Brown, Green, Orange and Pink Line Trains Rerouted Through Loop
As part of CTA’s work to replace the signal and train control systems in the Loop, the weekend beginning November 14 crews will be installing a new signal control facility at Lake and Wells that will require elevated trains to reroute on Saturday and Sunday.
Brown, Green, Pink and Orange line trains will be temporarily rerouted from approximately 4 a.m. on Saturday, November 14 until 8 p.m. Sunday, November 15. Brown and Orange line trains will operate on the Lake and Wabash elevated tracks only. Green and Pink line trains will operate on the Wells and Van Buren elevated tracks only.
During these hours, the signal controls will be unable to operate mechanically and trains manually will be flagged through the intersection by crews on the tracks.
Southbound Brown Line trains entering the Loop will operate on the inner Loop track as Orange Line trains from the Merchandise Mart to Midway. From the Merchandise Mart, southbound Orange Line trains will make their first stop at Clark/Lake, then State/Lake, Randolph/Wabash, Madison/Wabash and Adams/Wabash, then proceed to Roosevelt where they will resume normal southbound Orange Line service to Midway.
Northbound Orange Line trains entering the Loop will operate on the outer Loop track as Brown Line trains from Roosevelt to Kimball. From Roosevelt, northbound Brown Line trains will make their first stop at Adams/Wabash then Madison/Wabash, Randolph/Wabash, State/Lake and Clark/Lake where trains will then proceed to the Merchandise Mart and resume normal northbound Brown Line service to Kimball.
Northbound Green Line trains will be rerouted to the inner Loop track along Van Buren and Wells. Northbound Green Line trains will make their first stop at Library, then LaSalle/Van Buren, Quincy/Wells and Washington/Wells, then proceed to Clinton and resume the regular route. Southbound Green Line trains will be rerouted to the outer Loop track along Wells and Van Buren. Southbound Green Line trains will make their first stop at Washington/Wells, Quincy/Wells, LaSalle/Van Buren and Library, then proceed to Roosevelt where they will resume normal southbound service.
Pink Line trains will enter the Loop from Clinton and be rerouted to the outer Loop track. Entering the Loop from Clinton, Pink Line trains will make their first stop at Washington/Wells, then Quincy/Wells, LaSalle/Van Buren, Library to Roosevelt where they will turn and resume normal westbound service to 54th/Cermak on the inner Loop track with the first stop at Library/Van Buren.
Pink and Green line customers who wish to travel to the east side of the Loop can transfer to a northbound Brown Line train at Roosevelt. Brown and Orange line customers who wish to travel to the west side of Loop can transfer at Roosevelt and board a northbound Pink or Green line Train.
Normal operation is expected to resume for all four elevated rail lines on Sunday night, November 15.
The new system will help to improve the reliability of service by regulating train movement, speed and intervals at the Lake and Wells junction where trains enter and exit the Loop.
With the current signal and control system, trains may experience delays while waiting for signal clearance when crossing into or out of the Loop. Signals act as traffic lights along the rail routes directing rail operators to proceed, slow down or stop. Signals also give the operator information regarding track conditions and speed limits.
The new system will reduce signal clearance delays by replacing the current system, which is more than 30 years old, with new signals designed to improve service reliability by regulating train movement, speed and intervals more effectively. The newer equipment also will reduce the cost of maintenance as aging equipment requires maintenance more frequently.
The Loop Signal replacement project began in 2007 and is expected to conclude in late 2010. The project is being conducted in phases to help minimize the impact to customers. The majority of the work has taken place on weekends and in the early morning hours.
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Reroute Operation Graphic