CTA introduces new spring rail schedules with improved service, headways

CHICAGO – The Chicago Transit Authority announced new spring rail schedules that will go into effect Sunday, April 20.

The CTA said the new scheduled will provide riders with shorter wait times, particularly on weekends, and more frequent and reliable service.

Specific rail service improvements for new schedules include:

• Blue Line O’Hare Branch will have two extra trips added each weekday and six extra
  trips added on Saturdays. Sundays will see five additional trips.
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• Blue Line Forest Park Branch will have 30 extra trips added each weekday,17 extra
  trips added on Saturdays, and two extra trips added on Sundays.
• Yellow Line early morning weekday service will better align with the Red Line early
  morning weekday service. The first northbound Yellow Line train will depart Howard at
  4:40 a.m., and the southbound service from Dempster-Skokie will start at 4:55 a.m.
  Improved headways on the O’Hare Branch are primarily in the weekday morning and afternoon

Blue Line trains on the Forest Park Branch will also be scheduled to arrive every seven and a half minutes between 6:30 p.m. and midnight on weeknights and between 9 p.m. and midnight on Saturday, an upgrade to the origin timing of trains arriving every 15 minutes, according to the CTA.

The temporary speed restriction for the Yellow Line will also be lifted and trains will resume running at posted speeds, which can reach 55 mph on portions of the line. However, the CTA said trains will continue running at restricted speeds of 35 mph or less in a few areas, including the approach to the Howard station to ensure safe operations.

Rail schedules are updated twice a year based on the terms of the CTA’s collective bargaining agreement with its union representing rail personnel.