[SIGSEGV]

Crazy idea once Musk throws in the towel:

Dig a tunnel under Randolph, connecting the ME to the UP and MD lines with a stop at State.

Then Electrify MD-W/NCS to O'Hare and UP-N to Evanston and have through routed trains serving.

Evanston -> Kensington (10-15 minute headways, with in-fill stops every mile or so).
O'Hare -> South Chicago (15-20 minute headways, more stops near the city. Could also have an O'Hare -> Loop -> Convention Center express).

I guess it might would easier to run it via the St. Charles Air Line if Freight can be kicked off (it would only require a bridge instead of a tunnel) but then it would skip a lot of the loop (but maybe the connection at Clinton is enough... and a Red Line station might be built at 16th st in the future anyway allowing a connection there).