A stairway leads down to the platform at the Chicago Transit Authority’s Grand Station on the Red Line. The tiled corridor—lined with blue ceramic panels and stainless-steel railings—reflects the late-20th-century design style common to CTA subway renovations, emphasizing functionality and durable materials. The bright fluorescent lighting and tiled curvature guide commuters from street level into the subterranean rail network that connects Chicago’s North Side, Loop, and South Side neighborhoods. The subtle skyline motif on the tiles pays homage to the city’s architectural identity while marking one of the Red Line’s busiest downtown access points.

An illuminated stairway leads up to one of Chicago’s iconic “L” (elevated) train platforms in the Loop at night. The steel structure, marked with the system’s signature riveted beams, is part of the century-old elevated rail network that defines the city’s core transit identity. Below, a “Police Line – Do Not Cross” barricade and the quiet, empty street evoke a rare moment of stillness in an area usually dominated by the hum of trains and late-night traffic. This view highlights the utilitarian geometry and enduring presence of the Chicago Transit Authority’s elevated system, still serving as the backbone of the city’s rapid transit since the late 19th century.

A staircase leads to the exit at the 47–50 Streets Rockefeller Center subway station in Manhattan. The station serves the B, D, F, and M lines.

Pedestrians crowd the sidewalks around a subway entrance in Times Square, Manhattan. The 42nd Street–Times Square station, one of the busiest in New York City, connects multiple subway lines beneath the bright billboards, storefronts, and heavy traffic of the theater district.

Entering a Berlin train station.

Entrance to the underground level of Zürich Hauptbahnhof (Zurich Central Station), one of Europe’s busiest railway hubs, serving over 400,000 passengers daily. The signage indicates access to the SBB national rail network and SZU suburban lines, along with the underground shopping complex “ShopVille.” Built into the heart of the city, Zürich HB’s design integrates modern transport infrastructure with pedestrian access and retail spaces, showcasing Switzerland’s efficiency in urban transit engineering.