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 3
Updated: Four-car trains return on select train lines on summer weekends
Service Change

Brown/Orange/Purple line trains will be reduced to 4-car lengths on weekends without major events or construction (3:30a Sat to 3:30a Mon).

Service for Weekday Cubs Games
Added Service

Loop-bd Purple Line Express trains will stop at Sheridan for all weekday Cubs night games; Linden-bd trains will stop at Sheridan for weekday Cubs day games.

State/Lake Elevated Station Temporary Closure
Special Note

Effective, now, the State/Lake Loop Elevated station is closed for reconstruction into 2029. Please use adjacent stations at Clark/Lake or Washington/Wabash.

 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

Closed stop

State/Lake

Station temporarily closed

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.