Washington/Wells station
| Company type | Chicago "L" rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 17, 1995 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Rapid transit services (Brown Line, Orange Line, Purple Line Express, Pink Line) |
Washington/Wells is a station on Chicago's Chicago "L" network, located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Illinois within The Loop. Since its opening on July 17, 1995, the station has provided access to prominent commercial and cultural landmarks such as Chicago City Hall, the Civic Opera House, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Positioned on Wells Street between Washington and Madison, it sits three blocks east of the Ogilvie Transportation Center, which serves as the terminus for Union Pacific North, Northwest, and West line Metra services.
History
This station was established as a replacement for two former Loop stations: Randolph/Wells and Madison/Wells. In a similar consolidation effort on the Wabash side of the Loop, the CTA merged Randolph/Wabash and Madison/Wabash into what is now known as Washington/Wabash.
Station layout
Situated between Washington and Madison Streets, the facility is constructed primarily from steel and concrete, featuring wooden platforms. A spacious mezzanine can be reached via stairways located just south of Washington on both sides of Wells Street, with elevators available to ensure accessibility. Beyond the fare gates, staircases descend to the platform level: stairs on the east side lead to the Inner Loop platform, while those on the west side access the Outer Loop platform. Both platforms are equipped with elevators and interconnected within the fare-controlled zone to allow seamless transfers. The platforms stretch from Washington past Madison Street, with secondary exits at each end providing access to the eastern sides of both streets. Each platform is designed to accommodate trains up to eight cars long, the maximum length utilized in the CTA system.
Service
The Washington/Wells station services include the Brown Line, running counterclockwise on the Outer Loop track, as well as the Orange Line, Purple Line Express (operating during weekday peak hours only), and Pink Line, which travel clockwise along the Inner Loop track.
Bus connections
- J14 Jeffery Jump
- 20 Madison (Owl Service)
- 37 Sedgwick (Weekdays only)
- 56 Milwaukee
- 60 Blue Island/26th (Owl Service)
- 124 Navy Pier
- 157 Streeterville/Taylor (Weekdays only)