CTA | Chicago Transit Authority

The CTA Service Area Map page on this website displays bus routes. The bus schedules page contains essential bus schedule and route information.

Service Days and Hours:
Most CTA bus routes, #1 through #206, run every day, all day & evening. Sunday schedules are in effect on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Service Frequency:
Most routes run every 5 to 10 minutes during weekday rush periods, and every 7 to 15 minutes during midday and evening. Overnight (Night Owl) routes generally run every 30 minutes.

Route Variations:
A few routes have branches. Other routes do not have service over the entire route during certain days or times. Check the bus schedules page.

Short Operation:
Certain buses only travel on the busiest part of the route instead of going all the way to the terminal. Always check the destination sign above the windshield on your bus.

Night Owl Service:
Routes that run all night have an owl symbol on bus stops and in the First Bus/Last Bus Chart. Some night owl routes or terminals are different from the day and evening service.

Taking a Ride:
Buses usually stop every two blocks at posted signs, similar to the one shown here. These signs show the numbers, names and descriptions of routes which stop there, but NOT the direction of travel.

The destination sign above the bus windshield shows the route number, route name, and destination. If it's the bus you want, remain on the curb and indicate to the operator that you intend to board.

Pay your exact fare into the farebox. Dollar bills go into one slot, coins into another, and Transit Cards and Passes go into the slot closest to the windshield, from which they can be returned to you. Show passes to the operator.

When using a Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus card, touch the card to the designated pad and go.

Please visit CTA Fares section for complete information regarding the fares.

Seniors and customers with disabilities must show their RTA Reduced Fare Card. Students must show their CTA Student Riding Permit.

All other cards, passes, and permits should be inserted and removed from the farecard machine, nearest to the windshield.

Please remove all cards you insert when they come back up.

Service Overview

Train Line names:
CTA’s train system is called the ‘L’, short for "elevated." Each line has a color name. Train signs display their destinations, such as "Loop" or "Forest Park" or "Midway."

Service Hours:
The Blue Line (between Forest Park and O'Hare) and Red Line run at all times.

Below is a list of the first and last trains leaving each end of the line on every route. The Loop 'L' is in downtown Chicago.

Route	Monday-Friday	Saturday	Sunday/Holiday
BLUE LINE between O'Hare Airport & Forest Park
O'Hare to Forest Park Forest Park to O'Hare	Service at all times every day.
BLUE LINE between O'Hare Airport & 54^th/Cermak
O'Hare to 54^th/Cermak 54^th/Cermak to O'Hare	5:30a-9:30a 2:25p-6:30p 5:30a-9:25a 2:25p-6:30p	At other times, make a free connection between Blue and Pink Lines at Clark/Lake, or use the nearby Blue Line Forest Park branch.
BROWN LINE between Kimball & Downtown
Kimball to Loop 'L' Loop 'L' to Kimball	4:45a-12:10a 5:15a-12:40a	4:40a-12:10a 5:10a-12:40a	6:45a-11:40p 7:15a-12:10a
BROWN LINE between Kimball & Belmont
Kimball to Belmont Belmont to Kimball	4:00a-2:05a 4:25a-2:25a	4:00a-2:00a 4:25a-2:25a	5:00a-12:30a 5:25a-12:55a
GREEN LINE between Harlem/Lake & Ashland/63^rd or Cottage Grove
Harlem to Ashland/63^rd Ashland/63^rd to Harlem	4:30a-1:00a 3:50a-12:35a	6:00a-1:00a 5:50a-12:35a	6:30a-1:00a 6:20a-12:35a
Harlem to Cottage Grove Cottage Grove to Harlem	4:10a-12:45a 4:10a-1:00a	6:10a-12:45a 6:05a-1:00a	6:45a-12:45a 6:40a-1:00a
ORANGE LINE Between Midway Airport & Downtown
Midway to Loop 'L' Loop 'L' to Midway	3:55a-12:55a 4:20a-1:20a	4:35a-12:55a 5:00a-1:20a	5:35a-11:30p 6:00a-11:55p
PINK LINE Between 54^th/Cermak & Downtown
54^th/Cermak to Loop 'L' Loop 'L' to 54^th/Cermak	4:00a-1:00a 4:25a-1:25a	4:00a-1:00a 4:25a-1:25a	4:00a-1:00a 4:25a-1:25a
PURPLE LINE SHUTTLE Between Linden & Howard
Linden to Howard Howard to Linden	4:55a-1:35a* 4:30a-1:15a*	5:25a-2:20a 5:10a-2:00a	6:25a-1:35a 6:05a-1:15a
Overnight: Use #N201 Bus between Central (Purple) & Granville (Red) stations. *FRI: 45 min. later.
PURPLE LINE EXPRESS Between Linden & Downtown
Linden to Loop 'L' Loop 'L' to Linden	5:20a-9:25a 2:30p-6:30p 6:05a-10:10a 3:15p-7:10p	At other times, make a free connection between the Red Line and Purple Line Shuttle at Howard.
RED LINE Between Howard & 95^th/Dan Ryan
Howard to 95^th/Dan Ryan 95^th/Dan Ryan to Howard	Service at all times every day.
YELLOW LINE Between Howard & Skokie
Skokie to Howard Howard to Skokie	5:20a-10:35p 4:50a-10:20p	Operates weekends and until midnight during Taste of Chicago and for Cubs weekday night games. Call 836-7000 from any local area code for information. At other times use #97 Skokie bus.

