# List of Chicago "L" stations

The Chicago "L" is a rapid transit system that serves the city of Chicago and seven of its surrounding suburbs. The system is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). On an average weekday, 759,866 passengers ride the "L", making it the second-busiest rapid transit system in the United States, behind the New York City Subway.
The system began as three separate companies, which built lines traveling from Chicago's central business district to the south and the west. The first of these was the Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad which opened on June 6, 1892. The Lake Street Elevated Railroad opened the following year and the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad followed in 1895. Initially, the "L" lines operated independently of each other, but in 1897, they were combined into one physically unified system with the completion of the Union Loop and connecting trackage. In 1900, the Northwestern Elevated Railroad entered operation, finalizing the basic structure of the system: a hub and spoke distribution paradigm radiating north, west, and south from downtown Chicago. The system expanded outward from this with new branches or line extensions until 1930.
Due to the ruined financial state of the privately owned Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the Chicago Surface Lines, a public agency (the CTA) was created in 1947 to take over and save the rapid transit and streetcar systems. Starting in 1948, the CTA began systematically shutting down many stations and lines that saw little use in order to improve service and reduce costs. Expansion resumed in September 1969 with the opening of a new line in the median of the Dan Ryan Expressway and continued until October 31, 1993, with the opening of the Orange Line. The newest line is the Pink Line, which opened on June 25, 2006 was created by rerouting the Blue Line's Douglas branch into a separate service.
As of August 2024, the system has 146 stations on eight lines operating on 224.1 miles (360.7 km) of track. A total of 103 stations are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and are accessible to passengers with disabilities. The majority of "L" stations are named for the streets or intersections on which they are located; others are named for neighborhoods, suburbs, destinations, or a combination of these. The newest station is Damen on the Green Line, which opened on August 5, 2024.

## Lines

Chicago "L" lines :
| Line | Stations | Termini | Weekday ridership (as of July 2022) |
| Blue | 33 | O'Hare (north, all other trains) Rosemont (north, select weekday rush hour trains) Jefferson Park (north, select weekday rush hour trains) Forest Park (south, all other trains) UIC-Halsted (south, select weekday rush hour trains) | 66,838 |
| Brown | 27 | Kimball (north) The Loop (south, all except nights) Belmont (south, late nights) | 29,531 |
| Green | 31 | Harlem/Lake (north) Cottage Grove (south via East 63rd branch) Ashland/63rd (south via Ashland branch) | 20,219 |
| Orange | 16 | The Loop Midway (south) | 15,129 |
| Pink | 22 | 54th/Cermak (west) The Loop (east) | 9,834 |
| Purple | 26 | Linden (north) Howard (south, shuttle service) The Loop (south, weekday rush hour express service) | 4,558 |
| Red | 33 | Howard (north) 95th/Dan Ryan (south) | 98,148 |
| Yellow | 3 | Dempster–Skokie (west) Howard (east) | 1,212 |

