10/26/06
Purple Line Service Temporarily Suspended This Weekend for Viaduct Construction Work
Purple Line service between Linden and Howard will be temporarily suspended at 8:30 p.m. Friday, October 27 through Sunday, October 29 while the old viaduct at Church Street in Evanston is demolished and a new steel viaduct is rolled into place.
During the temporary closure, CTA will provide a bus shuttle for customers as a substitute for Purple Line service. Shuttle buses will operate in both directions during regular Purple Line service hours beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 27 until 1:30 a.m. Monday, October 30. Buses will make stops at or near all Purple Line stations. Buses that normally stop at the Davis station will be redirected to Davis Street due to street closures. Regular Purple Line service will resume Monday, October at 4:30 a.m.
(See separate release)
Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project:
CTA is working to expand capacity on the Brown Line. When the work is completed, customers will benefit from longer trains during rush hour and accessible, modern stations and platforms.
Throughout the Brown Line construction project, slow zones and single track operation are periodically necessary near construction activity so, as a general rule, rail customers should allow extra travel time.
Brown and Red Line Customers Allow Extra Travel Time This WeekendBrown Line Shuttle Train Saturday
Construction work planned for this weekend will require reroutes of north and southbound Red and Brown Line trains. This could cause delays in service so customers are advised to allow extra travel time. Several major construction projects are currently underway on the rail system and CTA is working to minimize the impact on customers while coordinating efforts to accommodate multiple construction crews.
Brown Line, Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29 ? 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A shuttle train will operate in both directions on what is normally the southbound track, making stops at Kedzie, Rockwell and Western.
From Western, Brown Line customers traveling northbound must board the shuttle train on the southbound platform.
At the Kedzie and Rockwell stations, Brown Line customers must board the shuttle train to the Western station on the south side of the platform.
Regular Brown Line service will operate from the Western station to the Loop in both directions. Customers riding Brown Line shuttle trains must board a regular service Brown Line train at Western to continue southbound.
Belmont and Fullerton Stations
1 a.m. Saturday, October 28 to 4 a.m., Monday, October 30
Southbound Brown Line trains will share tracks with southbound Red Line trains at the Belmont and Fullerton stations. Southbound Brown Line customers will board on the east side of the platform where southbound Red Line customers board.
Southbound Brown Line trains will be unable to stop at the Wellington and Diversey station platforms during these hours. Customers who wish to exit at these stations will need to travel to the Fullerton station and transfer to a northbound Brown Line train to travel back to these stations.
Southbound customers who wish to board at the Wellington and Diversey stations will need to travel to Belmont station and transfer to a southbound Brown Line train.
Northbound Red and Brown Line service will not be affected. Normal Brown Line service will resume at 4 a.m. Monday at Belmont and Fullerton.
(See separate release)
Haunted 'L' Train Continues Through Saturday
The Mayor's Office of Special Events and the Chicago Office of Tourism Haunted 'L' train will continue to operate this Thursday and Friday evening, and on Saturday through October 28.
Trips on the Haunted 'L' are free, but guests must obtain tickets before boarding from the Chicago Cultural Center's Visitor Information Center, located at 77 East Randolph. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are only offered on the current day the Haunted 'L' is in operation. Ticket distribution begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
(See separate press release for schedule information)
Red Line - Dan Ryan Branch Rehabilitation:
CTA is working to replace track, power and signal systems and upgrade stations along the branch. When the work is completed, customers will experience more reliable service and modern station amenities.
Single Track in Effect on Red Line Over Weekend
A single track will be in effect between 23rd and 45th from 8 p.m. Friday, October 27 until 8 a.m. Saturday, October 28 and again in the same location from 8 p.m. Saturday night until noon Sunday, October 29.
During the Friday single track, north and southbound customers boarding at the Sox-35th station must board on the east side of the platform. During the Saturday single track, north and southbound customers boarding at the Sox-35th station must board on the west side of the platform.
Single Track in Effect on Red Line Sunday Night
A single track will be in effect between 87th and 94th from 9 p.m. Sunday, October 29 until 4 a.m. Monday, October 30. North and southbound customers boarding at the 87th station must board on the east side of the platform.
Late Night Single Track in Effect on Red Line Next Week
A single track will be in effect between 69th and 79th from 11 p.m. Monday, October 30 until 4 a.m. Tuesday, October 31 and again in the same location, during the same hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, October 31, November 1 and November 2.
During the Monday and Tuesday single track, north and southbound customers boarding at the 69th station must board on the west side of the platform. During the Wednesday and Thursday single track, north and southbound customers boarding at the 69th station must board on the east side of the platform.
Blue Line Signal Upgrade:
CTA is working to upgrade approximately 20 miles of the existing 40-year-old train control system and power supply equipment from the Forest Park terminal of the Blue Line Forest Park branch through the Dearborn subway to the Jefferson Park station of the Blue Line O'Hare branch.
These systems ensure the safe operation and movement of trains and the appropriate speed and distance between trains as well as help CTA personnel manage rail service in the event of an emergency. The upgraded signal system will result in improved reliability of service for Blue Line customers, and also includes upgrades to the power cables and communication system needed to connect the Red Line State Street subway and Blue Line Dearborn Street subway.
Late Night Single Track in Effect on Blue Line Forest Park Branch Next Week
A single track will be in effect between Forest Park and Lathrop from 11:59 p.m. Monday, October 30 until 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 31. A single track will also be in effect between Forest Park and Harlem from 11 p.m. Wednesday, November 1 until 4 a.m. Thursday, November 2.
North and southbound customers boarding at the Forest Park station must board on the south side of the platform.
Single Track in Effect on Ashland/63rd Branch of the Green Line Saturday
A single track will be in effect between the 59th Junction at Indiana and the Ashland/63rd station on the Green Line from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, October 28. North and southbound customers boarding at the Halsted station must board on the north side of the platform.
Wilson Reduced to Single Lane for Viaduct Work Through November 27
Wilson is reduced to a single lane at Lake Shore Drive through Monday, November 27. Northbound #135 Clarendon/LaSalle Express buses will operate via Lake Shore Drive, Montrose, Simonds, Lawrence, Marine to Wilson, then resume the regular route.
Halsted to Close for Railroad Bridge Work Sundays
Halsted will be closed between 15th and 16th streets from 3 a.m. Sunday until 3 a.m. Monday for railroad bridge work on October 29 and on November 5. #8 Halsted and #62 Archer buses will operate in both directions via 18th, Ashland and Roosevelt, then resume the regular route.
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