11/16/06
Festive Holiday Train Debuts on Red and Purple Lines Saturday
The CTA Holiday Train will make its 2006 debut Saturday, November 18 spreading holiday cheer to CTA customers on the Red and Purple Lines. The Holiday Train will travel various CTA rail lines in November and December as part of regular rail service. Normal CTA fares apply.
The train will run between approximately 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 18 and November 19 and will make stops at all stations along the Red and Purple Line.
(See separate press release for additional schedule information)
Red and Blue Line Subway Tunnel Connection:
CTA is currently building two short connecting tunnels and tracks that will link the existing Red and Blue Line subway tunnels and the new transit station planned for 108 N. State Street, commonly referred to as Block 37.
North and southbound Red Line trains will alternately be rerouted from the subway to the elevated tracks November 17 through November 19. The reroutes are necessary due to planned construction work. Customers are asked to allow extra travel time. The temporary reroutes will take place in two phases:
Northbound Red Line Service
From 8 p.m. on Friday, November 17 until 10 a.m. Saturday, November 18
Northbound Red Line trains will operate along the regular route from the 95th/Dan Ryan station to the Cermak-Chinatown station. From Roosevelt to Fullerton, northbound Red Line trains will operate on the elevated tracks.
Northbound Red Line trains will stop at the following elevated stations: Roosevelt, Adams, Madison, Randolph, State/Lake, Clark/Lake and Merchandise Mart. Please note, the Merchandise Mart station is available as an exit only from 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. From the Merchandise Mart station, northbound Red Line trains will continue to Fullerton where they will resume normal northbound service to Howard.
Southbound Red Line Service From 11 p.m. Saturday, November 18 until 1 p.m. Sunday, November 19
Southbound Red Line trains will operate along the regular route from Howard station to Fullerton station. From Fullerton to Roosevelt, southbound Red Line trains will operate on the elevated tracks.
Southbound Red Line trains will stop at the following elevated stations: Merchandise Mart, Clark/Lake, State/Lake, Randolph, Madison, Adams and Roosevelt. Please note, the Merchandise Mart station is available as an exit only from 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. From Roosevelt station, southbound Red Line trains will continue to the Cermak-Chinatown station where they will resume normal southbound service to the 95th/Dan Ryan station.
(See separate press release for details)
Nine CTA Bus Routes Detoured Off Michigan Avenue for Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Saturday
Nine CTA bus routes will be detoured off North Michigan Avenue and extra rail service provided on Saturday, November 18, for the annual Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. The festival motorcade parade is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. from Rush and Oak and will travel south on Michigan from Oak to Wacker. There will be a fireworks show following the parade between the Michigan and Columbus bridges over the Chicago River.
The bus routes affected by the parade are the #3 King Drive, #6 Jackson Park Express, #10 Museum of Science & Industry, #66 Chicago, #124 Navy Pier, #145 Wilson/Michigan Express, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express and #151 Sheridan. Affected buses will be detoured to streets adjacent to the parade route.
To accommodate parade spectators, more frequent service will be provided on the #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #20 Madison, #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, #60 Blue Island/26th, #62 Archer and #66 Chicago routes.
In addition, more frequent service will be provided and longer trains will operate on the Red, Blue, Brown and Purple lines. Longer trains will operate on the Green, Orange and Pink lines.
(See separate press release for details)
Longer Purple Line Trains and More Frequent Service for Northwestern Wildcats Football Saturday
The Northwestern Wildcats host the University of Illinois Fighting Illini at noon Saturday, November 18. Longer Purple Line trains and more frequent service will begin operating at 10 a.m. and continue after the game as crowds warrant. Ryan Field is just west of the Purple Line's Central station in Evanston.
Museum of Science & Industry Seasonal Service Begins
CTA's #10 Museum of Science & Industry, which normally operates year-round on weekends and holidays only, will run special seasonal service beginning this weekend. #10 buses will run later service until approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, November 17 and November 18.
In addition, seasonal weekday service will begin on the #10 from Thanksgiving Day, November 23 until January 1 (except Christmas Day). Buses will operate weekdays every 15 to 30 minutes from Michigan and Delaware. #10 buses will also provide more frequent weekend service with buses operating every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes.
Red and Brown Line Customers Should Allow Extra Travel Time Sunday
Construction work planned for this weekend will require reroutes of northbound Red Line trains. This could cause delays in service so customers are advised to allow extra travel time.
