Purple Line train at Central

train iconPurple Line ‘L’

The Purple Line provides rapid transit train service between Linden (in Wilmette) and Howard (in Chicago) via Evanston. Additionally, during weekday rush-periods, express service continues to downtown Loop.

This page contains

 

Hours of operation: 

Local (shuttle) service between Linden and Howard
 

Mon.-Thu.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday/Holiday

Linden to Howard

5:02a-1:35a

5:02a-2:05a

5:30a-2:08a

6:25a-1:38a

Howard to Linden

4:35a-1:14a

4:35a-1:44a

5:08a-1:50a

6:05a-1:20a

Express service between Linden and Downtown (via Loop 'L')
  Monday-Friday Saturday Sunday/Holiday
Linden to Loop 'L'

5:02a-9:10a
2:08p-6:18p

   
Loop 'L' to Linden

5:57a-9:53a
3:03p-7:13p

   

 

 

Timetables

Route-wide timetable brochure (pdf)Route diagram & station info

 

Service alerts

Current alerts 4
Boarding Change at Wilson
Special Note

West platform at Wilson is temporarily closed. Board/exit all trains on the east platform.

Boarding Change at Belmont
Service Change

Board/exit Loop-bound Purple Line Express trains on the Red Line side of the 95th- and Loop-bound platform at the Belmont station.

Boarding Change at Belmont
Service Change

At Belmont station, Kimball-bound Brown Line trains resume stopping on outer track; Linden-bound Purple Line Exp trains continue to board/exit on inner track.

Red and Purple Line Trains Share Track between Thorndale and Belmont (Updated)
Service Change

Red and Purple line trains share tracks btwn Thorndale and Belmont. Purple Line Express trains continue to make only express stops between Howard and Belmont.

Upcoming alerts 1

 RSS Feed: Purple Line Alerts

 

Route diagram

with stations and station timetables

This diagram represents the order of stations along the route (not geography).

Purple Line Stop

LindenAccessible stationPark & Ride available

Transfer to buses

Purple Line Stop

Central

Transfer to buses

Purple Line Stop

Noyes

Purple Line Stop

Foster

Purple Line Stop

DavisAccessible station

Connect to Metra UP-N trains via Davis St/Evanston StationTransfer to buses

Purple Line Stop

Dempster

Transfer to buses

Purple Line Stop

Main

Transfer to buses

Purple Line Stop

South Blvd

Transfer to buses

Purple Line Transfer Stop

Howard Accessible stationPark & Ride available

Transfer to Red Line trainsTransfer to Yellow Line trainsTransfer to buses

 

During weekday rush periods, Purple Line Express trains continue express to downtown via Loop 'L'...

Purple Line Transfer Stop

WilsonAccessible station

Transfer to Red Line trainsTransfer to buses

Purple Line Express Transfer Stop (rush periods, only)

BelmontAccessible station

Transfer to Red Line trainsTransfer to Brown LineTransfer to buses

Purple Line Express Stop (rush periods, only)

WellingtonAccessible station

Purple Line Express Stop (rush periods, only)

DiverseyAccessible station

Transfer to buses

Purple Line Express Transfer Stop (rush periods, only)

FullertonAccessible station

Transfer to Red Line trainsTransfer to Brown LineTransfer to buses

Purple Line Express Stop (rush periods, only)

ArmitageAccessible station

Transfer to buses

Purple Line Express Stop (rush periods, only)

SedgwickAccessible station

Transfer to buses

Purple Line Express Stop (rush periods, only)

ChicagoAccessible station

Transfer to buses

Purple Line Express Transfer Stop (rush periods, only)

Merchandise MartAccessible station

Transfer to Brown LineTransfer to buses

 

...Purple Line Express trains then continue to and make all stops, operating clockwise around the Loop 'L', in the following order (before returning to Linden):

Purple Line Express Transfer Stop (rush periods, only)

Clark/LakeAccessible station

Transfer to Blue Line (subway)Transfer to Brown LineTransfer to Green LineTransfer to Pink LineTransfer to Orange LineTransfer to buses

Purple Line Express Transfer Stop (rush periods, only)

State/Lake

Transfer to Red Line (subway) (farecard required)Transfer to buses

Purple Line Express stop

Washington/WabashAccessible station

Connect to Metra & South Shore Millennium StationTransfer to buses

Purple Line Express Transfer Stop (rush periods, only)

Adams/Wabash

Transfer to Brown LineTransfer to Green LineTransfer to Orange LineTransfer to Pink LineTransfer to buses

Purple Line Express Transfer Stop (rush periods, only)

Harold Washington Library-State/Van BurenAccessible station

Transfer to Brown LineTransfer to Orange LineTransfer to Pink LineTransfer Blue Line subway (farecard required)Transfer to Red Line (subway) (farecard required)Transfer to buses

Purple Line Express stop

LaSalle/Van Buren

Connect to LaSalle Street Metra (Rock Island District) StationTransfer to buses

Purple Line Express stop

QuincyAccessible station

Connect to Metra BNSF, Milwaukee District, North Central and Amtrak trains via Chicago Union StationTransfer to buses

Purple Line Express Transfer Stop (rush periods, only)

Washington/WellsAccessible station

Transfer to Brown LineTransfer to Orange LineTransfer to Pink LineConnect to Metra (UP Lines) Ogilvie StationTransfer to buses

 

...after leaving Washington/Wells, Purple Line Express trains then exit Loop and make all stops from Merchandise Mart back through to Linden.

System status snapshot
‘L’ route status
Red Line
Normal Service
Blue Line
Normal Service
Green Line
Normal Service
Orange Line
Normal Service
Pink Line
Normal Service
Purple Line
Normal Service
Yellow Line
Normal Service
Bus routes w/alerts
Elevator alerts