Central is the easternmost stop on the elevated embankment ROW shared with what is now called the Metra Union Pacific West Line. The Green Line was relocated here from running at street level (with dangerous grade crossings in 1962). The station has a single island platform that runs between the overpasses of Central Avenue and Parkside Avenue and is fully canopied. Originally the station had entrances at both ends, the Parkside Avenue end became exit only in 1973 and closed in the 1980s although it was briefly reopened from May 12 (the day the Green Line reopened after its closure for rebuilding in 1994) to December 16, 1996 while the current station house's renovation was finished that made the station fully ADA compliant. This new station house is small and located along the south side of the embankment at the NW corner of Central Avenue and Corcoran Place (Lake Street is along the north side of the embankment). Stairs and ramps lead to a small turnstile area before an elevator followed by an escalator and then a staircase leads up to the eastern end of the island platform. All staircase remains of the Parkside Avenue entrance have been removed although the small station house building is still visible at street level.
All Photos taken on 17 July, 2009