North Side main line
| Company type | Transit rail line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | May 31, 1900 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago north side |
| Products | Rapid transit service (Red, Purple, Brown Lines) |
| Parent | Chicago Transit Authority |
The North Side Main Line constitutes a vital segment of the Chicago "L" network, facilitating service for the Red, Purple, and Brown Line routes. As of 2012, it stands as the system's most heavily utilized rail corridor, accommodating an average of 123,229 weekday riders. Covering a distance of , this line comprises 21 stations stretching from Howard Street in Rogers Park down to Lake Street within the Chicago Loop. It operates around the clock, ensuring uninterrupted transit access across Chicago’s north side.
Since 2005, the North Side Main Line has been subject to various improvement projects and is currently undergoing reconstruction. On January 7, 2011, the CTA launched a comprehensive rehabilitation effort under the umbrella of the Red Ahead modernization plan aimed at upgrading infrastructure and enhancing service reliability.
Route
The North Side Main Line serves as a critical junction linking five branches of the Chicago 'L': the Ravenswood branch (Brown Line), State Street subway (Red Line), Skokie Branch (Yellow Line), Evanston Branch (Purple Line), and The Loop (Brown and Purple Lines). Beyond Howard, the Purple Line continues northward to reach Evanston and Wilmette, while the Yellow Line extends through southern Evanston to its endpoint in Skokie.
This line services prominent Chicago neighborhoods such as Near North Side, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park. Additionally, it provides stops near notable landmarks including Wrigley Field and Loyola University.
Connection
At its northern endpoint, Howard Street Station acts as the convergence point where Yellow and Purple Line trains merge onto the Main Line. The Red Line along with weekday rush hour Purple Line Express services proceed southward along the Howard Branch. The Ravenswood branch intersects just north of the Belmont station, where Brown Line trains join the Main Line corridor.
Southward from this junction lies the Loop Branch or Ravenswood Connector. Within this shared track segment, Red Line trains operate express using inner tracks, whereas Brown and Purple Line Express trains provide local service on outer tracks. The Red Line serves stations typically associated with the Brown Line such as Wellington and Diversey, with all lines stopping at Fullerton.
Beyond Fullerton, the Red Line enters a portal near Armitage to transition into the State Street subway. Meanwhile, Brown and Purple Express trains stay elevated toward Merchandise Mart, cross over via the Wells Street Bridge, and proceed into the Loop at Tower 18.
History
Inaugurated on May 31, 1900, between The Loop and Wilson Avenue under the name Northwestern Elevated Railroad, this line extended service to Central street in Evanston by May 16, 1908. Between 1919 and 1963, it also accommodated interurban trains of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad.
Starting in 2002, significant modernization efforts have been underway to renovate and upgrade the Main Line. Since 2012, ongoing projects have focused on station improvements and track renewals, with recent attention directed toward enhancements on Howard branch stations through the Red North Station Interim Improvements initiative.
Interim Enhancements to Red North Stations
In November 2011, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) initiated the $86 million Red North project as part of the broader Red Line Capital Investment program, awarding a $57.4 million contract to Kiewit Infrastructure. This effort focused on upgrading seven stations: Granville, Morse, Thorndale, Argyle, Berwyn, Lawrence, and Jarvis. Beginning with Granville on June 1, 2012, the renovations were completed at Jarvis on December 13, 2012. These improvements eliminated slow zones, thereby enhancing train acceleration and operational efficiency.
Red & Purple Modernization Initiative
The CTA's Red & Purple Modernization Project is designed to overhaul critical stations and infrastructure along the Red and Purple lines. Between 2012 and 2013, after analyzing four alternatives and consulting with the community, the CTA proposed closing five stations: Foster, South Boulevard, Jarvis, Lawrence, and Thorndale.
During the 2011 scoping phase, public meetings were held to gather input, clarify project objectives, assess potential impacts, and devise mitigation plans. Six alternative options were presented during this stage.
This $2 billion endeavor includes a full reconstruction of the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr stations as well as the creation of a new Red-Purple bypass. Construction commenced on October 2, 2019, concluding on July 20, 2025, substantially improving capacity and service dependability on these essential transit routes.
Wilson Station Redevelopment
Between 2014 and 2018, the Chicago Department of Transportation undertook a comprehensive rebuild of Wilson station, a major transfer hub between Red and Purple Line Express trains. The redesigned facility incorporates a new primary entrance on Wilson’s southern side, two island platforms serving both lines, plus two additional entrances located at Sunnyside Avenue and the northern side of Wilson.
Construction started in October 2014 and finished by February 2018 while keeping the station operational throughout. Complete project renderings and information boards from the public open house are accessible.
Station listing
| Station | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 7519 N. Paulina Street | Transfer point for all 'L' lines serving this station |
| Template:Cta | 1523 W. Jarvis Avenue | |
| Template:Cta | 1358 W. Morse Avenue | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 1200 W. Loyola Avenue | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 1119 W. Granville Avenue | Located in Edgewater near Berger Park |
| Template:Cta | 1118 W. Thorndale Avenue | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 1119 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 1121 W. Berwyn Avenue | Originally known as Edgewater Beach |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 1118 W. Argyle Street | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 1117 W. Lawrence Avenue | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 4620 N. Broadway Street | |
| Buena | Buena Avenue and Kenmore Avenue | Closed August 1, 1949; later demolished |
| Template:Cta | 3940 N. Sheridan Road | |
| Grace | Grace Street and Sheffield Avenue | Closed August 1, 1949; demolished afterward |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 940 W. Addison Street | |
| Clark | Clark Street and Roscoe Street | Closed August 1, 1949; subsequently demolished |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 945 W. Belmont Avenue | Transfer hub for all 'L' lines serving this station |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 945 W. Wellington Avenue | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 943 W. Diversey Avenue | |
| Template:Cta | Closed August 1, 1949; demolished later | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 943 W. Fullerton Avenue | Transfer point for all 'L' lines serving this station |
| Template:Cta | Closed August 1, 1949; demolished afterward | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 944 W. Armitage Avenue | |
| Template:Cta | Willow Street and Sheffield Avenue | Closed May 17, 1942; subsequently demolished |
| Template:Cta | Closed August 1, 1949; demolished later | |
| Template:Cta | Larrabee Street at Ogden Avenue and North Avenue intersection | Closed August 1, 1949; demolished afterward |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 1536 N. Sedgwick Street | |
| Schiller | Closed August 1, 1949; later demolished | |
| Template:Cta | Closed August 1, 1949; demolished subsequently | |
| Template:Cta | Oak Street and Orleans Street intersection | Closed August 1, 1949; demolished afterward |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 301 W. Chicago Avenue | |
| Template:Cta | Grand Avenue at Franklin Street junction | Closed September 20, 1970; later demolished |
| Template:Cta | Kinzie Street and Wells Street intersection | Closed in 1921; demolished; replaced by Grand station |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 350 N. Wells Street | |
| Template:Cta | North Water Street at Clark Street intersection | Opened November 17, 1908; closed August 1, 1949; subsequently demolished |
See also
External links
- North Side Main Line: Howard Branch on Chicago-L.org
- North Side Main Line: Loop Branch on Chicago-L.org