Red Line Maintenance
From 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, November 19, northbound Red Line trains will operate on the same track as northbound Brown Line trains at the Belmont and Fullerton stations. Customers will board northbound Red Line trains on the same side of the platform (east) as northbound Brown Line customers.
Southbound Brown and Red Line service is not affected.
Blue Line Signal Upgrade:
CTA is working to upgrade approximately 20 miles of the existing 40-year-old train control system and power supply equipment from the Forest Park terminal of the Blue Line through the Dearborn subway to the Jefferson Park station of the Blue Line O'Hare branch.
These systems ensure the safe operation and movement of trains and the appropriate speed and distance between trains as well as help CTA personnel manage rail service in the event of an emergency.
The upgraded signal system will result in improved reliability of service for Blue Line customers, and also includes upgrades to the power cables and communication system needed to connect the Red Line State Street subway and Blue Line Dearborn Street subway.
Late Night Single Track in Effect on Blue Line Forest Park Branch Thursday
A single track will be in effect between the Forest Park and Harlem stations from 11 p.m. Thursday, November 16 until 4 a.m. Friday, November 17. North and southbound customers boarding at the Forest Park and Harlem stations must board on the south side of the platform.
Single Track in Effect in Blue Line Dearborn Subway Sunday
A two-phase single track will be in effect between the Clark/Lake and Damen stations from 2 a.m. Sunday, November 19 until 2 a.m. Monday, November 20.
From 2 a.m. Sunday until 12:30 p.m. the single track will be in effect between the Clark/Lake and Damen stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Grand/Chicago and Division stations must board on the south side of the platform.
From 12:30 p.m. Sunday until 2 a.m. Monday, the single track will be in effect between the Damen and Clark/Lake stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Division, Chicago and Grand stations must board on the north side of the platform.
Red Line - Dan Ryan Branch Rehabilitation:
CTA is working to replace track, power and signal systems and upgrade stations along the branch. When the work is completed, customers will experience more reliable service and modern station amenities.
Single Track in Effect on Red Line Sunday
A two-phase single track will be in effect between 63rd and 79th from 9 p.m. Sunday, November 19 until 4 a.m. Monday, November 20.
From 9 p.m. Sunday until 1 a.m. Monday, the single track will be in effect between the 63rd and 69th stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the 63rd station must board on the east side of the platform.
From 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. Monday, the single track will be in effect between the 63rd and 79th stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the 63rd and 69th stations must board on the east side of the platform.
Single Track in Effect on Red Line Next Week
A two-phase single track will be in effect between 79th and 94th from 10 p.m. Monday, November 20 until 4 a.m. Tuesday, November 21.
From 10 p.m. Monday until 1 a.m. Tuesday, the single track will be in effect between the 79th and 87th stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the 79th station must board on the east side of the platform.
From 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. Tuesday, the single track will be in effect between the 79th and 95th stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the 79th and 87th stations must board on the east side of the platform.
Another two-phase single track will be in effect between the Garfield and 69th stations from 10 p.m. Tuesday, November 21 until 4 a.m. Wednesday, November 22.
From 10 p.m. Tuesday until 1 a.m. Wednesday, the single track will be in effect between the 63rd and 69th stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the 63rd station must board on the west side of the platform.
From 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. Wednesday, the single track will be in effect between the Garfield and 69th stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Garfield and 63rd stations must board on the west side of the platform.
A single track will be in effect between Garfield and 47th stations from 10 p.m. Wednesday, November 22 until 4 a.m. Thursday, November 23. North and southbound customers boarding at the 47th station must board on the west side of the platform.
Single Track in Effect on Ashland/63rd Branch of the Green Line Saturday
A single track will be in effect between the 59th Junction at Indiana and the Ashland/63rd station on the Green Line from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, November 18. North and southbound customers boarding at the Halsted station must board on the south platform.
Cicero Closed for Railroad Work
Cicero is closed at 21st for railroad work through Wednesday, November 22. #54 Cicero and #X54 Cicero Express buses will operate in both directions via Cicero, Cermak, Kostner, 16th, back to Cicero, then resume the regular route.
A two-phase single track will also be in effect between 54th/Cermak and Kostner stations from 10 p.m. Friday, November 17 until 2 a.m. Monday, November 20.
From 10 p.m. Friday until midnight Saturday, the single track will be in effect between the 54th/Cermak and Kostner stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Cicero station must board on the north side of the platform.
From midnight Saturday until 2 a.m. Monday, the single track will be in effect between the Kostner and 54th/Cermak stations. North and southbound customers boarding at the Cicero station must board on the south side the platform.
Customers should allow extra travel time.
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