Expect Delays: Wilson Station Track Work To Begin Next Month

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 26, 2015 4:30PM

Image credit: Chicago Transit Authority

Trains are going to crawl for a while at the Wilson Red Line station as Chicago Transit Authority works to drag the decrepit depot into at least the late 20th century with its modernization project. CTA announced Thursday crews will begin the process of reconstructing the southbound Purple Line tracks at the Wilson station next weekend. That means southbound Red and Purple Line express trains will share a single track from Wilson to Belmont. The reconstruction of the Purple Line track will last around a year.

Starting March 9, here’s what to expect:

Red Line

- Same number of trains will run, and headways (time between trains) will remain the same (approx. 3-4 minutes during AM rush). Schedules remain the same as well
- CTA estimates the additional travel time for some Red Line trips at approximately 2-4 minutes during the AM rush, due to train congestion

Purple Line Express

- Same number of trains will run, though scheduled times will vary slightly
- Trains will add stops at Wilson, Sheridan and Addison stations during morning rush only
- CTA estimates the additional travel time for Purple Line Express riders at approximately 4-6 minutes during the AM rush

In short, expect delays which is a small price to make the Wilson station a jewel on the Red Line's North Branch again.

While the track work is in progress, CTA will be building a new southbound station platform. In the later stage of the project CTA will build new, temporary entrances on the north and south side of Wilson, and a temporary exit near Sunnyside.

The Wilson Red Line station reconstruction project is estimated to cost $203 million.