## Stations

Key for Chicago "L" stations and planned stations :
| Symbol | Meaning |
| Ⓣ | Designated transfer stations within the Chicago "L" system |
| | Transfer stations for Metra or South Shore Line |
| Ⓣ | Transfer stations for Chicago "L", Metra, and South Shore Line |
| † | Terminal station |
| Ⓣ † † | Transfer stations and terminals |
| | Accessible |
| | Airport connection |
Key for Metra and South Shore lines :
| Symbol | Line |
| BNSF | BNSF Line |
| HC | Heritage Corridor |
| ME | Metra Electric District |
| MD-N | Milwaukee District North Line |
| MD-W | Milwaukee District West Line |
| NCS | North Central Service |
| RI | Rock Island District |
| SWS | SouthWest Service |
| UP-N | Union Pacific North Line |
| UP-NW | Union Pacific Northwest Line |
| UP-W | Union Pacific West Line |
| | South Shore Line |
Rapid transit stations on the Chicago "L" :
| Station | Lines | Transfers | Location | Opened | Structure |
| 18th | Pink | — | Pilsen | April 28, 1896 | Elevated |
| 35th–Bronzeville–IIT | Green | Metra: RI (at Jones/Bronzeville) | Bronzeville | June 6, 1892 | Elevated |
| 35th/Archer | Orange | — | McKinley Park | October 31, 1993 | Elevated |
| 43rd | Green | — | Grand Boulevard | August 15, 1892 | Elevated |
| 47th | Green | — | Legends South | August 15, 1892 | Elevated |
| 47th | Red | — | Fuller Park | September 28, 1969 | Expressway median |
| 51st | Green | — | Grand Boulevard/ Washington Park | August 28, 1892 | Elevated |
| 54th/Cermak † | Pink | — | Cicero | August 1, 1912 | At-grade |
| 63rd | Red | — | Englewood | September 28, 1969 | Expressway median |
| 69th | Red | — | Greater Grand Crossing | September 28, 1969 | Expressway median |
| 79th | Red | — | Chatham | September 28, 1969 | Expressway median |
| 87th | Red | — | Garden Homes | September 28, 1969 | Expressway median |
| 95th/Dan Ryan † | Red | — | Roseland | September 28, 1969 | Expressway median |
| Adams/Wabash Ⓣ | Brown Green Orange Pink Purple | Metra: ME (at Van Buren Street) NICTD: (at Van Buren Street) | The Loop | November 8, 1896 | Elevated |
| Addison | Blue | — | Avondale/Irving Park | February 1, 1970 | Expressway median |
| Addison | Brown | — | North Center | May 18, 1907 | Elevated |
| Addison | Red | — | Wrigleyville | June 6, 1900 | Elevated |
| Argyle | Red | — | Little Vietnam | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| Armitage | Brown Purple | — | Lincoln Park | June 9, 1900 | Elevated |
| Ashland | Green Pink | — | Near West Side | November 6, 1893 | Elevated |
| Ashland/63rd † | Green | — | West Englewood | May 6, 1969 | Elevated |
| Ashland | Orange | — | McKinley Park/Lower West Side | October 31, 1993 | Elevated |
| Austin | Blue | — | Oak Park | March 20, 1960 | Cutting |
| Austin | Green | — | Austin | April 15, 1899 | Elevated |
| Belmont | Blue | — | Avondale | February 1, 1970 | Underground |
| Belmont Ⓣ † | Brown Purple Red | — | Lake View | May 31, 1900 | Elevated |
| Berwyn | Red | — | Summerdale | 1916 | Elevated |
| Bryn Mawr | Red | — | Edgewater | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| California | Blue | — | Palmer Square | May 25, 1895 | Elevated |
| California | Green | — | Smith Park | November 6, 1893 | Elevated |
| California | Pink | — | Little Village | March 10, 1902 | Elevated |
| Central | Green | — | Austin | April 15, 1899 | Elevated |
| Central | Purple | — | Evanston | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| Central Park | Pink | — | North Lawndale | December 9, 1951 | Elevated |
| Cermak–Chinatown | Red | — | Chinatown | September 28, 1969 | Elevated |
| Cermak–McCormick Place | Green | — | McCormick Place | June 6, 1892 | Elevated |
| Chicago | Blue | — | Ukrainian Village | February 25, 1951 | Underground |
| Chicago | Brown Purple | — | Cabrini Green | May 31, 1900 | Elevated |
| Chicago | Red | — | Magnificent Mile | October 17, 1943 | Underground |
| Cicero | Blue | — | Austin | June 22, 1958 | Expressway median |
| Cicero | Green | — | Austin | March 3, 1894 | Elevated |
| Cicero | Pink | — | Cicero | December 16, 1907 | At-grade |
| Clark/Division | Red | — | Gold Coast | October 17, 1943 | Underground |
| Clark/Lake Ⓣ | Blue Brown Green Orange Pink Purple | — | City Hall | September 22, 1895/ February 25, 1951 | Elevated/underground |
| Clinton | Blue | Metra: MD-N MD-W NCS BNSF HC SWS (at Union) | Union Station | June 22, 1958 | Underground |
| Clinton Ⓣ | Green Pink | Metra: UP-N UP-W UP-NW (at Ogilvie) | West Loop | October 16, 1909 | Elevated |
| Conservatory–Central Park Drive | Green | — | East Garfield Park | June 30, 2001 | Elevated |
| Cottage Grove † | Green | — | Woodlawn | April 23, 1893 | Elevated |
