There are four tracks serving the Fullerton and Belmont stations on which the Brown Line, Red Line and Purple Express operate.  Two of the tracks are for northbound service, two are for southbound service. One of the four tracks along the platforms at each station must be taken out of service while the platform is rebuilt and tracks are reconfigured to allow room for elevators to be installed. The specific track to be taken out of service will vary during the course of the project.

Operating trains on one less track at Belmont and Fullerton allows the CTA to keep both stations open and maintain rail service during construction but does result in more crowded trains and longer commutes for customers on the Brown Line, Purple Line Express and north branch of the Red Line.

The construction is part of the Brown Line capacity expansion project which, when completed, will allow the CTA to accommodate more customers in this busy and growing corridor and will make all Brown Line stations accessible to people with disabilities.

The next phase of three-track operation at the Belmont and Fullerton stations started Sunday, March 30, 2008. Southbound trains are limited to one track at the Belmont and Fullerton stations due to construction for the Brown Line capacity expansion project.  To help ease the impact, the CTA is operating eight-car trains on the Brown Line during morning and evening rush hours.   The introduction of eight-car service occurred nearly 18 months earlier than originally planned. 
  

Paulina and Wellington stations closed for renovation on March 30.  While the stations are under construction, Brown Line trains will bypass both stations.

Also on March 30, the CTA reopened the Southport station and opened a temporary station at Diversey. Both stations had been closed for construction and are now able to accommodate eight-car trains.  Using a temporary station at Diversey makes it possible to reopen for service nearly three months earlier than originally planned.  Work to install elevators and complete the stationhouse at Diversey will continue throughout the spring.

Longer trains provide more capacity, but the number of trains that can operate on one track is limited, so customers should plan accordingly, particularly during the morning commute where the peak travel time is more concentrated.  CTA is supplementing service on bus routes that are nearby alternatives to rail service.

There are more than 40 bus routes that can be used as alternate transportation, including nine lakefront express routes that provide direct service to and from the Loop during rush periods.  CTA has increased bus service on several routes:

• #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick
• #22 Clark
• #134 Stockton/LaSalle Express
• #135 Clarendon/LaSalle Express
• #147 Outer Drive Express
• #148 Clarendon/Michigan Express
• #156 LaSalle

The CTA also recommends that riders consider other nearby bus routes or  other CTA rail lines such as the Blue Line.  

To the extent possible, the CTA recommends that riders plan to leave earlier or later, and allow extra travel time. 

Three-Track Station-Specific Signage
Brown Line, Red Line and Purple Line Express customers can view recommended transit alternatives for specific stations. Click the station names below for details. (Map files are PDFs)

Adams/Wabash - Loop Elevated
Addison - Brown
Addison - Red
Argyle - Red
Armitage - Brown & Purple
Belmont - Brown, Red & Purple
Berwyn - Red
Bryn Mawr - Red
Central - Purple
Chicago - Brown & Purple
Chicago - Red
Clark/Division - Red
Clark/Lake - Loop Elevated
Damen - Brown
Davis - Purple
Dempster - Purple
Diversey - Brown & Purple
Foster - Purple
Francisco - Brown
Fullerton - Brown, Red & Purple
Grand - Red
Granville - Red
Harrison - Red
Howard - Red, Purple & Yellow
Irving Park - Brown
Jarvis - Red
Jackson - Red
Kedzie - Brown
Kimball - Brown
Lake - Red
LaSalle/Van Buren  - Loop Elevated
Lawrence - Red
Library-State/Van Buren - Loop Elevated
Linden - Purple
Loyola - Red
Madison/Wabash - Loop Elevated
Main - Purple
Merchandise Mart - Brown & Purple
Monroe - Red
Montrose - Brown
Morse - Red
North/Clybourn - Red
Noyes - Purple
Paulina - Brown
Quincy/Wells  - Loop Elevated
Randolph/Wabash - Loop Elevated
Rockwell - Brown
Roosevelt - Red
Sedgwick - Brown
Sheridan - Red
Skokie - Yellow
South Boulevard - Purple
Southport - Brown
State/Lake - Loop Elevated
Thorndale - Red
Washington/Wells - Loop Elevated
Wellington - Brown & Purple
Western - Brown
Wilson - Red

Northbound Red Line trains resume operating on the inner northbound track at Fullerton station, track 3, on Friday, January 25, 2008. Construction crews have completed northbound track work at Fullerton so northbound Red Line trains will no longer have to share tracks with northbound Brown and Purple Express trains. Northbound Red Line customers will resume normal boarding and exiting at Fullerton starting Friday.

Red, Brown and Purple Express trains have shared one northbound track at Fullerton since April 2, 2007 while the platform was rebuilt and tracks were reconfigured.

Northbound Red Line trains will continue to share tracks with Brown and Purple Express trains at the Belmont station for the next few weeks as work continues. (more)