Pink Line (CTA)
| Company type | Rapid transit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | June 25, 2006 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago metropolitan area |
| Owner | Chicago Transit Authority |
| Parent | Chicago Transit Authority |
| Website | www |
The Pink Line is a rapid transit route within Chicago, Illinois, managed by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) as an integral part of the Chicago "L" network. As the most recent addition to the CTA's rail system, it commenced a 180-day pilot service on June 25, 2006, connecting 54th/Cermak in Cicero, Illinois with the Loop located in downtown Chicago. Approaching the city center, the Pink Line operates on shared tracks with the Green Line along Lake Street, linked through the previously unused Paulina Connector track. In 2023, ridership on the Pink Line surpassed three million boardings.
Operation
Previously part of the Blue Line's Cermak branch, the Pink Line begins at 54th Avenue and Cermak Road in Cicero (5400 W. – 2200 S.). It follows at-grade tracks running parallel to Cermak Road until just east of Cicero Avenue, then veers diagonally northeast toward a corridor near 21st Street at Kostner Avenue. The line proceeds eastward between 21st Street and Cullerton Street, transitioning from ground-level to elevated tracks as it passes through Chicago’s neighborhoods of North Lawndale, Little Village, and Pilsen. Stations along this stretch include Kostner, Pulaski, Central Park, Kedzie, California, Western, and Damen.
Near Paulina Street, the route turns northward with stops at 18th and Polk stations before crossing over the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290). At this point, a two-track non-revenue branch diverges to connect the Pink Line with the Blue Line, enhancing operational flexibility. The Pink Line then merges onto shared tracks with the Green Line along Lake Street, serving Ashland, Morgan, and Clinton stations before completing a clockwise circuit around the Loop.
As the Blue Line Douglas/Cermak branch
Until 1996, this segment was referred to as the Douglas branch, named after Douglas Park situated along its path. Initially run by the Metropolitan West Side Elevated, trains traveled directly into the Loop via its main line. However, construction of the Congress Street Superhighway (now Interstate 290) during the 1950s necessitated removal of this main line segment. Consequently, Douglas branch trains were rerouted through the Paulina Connector and Lake Street 'L', mirroring current routing patterns.
Following completion of the Congress branch located in the expressway median, Douglas branch trains operated through the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway en route to Chicago’s Northwest Side and . The branch was renamed as the Cermak branch during the mid-1990s. Accessibility features compliant with ADA standards were implemented throughout the entire Cermak branch.
Conversion into the Pink Line
In January 2006, CTA proposed rerouting trains originating from 54th/Cermak via an upgraded Paulina Connector to join tracks of the Lake Street Green Line, then proceed clockwise around the Loop—a routing not used since 1958. This adjustment aimed to double Blue Line train frequency to Forest Park on the Congress Branch by consolidating service from both Forest Park and 54th/Cermak terminals. Additionally, CTA committed to increasing weekday rush hour service to and from 54th/Cermak by 100%.
Initially designated as the "Silver Line" with gray as its chosen color scheme, this plan received CTA approval in February 2006. Trains outside peak hours would operate via this new routing while weekday rush hour trains alternated every half hour between this route and the original Dearborn Street subway path. These operational changes commenced on June 25, 2006, initiating a six-month trial period concluding December 22 of that year.
A March 2006 essay contest among Chicago-area schoolchildren selected Pink as the official color for this line over Gold and Silver options; a $1,000 savings bond was awarded to a student who advocated for Pink.
The Pink Line officially began service in June 2006 utilizing the Paulina Connector—dormant for regular transit use for nearly five decades. Initially launched as a temporary six-month service experiment, it effectively doubled train frequency on both Douglas and Forest Park branches of the Blue Line. This was accomplished by rerouting nearly all O'Hare–Forest Park trains while introducing new runs from 54th/Cermak in Cicero to The Loop via Paulina Connector and Green Line tracks. Pink Line trains operate clockwise around the Inner Loop track following Lake-Wabash-Van Buren-Wells before returning to their origin at 54th/Cermak.
In December 2006 and again in June 2007, CTA’s board approved two extensions of this trial period by six months each. Ultimately, on December 4, 2008, CTA formalized the Pink Line as a permanent component of its transit system.
Operating Schedule and Train Frequency
On weekdays, the Pink Line runs from 54th/Cermak to the Loop starting at 4 a.m. until 2 a.m., while on weekends, service begins at 5 a.m. and continues until 2 a.m. After midnight, trains operate with a headway of at least 20 minutes, which shortens to intervals of 8 to 9 minutes during peak weekday periods.