| Cumberland | Blue | — | Schorsch Forest View | February 27, 1983 | Expressway median |
| Damen | Blue | — | Wicker Park | May 6, 1895 | Elevated |
| Damen | Brown | Metra: UP-N (at Ravenswood) | Ravenswood | May 18, 1907 | Elevated |
| Damen | Green | – | Near West Side | August 5, 2024 | Elevated |
| Damen | Pink | — | Heart of Chicago | September 7, 1896 | Elevated |
| Davis | Purple | Metra: UP-N (at Evanston Davis Street) | Evanston | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| Dempster | Purple | — | Evanston | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| Dempster–Skokie † | Yellow | — | Skokie | March 28, 1925 | At-grade |
| Diversey | Brown Purple | — | Lincoln Park | June 9, 1900 | Elevated |
| Division | Blue | — | Pulaski Park | February 25, 1951 | Underground |
| Forest Park † | Blue | — | Forest Park | March 11, 1905 | Elevated |
| Foster | Purple | — | Evanston | January 6, 1909 | Elevated |
| Francisco | Brown | — | Albany Park | December 14, 1907 | At-grade |
| Fullerton Ⓣ | Brown Purple Red | — | Lincoln Park | May 31, 1900 | Elevated |
| Garfield Ⓣ | Green | — | Washington Park | October 12, 1892 | Elevated |
| Garfield | Red | — | Canaryville | September 28, 1969 | Expressway median |
| Grand | Blue | — | West Town | February 25, 1951 | Underground |
| Grand | Red | — | River North | October 17, 1943 | Underground |
| Granville | Red | — | Granville Homes | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| Halsted | Green | — | Englewood | December 24, 1906 | Elevated |
| Halsted | Orange | — | Bridgeport | October 31, 1993 | Elevated |
| Harlem | Blue | — | Forest Park | March 20, 1960 | Cutting |
| Harlem | Blue | — | Norwood Park | February 27, 1983 | Expressway median |
| Harlem/Lake † | Green | Metra: UP-W (at Oak Park) | Oak Park | October 28, 1962 | Elevated |
| Harold Washington Library State/Van Buren Ⓣ | Brown Orange Pink Purple | Blue (at Jackson) Red (at Jackson) Metra: ME (at Van Buren Street) NICTD: (at Van Buren Street) | Harold Washington Library Center | June 22, 1997 | Elevated |
| Harrison | Red | — | South Loop | October 17, 1943 | Underground |
| Howard Ⓣ † | Red Purple Yellow | — | Dubkin Park | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| Illinois Medical District | Blue | — | Near West Side | June 22, 1958 | Expressway median |
| Indiana | Green | — | Grand Boulevard | August 15, 1892 | Elevated |
| Irving Park | Blue | Metra: UP-NW (at Irving Park) | Irving Park | February 1, 1970 | Expressway median |
| Irving Park | Brown | — | North Center | May 18, 1907 | Elevated |
| Jackson Ⓣ | Blue | Red (at Jackson) Brown Orange Pink Purple (at Library) | The Loop | February 25, 1951 | Underground |
| Jackson Ⓣ | Red | Blue (at Jackson) Brown Orange Pink Purple (at Library) | Printers Row | October 17, 1943 | Underground |
| Jarvis | Red | — | Rogers Park | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| Jefferson Park | Blue | Metra: UP-NW | Jefferson Park | February 1, 1970 | Expressway median |
| Kedzie | Brown | — | Albany Park | December 14, 1907 | At-grade |
| Kedzie | Green | Metra: UP-W (at Kedzie) | East Garfield Park | November 6, 1893 | Elevated |
| Kedzie | Orange | — | Brighton Park | October 31, 1993 | Elevated |
| Kedzie | Pink | — | North Lawndale | March 10, 1902 | Elevated |
| Kedzie–Homan | Blue | — | East Garfield Park | June 22, 1958 | Expressway median |
| Kimball † | Brown | — | Budlong Woods | December 14, 1907 | At-grade |
| King Drive | Green | — | Woodlawn | May 1, 1893 | Elevated |
| Kostner | Pink | — | North Lawndale | May 22, 1907 | At-grade |
| Lake Ⓣ | Red | Blue (at Washington) Brown Green Orange Pink Purple (at State/Lake) | The Loop | November 18, 1997 | Underground |
| Laramie | Green | — | Austin | April 23, 1894 | Elevated |
| LaSalle | Blue | Metra: RI (at LaSalle Street) | The Loop | February 25, 1951 | Underground |
| LaSalle/Van Buren | Brown Orange Pink Purple | Metra: RI (at LaSalle Street) | The Loop | October 3, 1897 | Elevated |
| Lawrence | Red | — | Uptown | February 27, 1923 | Elevated |
| Linden † | Purple | — | Wilmette | April 2, 1912 | At-grade |
| Logan Square | Blue | — | Logan Square | February 1, 1970 | Underground |
| Loyola | Red | — | Loyola University | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| Main | Purple | Metra: UP-N (at Evanston Main Street) | Evanston | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| Merchandise Mart Ⓣ | Brown Purple | — | Near North Side | December 5, 1930 | Elevated |
| Midway † | Orange | — | Garfield Ridge | October 31, 1993 | At-grade |
| Monroe | Blue | — | The Loop | February 25, 1951 | Underground |
| Monroe | Red | — | The Loop | October 17, 1943 | Underground |
