The CTA Pink Line runs from 54th/Cermak in suburban Cicero east through North Lawndale, Little Village, Pilsen and the Near West Side to the Loop, which it circles clockwise. It has 22 stations, including the eight Loop stations. Pink Line service began on June 25, 2006, and trains do not run overnight.
| Fact | Pink Line |
|---|---|
| Terminals | 54th/Cermak in Cicero (west) and the Loop (downtown) |
| Stations | 22, including 8 on the Loop (State/Lake closed into 2029) |
| Length | About 11.2 miles |
| Hours | About 4 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.; not 24 hours |
| Service began | June 25, 2006 |
| Loop direction | Clockwise |
| Accessibility | All 14 stations outside the Loop are accessible |
| Main transfers | Ashland, Morgan and Clinton (Green), Loop stations |
Route overview
The Pink Line starts at 54th/Cermak in Cicero and runs east through Cicero, North Lawndale and Little Village. It turns north through the Lower West Side and Pilsen to Polk in the Illinois Medical District.
At Ashland it joins the Lake Street elevated used by the Green Line, stops at Morgan and Clinton, and enters the Loop at Clark/Lake. Trains circle the Loop clockwise and leave after Washington/Wells.
Hours
| Direction | Weekdays | Saturday | Sunday/holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54th/Cermak to Loop | 4:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. | 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. | 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. |
| Loop to 54th/Cermak | 4:25 a.m. to 1:25 a.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 1:25 a.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 1:25 a.m. |
Stations, 54th/Cermak to the Loop
| # | Station | Area | Transfers and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54th/Cermak | Cicero | Terminal; Park and Ride |
| 2 | Cicero | Cicero | |
| 3 | Kostner | North Lawndale | |
| 4 | Pulaski | North Lawndale | |
| 5 | Central Park | North Lawndale | |
| 6 | Kedzie | North Lawndale | |
| 7 | California | Little Village | |
| 8 | Western | Lower West Side | |
| 9 | Damen | Heart of Chicago | |
| 10 | 18th | Pilsen | |
| 11 | Polk | Illinois Medical District | |
| 12 | Ashland | Near West Side | Green |
| 13 | Morgan | Near West Side | Green |
| 14 | Clinton | West Loop | Green; Metra at Ogilvie |
| 15 | Clark/Lake | The Loop | Blue (subway), Brown, Green, Orange, Purple (rush periods) |
| 16 | State/Lake | The Loop | Temporarily closed for reconstruction into 2029 |
| 17 | Washington/Wabash | The Loop | Metra Electric and South Shore Line at Millennium Station |
| 18 | Adams/Wabash | The Loop | Brown, Green, Orange, Purple (rush periods) |
| 19 | Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren | The Loop | Brown, Orange, Purple (rush periods); Blue and Red subways with farecard |
| 20 | LaSalle/Van Buren | The Loop | Metra Rock Island at LaSalle Street Station |
| 21 | Quincy | The Loop | Metra BNSF, Milwaukee District, North Central and Amtrak at Union Station |
| 22 | Washington/Wells | The Loop | Brown, Orange, Purple (rush periods); Metra Union Pacific lines at Ogilvie |
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.
Notable stations and what is near them
- 54th/Cermak: the terminal in Cicero, with a Park and Ride lot.
- California: the Little Village area.
- 18th: the main stop for Pilsen.
- Damen: the Heart of Chicago area of the Lower West Side.
- Polk: the Illinois Medical District.
- Morgan and Clinton: the West Loop.
Transfers
- Ashland and Morgan: Green Line.
- Clinton: Green Line; Metra Union Pacific lines at Ogilvie.
- Clark/Lake: Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Purple Express.
- Washington/Wabash: Metra Electric and South Shore Line at Millennium Station.
- Adams/Wabash: Brown, Green, Orange, Purple Express.
- Harold Washington Library: Brown, Orange, Purple Express; Blue and Red subways with a farecard.
- LaSalle/Van Buren: Metra Rock Island.
- Quincy: Metra and Amtrak at Union Station.
- Washington/Wells: Brown, Orange, Purple Express; Metra at Ogilvie.
Tips for riding the Pink Line
- Use 18th for Pilsen.
- Every Pink Line station from 54th/Cermak to Clinton is accessible, which makes it one of the easiest lines to use with a stroller or wheelchair.
- The Pink and Green lines share Ashland, Morgan and Clinton, so either works for the West Loop.
- Lake Street bridge reconstruction affected Pink and Green service in 2026; check CTA alerts for current conditions.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Pink Line start?
Pink Line service began on June 25, 2006.
Does the Pink Line run 24 hours?
No. Trains run from about 4 a.m. (5 a.m. on weekends) to about 1:30 a.m.
How many stations are on the Pink Line?
22, counting the eight Loop stations. State/Lake is temporarily closed into 2029.
Which Pink Line stop is best for Pilsen?
18th, which is in Pilsen.
Are Pink Line stations accessible?
Yes. CTA lists all 14 stations from 54th/Cermak to Clinton as accessible.
Related guides
- The Chicago L: Complete Guide to CTA Trains
- 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 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: getting to and from Chicago’s airports
- CTA buses
- Metra commuter rail
- Divvy bikes
Sources
- CTA: Pink Line
- Encyclopedia of Chicago: Rapid Transit System
- Wikipedia: Chicago “L”
- Wikipedia: List of Chicago “L” stations
Last updated: October 31, 2026