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{{Trains portal/FA image|Chicago el train 2004.jpg|A westbound Green Line train crosses the south fork of the Chicago River, 2004}}
The '''[[Chicago "L"|"L"]]''', variously, [[Chicago "L"#Nickname|and sometimes]], styled '''"L", El, EL,''' or '''L''', is the [[rapid transit]] system that serves [[Chicago]] in the United States. It is operated by the [[Chicago Transit Authority]] (CTA). It has been credited with helping create the densely built-up downtown that is one of Chicago's distinguishing features. The "L" consists of a network of eight lines totaling 106.1 route miles ({{convert|57.1|mi|km|0}} elevated, {{convert|36.9|mi|km|0}} surface, and {{convert|12.1|mi|km|0}} subway) on over {{convert|242.6|mi|km|0}} of double-track rail line with [[List of Chicago "L" stations|144 stations]]. The oldest section dates from 1892. The "L" primarily serves the city proper plus eight close-in [[suburb]]s. The rail network is laid out in a [[spoke–hub distribution paradigm]], which focuses transit toward the [[Chicago Loop|central loop]]. Inter-suburban travel requires indirect commute to the loop and transfer to another line. The CTA has proposed a 'Circle Line' to help remedy this problem. The 'L' is the third busiest rail mass transit system in the United States, behind New York City's [[New York City Subway|Subway]], and Washington, D.C.'s [[Washington Metro|Metrorail]]; and by age is the third oldest rapid transit system in the Americas after New York (The oldest operating elevated sections date to the 1880s) and [[Boston]] (1898). It is one of the few rapid transit systems in North America providing 24-hour service, though only on the two busiest lines. On average 658,524 people ride the 'L' each weekday, 419,258 each Saturday, and 315,240 each Sunday. Noisy and at times slow and overwhelmingly crowded, the 'L' has nonetheless become one of the symbols of the city it serves. In a 2005 poll, ''Chicago Tribune'' readers voted it one of the "seven wonders of Chicago," behind the [[Lake Michigan|lakefront]] and [[Wrigley Field]] but ahead of [[Sears Tower]], the [[Chicago Water Tower|Water Tower]], the [[University of Chicago]], and the [[Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)|Museum of Science and Industry]].

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Portal:Trains/Selected article/Week 45, 2007 - Revision history

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