| Montrose | Blue | Metra: MD-N (at Mayfair) | Irving Park/Portage Park | February 1, 1970 | Expressway median |
| Montrose | Brown | — | Ravenswood | May 18, 1907 | Elevated |
| Morgan | Green Pink | — | Near West Side | November 6, 1893 | Elevated |
| Morse | Red | — | Touhy Park | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| North/Clybourn | Red | — | Goose Island | October 17, 1943 | Underground |
| Noyes | Purple | — | Evanston | May 16, 1908 | Elevated |
| O'Hare † | Blue | O'Hare: ATS Airport Transit System | O'Hare | September 3, 1984 | Underground |
| Oak Park | Blue | — | Oak Park | March 20, 1960 | Cutting |
| Oak Park | Green | — | Oak Park | January 25, 1901 | Elevated |
| Oakton–Skokie | Yellow | — | Skokie | March 28, 1925 | At-grade |
| Paulina | Brown | — | Roscoe Village | May 18, 1907 | Elevated |
| Polk | Pink | — | Illinois Medical District | April 28, 1896 | Elevated |
| Pulaski | Blue | — | West Garfield Park | June 22, 1958 | Expressway median |
| Pulaski | Green | — | West Garfield Park | March 1894 | Elevated |
| Pulaski | Orange | — | Archer Heights/ West Elsdon | October 31, 1993 | Elevated |
| Pulaski | Pink | — | North Lawndale | June 16, 1902 | Elevated |
| Quincy | Brown Orange Pink Purple | Metra: MD-N MD-W NCS BNSF HC SWS (at Union) | The Loop | October 3, 1897 | Elevated |
| Racine | Blue | — | Near West Side | June 22, 1958 | Expressway median |
| Ridgeland | Green | — | Oak Park | January 25, 1901 | Elevated |
| Rockwell | Brown | — | Lincoln Square | December 14, 1907 | At-grade |
| Roosevelt Ⓣ | Green Orange Red | — | Near South Side | June 6, 1892/October 17, 1943 | Elevated/underground |
| Rosemont | Blue | — | Rosemont | February 27, 1983 | Expressway median |
| Sedgwick | Brown Purple | — | Old Town | May 31, 1900 | Elevated |
| Sheridan | Red | — | Buena Park | May 31, 1900 | Elevated |
| South Boulevard | Purple | — | Evanston | July 1, 1931 | Elevated |
| Southport | Brown | — | Lake View | May 18, 1907 | Elevated |
| Sox–35th | Red | Metra: RI (at Jones/Bronzeville) | Armour Square | September 28, 1969 | Expressway median |
| State/Lake Ⓣ | Brown Green Orange Pink Purple | Red (at Lake) | The Loop | September 22, 1895 | Elevated |
| Thorndale | Red | — | Winchester Hood | February 14, 1915 | Elevated |
| UIC–Halsted | Blue | — | Greektown | June 22, 1958 | Expressway median |
| Washington Ⓣ | Blue | Red (at Lake) | The Loop | February 25, 1951 | Underground |
| Washington/​Wabash | Brown Green Orange Pink Purple | Metra: ME (at Millennium Station) NICTD: (at Millennium Station) | The Loop | August 31, 2017 | Elevated |
| Washington/​Wells Ⓣ | Brown Orange Pink Purple | Metra: MD-N MD-W NCS BNSF HC SWS (at Union) Metra: UP-N UP-W UP-NW (at Ogilvie) | The Loop | July 17, 1995 | Elevated |
| Wellington | Brown Purple | — | Lake View | May 31, 1900 | Elevated |
| Western | Blue | — | Bucktown | May 25, 1895 | Elevated |
| Western | Blue | — | Near West Side | June 22, 1958 | Expressway median |
| Western | Brown | — | Lincoln Square | May 18, 1907 | Elevated |
| Western | Orange | — | Brighton Park/ Gage Park/New City | October 31, 1993 | Elevated |
| Western | Pink | — | Lower West Side | September 7, 1896 | Elevated |
| Wilson Ⓣ | Purple Red | — | Montrose Beach | May 31, 1900 | Elevated |

### Gallery

* North/Clybourn is the only station on the Red Line's subway component with fare controls above ground
* One of several stations built on ground level, Oakton–Skokie has head houses built at each end
* The twin head houses of Conservatory–Central Park Drive date back to 1894
* The Midway terminal features both an island platform and a side platform
* The island platform at Jackson/Dearborn conforms to the same structure that all the subway platforms in the Loop have
* Noyes, unlike most stations, has a platform that is only long enough for six cars instead of the usual eight
* Pedestrian access to 63rd is from the bridge spanning the Dan Ryan expressway. Most stations built in highway medians on the Chicago "L" are reached in this way
* Like many stations, Ashland/63rd is an elevated station. Accessibility is provided via an elevator to the station's platform
* Argyle is one of several stations built on a concrete embankment

## Planned stations

Planned and proposed stations for the Chicago "L" :
| Station | Lines | Transfers | Location | Planned opening | Structure | Status |
| 103rd | Red | — | Roseland/Washington Heights | 2030 | Elevated | Proposed |
| 111th | Red | — | Roseland | 2030 | Elevated | Proposed |
| 130th † | Red | — | Riverdale | 2030 | At-grade | Proposed |
| Michigan | Red | — | West Pullman | 2030 | Elevated | Proposed |