Blue Line (CTA) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue Line |
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A Blue Line train of 2600-series cars at California station on the O'Hare branch in April 2015.
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| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | Chicago Transit Authority |
| Locale | Chicago, Oak Park, Forest Park and Rosemont, Illinois |
| Termini | O'Hare Forest Park |
| Stations | 33 |
| Service | |
| Type | Rapid transit |
| System | Chicago "L" |
| Services | O'Hare–Forest Park |
| Operator(s) | Chicago Transit Authority |
| Rolling stock | 2600-series |
| Daily ridership | 186,796 (avg. weekday September 2012) |
| History | |
| Opened | February 21, 1993 (Current operation) |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 26.93 mi (43.3 km) |
| Character | Subway and Elevated |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Electrification | Third rail, 600 V DC |
The Blue Line is a train route in Chicago that's part of the famous Chicago "L" system. It's also known as the O'Hare-Congress Line or the West-Northwest Line. This line is about 26.93-mile (43.34 km) long.
It travels from O'Hare International Airport in the northwest part of the city. Then it goes through downtown Chicago using the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway. Finally, it crosses the West Side to its end at Forest Park. The Blue Line has 33 stations in total. It's the second busiest train line in Chicago, with many people riding it every day.
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All About the Blue Line
The Blue Line and the Red Line are special. They are the only two routes in the Chicago "L" system that run 24 hours a day. This means you can catch a train any time, day or night! Only a few other train systems in the United States offer this service.
The Blue Line is also unique because it has more than one station with the same name. For example, it has two "Harlem Avenue" stations. One is near the Kennedy Expressway, and the other is in Forest Park. It also has two "Western Avenue" stations.
Another interesting fact is that the Blue Line does not share its tracks with any other "L" line. It has its own dedicated path. It also combines some of the oldest and newest parts of the "L" tracks.
How the Blue Line Got Its Name
Before 1993, the Blue Line had different names. People often called it the "West-Northwest" Route. It was also known as the "O'Hare-Congress-Douglas" route. This was because it had three different branches.
In 1993, the train system started using color names for its lines. This made it easier for people to understand the routes. The Congress branch became the "Forest Park" branch. The Douglas branch was renamed "54th/Cermak." In 2008, the Douglas branch of the Blue Line was changed. It became part of the Pink Line instead.
Fun Facts About the Blue Line
The Blue Line is one of five "L" lines that go into Chicago's suburbs. The other lines are the Green, Purple, Pink, and Yellow lines.
The Blue Line is extra special because it travels through three different suburbs. The Green and Purple Lines go through two suburbs. This makes the Blue Line the train route that goes through the most suburbs in the Chicago "L" system.
In March 2014, a Blue Line train had an accident at the O'Hare train station. The train went off its tracks.
Images for kids
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Blue Line train with luggage racks in the 1980s.
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The Blue Line tracks in the median of the Eisenhower Expressway
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The former Blue Line Douglas Branch near Paulina Street, now the Pink Line, in February 1998
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Artist rendition of the proposed Monroe Street Distributor Subway at Dearborn Street
See also
In Spanish: Línea Azul (Metro de Chicago) para niños