Service Frequency:
Trains run every 7 to 10 minutes in weekday rush hours, and every 10 to 15 minutes at most other times. In all stations, the time of scheduled arrival of all trains is posted.

Overnight (Night Owl) service from 1:30am to 4:30am varies: Red Line runs every 15 minutes, Blue Line runs every 30 minutes.

The CTA Service Area Map page on this website displays the CTA Rail System Map.

		Free Downtown Connections
		Between Blue Line & Red Line Subways: Exit at Jackson, then walk DOWNSTAIRS from train platform through walkway to other subway.
		Between Loop elevated lines (Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple): Exit at Clark/Lake, Adams/Wabash, Washington/Wells (except Green), or Library-State/Van Buren (except Green).
		Between Blue Line Subways & Loop elevated lines: Exit at Clark/Lake; use stairs, elevators or escalators between stations through adjacent buildings. At Jackson exit Blue Line and walk one block south to Library-State/Van Buren (except Green).* Exit elevated lines (except Green) at Library-State/Van Buren and walk one block north to Jackson.*
		Between Red Line subway & Loop elevated lines: Exit Red Line at Lake/State (Randolph/Lake exit), or exit at Jackson and walk one block south south to Library-State/Van Buren (except Green).* Exit Elevated lines at State/Lake, or exit at Library-State/Van Buren (except Green) and walk one block north to Jackson.*
* For free connection between elevated and subway, use Transit Card, Chicago Card, Chicago Card Plus, or pass; NO transfer charge or use deucted.
Free connection also available between Red Line and Green/Orange Lines at Roosevelt.

At station entrances, signs (usually overhead) list the train routes serving that station.

Buy a full-fare Transit Card (minimum $1.75 purchase, no change returned) from the vending machine using U.S. currency.

Your Transit Card will allow you to pay for a transfer charge at the time you begin the second ride within two hours. No "second card" is issued. Your third ride using a Transit Card within two hours of the first ride, is free.

Unattended Stations:
Use Chicago Card, Chicago Card Plus, Transit Cards or passes at auxiliary entrances to stations equipped with turnstiles or high barrier gates.

At the platform level overhead, signs show train destinations, matching the signs on the end and side of train cars.

When a train arrives, look at the destination shown on the front and side signs, and decide whether to board. Please let exiting passengers leave the train before you board.

Aboard trains, maps are displayed above doorways. Stops and connections are announced at each stop.

CTA Photography Policy:
The general public is allowed to take snapshots in public areas.

Equipment such as lighting, tripods, cables, etc. is not allowed - except in instances where commercial and professional photographers enter into contractual agreements with CTA.

Photographers are not allowed to enter or photograph non-public areas of CTA stations.

Photographers are prohibited from obstructing transit operations, interfering with customers and blocking doors or stairs.

CTA personnel may evaluate the actions of photographers on a case by case basis to determine if a photographer is in compliance with guidelines. If a determination is made that the photographer is not in compliance, CTA personnel may ask them to stop.