The L is Chicago’s rapid transit system, run by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA): 8 color-coded lines, 146 stations and 224.1 miles of track. The Red and Blue lines run 24 hours a day, and a standard ride costs $2.50 as of 2026. The Blue Line serves O’Hare Airport and the Orange Line serves Midway.
| Fact | The L |
|---|---|
| Operator | Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) |
| Lines | 8: Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Yellow |
| Stations | 146 |
| Track | 224.1 miles |
| Rail cars | 1,660 |
| Average weekday rides (2025) | 421,346 |
| 24-hour lines | Red and Blue |
| Standard fare (2026) | $2.50; $5 boarding at O’Hare |
| Accessible stations | 110 of 146 (about 75%) |
| First line opened | June 6, 1892 |
What the L is
The name L is short for elevated, because most of the system runs on elevated track. Newspapers in the late 1880s were already calling proposed elevated railroads L roads. Parts of the Red and Blue lines run in subways downtown, and several lines run in expressway medians.
The first line opened on June 6, 1892, making the L the second-oldest rapid transit system in the Americas after New York’s elevated lines. CTA has run the system since October 1, 1947. See the history of the L for the full story.
The 8 L lines at a glance
| Line | Terminals | Main areas served | 24 hours? | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Howard to 95th/Dan Ryan | Rogers Park, Uptown, Lake View, Lincoln Park, the Loop, Chinatown, South Side via the Dan Ryan | Yes | Red Line guide |
| Blue | O’Hare to Forest Park | O’Hare, Logan Square, Wicker Park, the Loop, West Side, Oak Park | Yes | Blue Line guide |
| Brown | Kimball to the Loop | Albany Park, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Lake View, Lincoln Park | No | Brown Line guide |
| Green | Harlem/Lake to Ashland/63rd and Cottage Grove | Oak Park, West Side, the Loop, Bronzeville, Woodlawn, Englewood | No | Green Line guide |
| Orange | Midway to the Loop | Midway Airport, Southwest Side, Bridgeport | No | Orange Line guide |
| Pink | 54th/Cermak to the Loop | Cicero, North Lawndale, Little Village, Pilsen | No | Pink Line guide |
| Purple | Linden to Howard; express to the Loop on weekdays | Wilmette, Evanston; express via Lake View and Lincoln Park | No | Purple Line guide |
| Yellow | Dempster-Skokie to Howard | Skokie | No | Yellow Line guide |
For every stop on every line in order, see every Chicago L station, by line.
Fares and Ventra
The current fares took effect on February 20, 2023, and are the fares CTA lists as of October 2026. You pay with a Ventra card, the Ventra app, a Ventra ticket, or a contactless bank card or mobile wallet tapped at the turnstile.
| Fare (as of 2026) | Full | Reduced | Student |
|---|---|---|---|
| L train ride | $2.50 | $1.25 | $0.75 |
| Bus ride | $2.25 | $1.10 | $0.75 |
| L ride boarding at O’Hare | $5.00 | $1.25 | $0.75 |
| Transfers | Up to 2 more rides within 2 hours, free | Free | Free |
| Pass or ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-Day pass | $5 |
| 3-Day pass | $15 |
| 7-Day pass | $20 |
| 30-Day pass | $75 ($35 reduced, with a NITA Reduced Fare permit) |
| Single-ride Ventra ticket (3 rides within 2 hours) | $3; $5 when bought at O’Hare |
| New Ventra card | $5, returned as transit value if you register it within 90 days |
| Regional Connect Pass (with a Metra Monthly) | $30 |
- Passes give unlimited rides on CTA and Pace for the set period, starting from first use.
- An unlimited pass boards at O’Hare with no extra charge.
- Contactless bank cards and phones work for full and reduced fares, not student fares.
- Children 6 and under ride free with a fare-paying adult; ages 7 to 11 pay the reduced fare.
- Riders 65 and older and people with disabilities qualify for reduced fares through NITA, and some ride free under the Benefit Access Program.
- Active-duty military in uniform ride free.
How to ride the L, step by step
- 1. Pick your line and direction. Platforms are signed by line color and by the terminal the train is heading to, such as Howard or 95th/Dan Ryan on the Red Line.
- 2. Get a way to pay. Tap a contactless bank card or phone, or buy a Ventra card or ticket from a Ventra vending machine in the station.
- 3. Tap in at the turnstile. The fare is deducted when you enter; you do not tap out.
- 4. Board and watch for your stop. Stops are announced on board, and trains on the Loop elevated run in one direction around downtown.
- 5. Transfer free within two hours. Changing lines inside a station costs nothing. With the same card or ticket you get up to two more rides within two hours, including buses.
- 6. Check alerts before you go. CTA posts planned track work and station closures on each line’s page, including the closure of State/Lake into 2029.
Getting to O’Hare and Midway by L
| O’Hare (ORD) | Midway (MDW) | |
|---|---|---|
| Line | Blue | Orange |
| Time to downtown | 40 to 45 minutes | 20 to 25 minutes |
| Hours | 24 hours a day | Early morning to about 1:30 a.m.; N62 Archer owl bus overnight |
| Fare to downtown | $5 boarding at O’Hare | $2.50 |
| Station location | Lower-level concourse, linked to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 | Just east of the terminal, by an enclosed walkway |
From O’Hare’s Terminal 5, take the free Airport Transit System train to Terminal 2 and follow signs for CTA Trains. At Midway, follow the painted orange line on the floor to the station. More detail is in the Blue Line guide, the Orange Line guide and our airports guide.