Train Fleet
The Pink Line utilizes Bombardier-manufactured 5000-series railcars, deploying four-car train sets throughout both weekdays and weekends. To manage vehicle shortages, the Pink and Green Lines frequently interchange cars. Since September 2018, two-car Pink Line sets have been running peak-hour trips on the Blue Line. Initially, Pink Line trains equipped with 5000-series cars were composed of six cars; by mid-2012, both four- and six-car configurations were in operation.
After successful trials of four-car formations in August, the Pink Line primarily shifted back to four-car trains, reallocating some 5000-series railcars to the Green Line. The Pink Line was the first CTA route to be fully outfitted with 5000-series cars following the retirement of all 2600-series units in June 2012. Most of the retired Pink Line 2600-series cars were transferred to the Blue Line to replace older 2200-series stock.
Potential Extension Toward Kimball
In 2002, the CTA introduced a concept for a "Circle Line" that would combine existing rail segments with approximately 6.6 miles of new subway and elevated track to form a loop around the city. The proposal included extending the Brown Line from Kimball through the Loop to reach 54th/Cermak via the current Pink Line corridor and extending Orange Line service from Kimball through the Loop to Midway Airport. These ideas are still under consideration.
Stations Overview
| Location | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Cicero | Template:Cta Disabled access Template:Rint | Template:Rint CTA Bus: 21, N60 Template:Rint Pace Bus: 316, 322 |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | Template:Rint CTA Bus: 21, 54, 54B, N60 Template:Rint Pace Bus: 302, 392 | |
| North Lawndale | Template:Cta Disabled access | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | Template:Rint CTA Bus: 53, 157 | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | Template:Rint CTA Bus: 82, 157 | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | Template:Rint CTA Bus: 52 | |
| South Lawndale | Template:Cta Disabled access | Template:Rint CTA Bus: 94 |
| Lower West Side | Template:Cta Disabled access | Template:Rint Metra: Template:Rcb (at Western Avenue BNSF) Template:Rint CTA Bus: 49, X49 |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | Template:Rint CTA Bus: 50 Template:Rint Pace Bus: 755 | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | Template:Rint CTA Bus: 18 | |
| Near West Side | Template:Cta Disabled access | Template:Rint CTA Bus: 7, 157 Template:Rint Pace Bus: 755 |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 'L' trains: Template:Rcb Template:Rint CTA Bus: 9, X9 | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access | ||
| Template:Cta Disabled access | 'L' trains: Template:Rcb Metra: Template:Rcb, Template:Rcb, Template:Rcb (at Ogilvie Transportation Center) CTA Bus: J14, 56,125 | |
| Chicago Loop | Template:Cta Template:Accessicon (inner platform) |
'L' trains: Blue, Brown, Green, Purple, Orange CTA Bus:22,24,134-136,156 |
| Template:Cta (inner platform) |
'L' trains: Red (at Lake Red) CTA Bus:2,6,10,29,36,62,146 | |
| Template:Cta | Closed Sept.3,2017; replaced by Washington/Wabash | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access (inner platform) |
Metra: ME (Millennium Station) NICTD South Shore Line (Millennium Station) CTA Bus:J14,20,56,60,124,147,151,157 | |
| Template:Cta | Closed March16,2015; replaced by Washington/Wabash | |
| Template:Cta (inner platform) |
'L' trains: Brown, Green, Orange, Purple CTA Bus:1,7,28,126,151 | |
| Template:Cta Template:Accessicon (inner platform) |
'L' trains: Brown, Orange, Purple; Red (at Jackson Red); Blue (at Jackson Blue) CTA Bus:2,6,10,22-24,29,36,62,146-147 | |
| Template:Cta (inner platform) |
Metra RI (LaSalle Street Station) CTA Bus:22,24,36,130 | |
| Template:Cta Disabled access (inner platform) |
Metra BNSF/HC/MDN/MDW/NC/SW (Union Station) Amtrak long-distance and intercity services (Union Station) CTA Bus:1,7,28,37,126,130,151,156 | |
| Template:Cta Template:Accessicon (inner platform) |
'L' trains: Brown, Orange,Purple Metra UPN/UPNW/UPW (Ogilvie Transportation Center) CTA Bus:J14 ,20 ,37 ,56 ,60 ,124 ,157 |
Following the stop at Washington/Wells station,the Pink Line heads back to Clinton station before continuing all remaining stops en route to54th/Cermak.
Rail yard
The 54th Yard functions as a CTA rail facility dedicated to the Pink Line located in Cicero, Illinois, where it houses 5000-series railcars.
See also
External links
- Pink Line on the official CTA website
- CTA Announces Winner of Name the Line Contest – CTA Press Release regarding the Pink Line