01/22/02
The CTA will begin a six-month experimental extension of service on the Orange Line Sunday, January 27, providing late night service to the Loop comparable to the Green Line, and making Midway Airport easier to reach earlier and later every day for air travelers and airport employees alike. The extended service will also provide longer hours to connect to other lines serving the Loop.
?The expansion of Midway Airport has brought a great many more jobs to the airport and more flights for air travelers," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. 'since it was opened more than eight years ago, the Orange Line has provided fast, reliable service between Midway and downtown, and the extra service hours we are now offering will make it more convenient for everyone who needs to reach the airport from early morning through late evening every day."
Starting January 27, the first Orange Line train will leave Midway for the Loop at 3:55 a.m. daily, instead of the current 4:35 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and at 7 a.m. on Sundays/holidays. After arriving at the Library-State Van Buren station at 4:22 a.m., the first train will make all regular stops around the inner Loop, leaving Adams/Wabash southbound at 4:32 a.m., and reaching Midway at 4:57 a.m.
Evenings, the last Orange Line train will leave Midway at 12:51 a.m. nightly, which is an hour and a half later than the current final trip at 11:21 p.m. Arriving at Library-State/Van Buren at about 1:18 a.m., the last train will stop at Adams/Wabash southbound at 1:29 a.m., and will reach Midway at 1:53 a.m.
Trains will run at least every 15 minutes during both the morning and evening hours of expanded service.
In December, a six-month experimental plan was implemented to provide earlier and later rush period service to the Loop for Purple Line Express trains. At that time, improvements were also made to rush period service on the Red Line and to off-peak service on the Red, Blue, Yellow and Brown Lines. All the changes were made to provide more efficient service to CTA customers.
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