass.
Does the ‘L’ run all night?
Only the Red and Blue lines run 24 hours a day, every day. The other lines stop overnight.
Can you pay with your phone?
Yes. You can tap a phone wallet or contactless bank card at the turnstile, or use the Ventra app.
Which line goes to O’Hare?
The Blue Line, 24 hours a day. The Orange Line goes to Midway.
Is the ‘L’ the same as Metra?
No. The ‘L’ is the CTA’s city train system. Metra is a separate commuter rail system that connects downtown with the suburbs, with its own schedules and fares.
Sources
- System size, ridership and history: CTA, Facts at a Glance (updated March 2026)
- Fares, transfers and passes: CTA fare chart (checked October 2026)
- 24-hour service, bikes and hours: CTA, Welcome guide
- Purple Line Express hours: CTA, Purple Line timetable
- How-to guides and Train Tracker: CTA, How-to guides