The Loop elevated
The Loop elevated is the rectangle of track over Lake Street, Wabash Avenue, Van Buren Street and Wells Street downtown. Charles T. Yerkes completed it in 1897 as the Union Elevated Railroad, tying the four early L companies together downtown.
| Line | How it uses the Loop |
|---|---|
| Brown | Circles counter-clockwise, entering at Washington/Wells and leaving at Clark/Lake |
| Orange | Circles clockwise, from Harold Washington Library to Adams/Wabash |
| Pink | Circles clockwise, from Clark/Lake to Washington/Wells |
| Purple Express | Circles clockwise on weekday rush periods |
| Green | Runs straight across the Lake Street and Wabash sides |
| Red and Blue | Run underneath in the State Street and Dearborn Street subways |
The Loop elevated has eight stations: Clark/Lake, State/Lake, Washington/Wabash, Adams/Wabash, Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren, LaSalle/Van Buren, Quincy and Washington/Wells. State/Lake, on the north side of the Loop, is temporarily closed for reconstruction into 2029; CTA directs riders to Clark/Lake or Washington/Wabash instead.
Accessibility
As of 2026, 110 of the L’s 146 stations are accessible, about 75 percent. CTA’s All Stations Accessibility Program is its roadmap to making every station accessible.
- Check CTA’s elevator and station access alerts before you travel; outages are posted by line.
- Pace runs ADA paratransit across the region for riders certified by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA).
- CTA customer service: 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282); TTY 1-888-CTA-TTY1 or 711.
- Every Pink Line station outside the Loop is accessible, as are the four rebuilt Red Line stations at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr.
Safety and etiquette
CTA’s Rules of Conduct apply on all trains and stations, and breaking them can bring a fine of at least $300.
- No eating or drinking on trains; food and non-alcoholic drinks are fine elsewhere in stations. Alcohol is banned everywhere.
- No smoking or vaping anywhere on CTA property.
- Use headphones; sound must not be audible to others.
- One seat per person: no bags or feet on seats, and keep priority seats, aisles and doors clear.
- Small pets may ride only in a closed carrier that fits under a seat; service animals are allowed.
- Never cross between cars or walk on the tracks unless CTA staff direct you to in an emergency.
- Do not ride bikes, scooters or skateboards on CTA property.
- Report problems to CTA at 1-888-YOUR-CTA, and call 911 in an emergency.
Current and major projects
- Red Line Extension: 5.5 miles from 95th/Dan Ryan to 130th Street with four new stations (103rd, 111th, Michigan Avenue, 130th). Budget $5.7 billion; groundbreaking April 24, 2026; opening expected in 2030.
- Red and Purple Modernization, Phase One: a $2.1 billion project from 2019 to 2025 that built the Red-Purple Bypass (2021), new signals between Howard and Belmont, and rebuilt Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr stations, reopened in July 2025.
- State/Lake: the Loop station is closed for reconstruction into 2029.
- Forest Park Branch Rebuild: CTA lists this Blue Line project on its line page; check CTA for its current schedule.
- Damen (Green Line): the newest station, opened August 5, 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the L cost in 2026?
A standard L ride is $2.50 with up to two free transfers within two hours. Boarding at O’Hare costs $5. A 1-day pass is $5 and a 7-day pass is $20.
Which L lines run 24 hours?
The Red Line and the Blue Line. The other six lines stop overnight.
Can I pay for the L with a credit card or phone?
Yes. Tap a contactless bank card or mobile wallet at the turnstile for a full or reduced fare. Student fares need a Student Ventra Card.
How do I get from O’Hare to downtown on the L?
Take the Blue Line from the station on the lower level of Terminals 1 to 3. The ride takes 40 to 45 minutes and the fare is $5.
How many stations does the L have?
CTA counts 146 stations on 8 lines. See every station by line.
Why is it called the L?
L is short for elevated. Most of the system runs on elevated track, and Chicago newspapers used the term for elevated railroads by the late 1880s.
Related guides
- CTA Red Line: route, stations and guide
- CTA Blue Line: route, stations and guide
- CTA Brown Line: route, stations and guide
- CTA Green Line: route, stations and guide
- CTA Orange Line: route, stations and guide
- CTA Pink Line: route, stations and guide
- CTA Purple Line: route, stations and guide
- CTA Yellow Line: route, stations and guide
- Every Chicago L Station, by Line
- History of the Chicago L
- O’Hare and Midway airports
- CTA buses
- Metra commuter rail
- Divvy bikes
- Getting around Chicago
Sources
- CTA: Facts at a Glance
- CTA: Fares
- CTA: Reduced fare and free ride programs
- CTA: Airports (O’Hare and Midway)
- CTA: Accessibility
- CTA: Rules of Conduct
- CTA: Red Line Extension
- CTA: Red Line Extension construction overview
- Wikipedia: Red Line Extension
- Railway Age: CTA inaugurates RPM Phase One stations
- Encyclopedia of Chicago: Rapid Transit System
- Wikipedia: Chicago “L”
- CTA: Red Line
- CTA: Blue Line
- CTA: Brown Line
- CTA: Green Line
- CTA: Orange Line
- CTA: Pink Line
- CTA: Purple Line
- CTA: Yellow Line
Last updated: October 31, 2026