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7000-series
A 7000-series train arriving at Jackson station on the Blue Line
In service2021–present
ManufacturerCRRC Sifang America
Built atCRRC Plant, Chicago, Illinois
Replaced
Constructed2019–present
Entered service2021
Number under construction
Number in service140[1]
FormationMarried-pair
Fleet numbers
  • 7001–7400 (base order)
  • 7401–7846 (options if picked up)
Capacity37 to 38 (seated)
OperatorsChicago Transit Authority
Depots
Lines served     Blue Line
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel with fiberglass end bonnets
Car length48 ft (14.63 m)
Width9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Height12 ft (3.66 m)
Doors2 × 2 per car
Maximum speed
  • Design: 70 mph (110 km/h)
  • Service: 55 mph (89 km/h)
Traction systemSiemens IGBT–VVVF[2]
Traction motorsSiemens 3-phase AC induction motor
AuxiliariesKB Powertech Corp. USA[2]
Electric system(s)Third rail, 600 V DC
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
UIC classificationBo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’
AAR wheel arrangementB-B+B-B
BogiesSiemens
Braking system(s)WABTec regenerative and hydraulic[2]
Safety system(s)Siemens ATC/ATO[2]
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The 7000-series of rail cars was ordered by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for the Chicago "L". The base order is for 400 cars and will be used to replace the 2600-series cars, dating back to the 1980s,[3] which are currently assigned to the Blue, Brown, and Orange Lines. If the CTA ordered the additional 446 cars, these cars would replace the 3200-series cars, dating back to the early 1990s, which are currently assigned to the Blue and Brown Lines. Including all options, which is a total of 846 cars, the order will cost $1.3 billion.[4][5]

The contract called for ten prototypes to be delivered by October 2019. If the rail cars prove to be acceptable, then full production cars would be delivered starting in October 2020, at a rate of 10 cars per month. The cost per car is approximately $1.58 million.[6] Prototypes for testing were delivered in August 2020,[7] and the base order is to be delivered by 2024.

According to the CTA, when the 7000-series cars fully rollout and are in service, the Chicago "L" will have one of the youngest fleets of any U.S. transit system,[8] with its fleet being an average of 13 years old. For comparison, the average age of rapid transit trains will be 27 years for Boston, 25 years for the District of Columbia, 22 years for New York City, and 18 years for San Francisco.[3] Ten cars in the 7000-series began testing revenue service on April 21, 2021.[9]

Features

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Each 7000-series rail car features 37 to 38 seats, and is a hybrid of the 3200-series and 5000-series.[8] The 7000-series train cars are equipped with AC propulsion; interior security cameras, interior readouts, interior maps GPS, glow-in-the-dark evacuation signs, operator-controlled ventilation systems. AC propulsion allows for smoother acceleration, lower operational costs, less wear and tear, and greater energy efficiency. In particular, AC propulsion can take advantage of regenerative braking, meaning the train returns excess energy to the third rail as it slows down.[10] LED screens give real-time transit information to passengers. LCD screens, installed near the doors, display real-time surveillance footage of riders in order to deter crime.[6]

In the 7000-series, the design and arrangement of seats were modified to improve ergonomics and increase leg room.[3] In addition, because the seats are attached to the side of the train using a diagonal pole rather than a vertical one to the floor, cleaning the train will be easier. However, seats will still be a combination of fabric and plastic.[6] Compared to the 5000-series, there will be more front and back-facing seats.[3] Enhanced air conditioning will circulate air more efficiently during hot summer days. Laser sensors above the doors will count the number of passengers, allowing the CTA to track passenger volumes and change its schedules accordingly.[6]

Contracting and production

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On February 20, 2016, two finalists were announced for the contract—Canada's Bombardier Transportation and China's CRRC Sifang America.[11] Bombardier was the manufacturer of the previous 5000-series cars.[3] On March 9, 2016, the contract was awarded to CRRC Sifang America, with a bid that is $226 million lower than Bombardier's.[12][13] However, on April 11, 2016, Bombardier filed a protest of the award, alleging that CTA rigged the procurement to give CRRC an unfair advantage.[14] On September 28, 2016, the CTA finalized its decision to make CRRC Sifang America the manufacturer of the 7000-series cars.[15][16]

The cars are being built at a new CRRC Sifang America rail car manufacturing plant at 13535 South Torrence Avenue in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood. Construction of the factory began in March 2017, with production to start at the factory in March 2019. CRRC invested $100 million on constructing the plant and $7.2 million on training its workforce of about 170 people.[8] This is the first time in more than 50 years CTA rail cars are manufactured in Chicago.[8][17] In June 2019, production began on the 7000-series cars.[6][18][19] The rail cars will be manufactured over a period of more than 10 years.[8] CRRC said it planned to use its Chicago factory to produce rapid transit rail cars for San Francisco and bi-level coach cars for Metra, a commuter rail operator serving Chicago metropolitan area, if it won contracts for these.[8] Because CRRC was the only bidder, Metra once again asked competitors to present their proposals. However, in January 2021, Metra board approved Alstom as the builder for new bi-level coaches.[20] CRRC had also placed bids for to produce rail cars for the Long Island Rail Road in New York and the Washington Metro,[21] but ultimately lost these contracts to Kawasaki[22] and Hitachi Rail,[23][24] respectively.

The contract required a test set to be delivered by October 2019.[25] If the rail cars proved to be acceptable, then full production cars would be delivered starting in October 2020, at a rate of 10 cars per month.[3] In December 2019, a set was seen testing at the facility.[26] Prototypes for testing would be delivered in August 2020 and then the base order would be delivered by 2024.[27]

In August 2020, the first 7000-series rail cars arrived in Skokie Shops by semi truck. Testing began in October.[7] The first 10 cars began testing in passenger service on April 21, 2021.[9] In June 2022, delivery of the production cars began.[28] In August 2022, the 7000-series production rail cars began service.

CRRC controversy

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Inside a 7000-series rail car

By law, 69% of each rail car must be US-sourced. Car shells are manufactured in China, transported by ships to Los Angeles or Houston, and then by trucks to Chicago to be completed at the CRRC Sifang America plant.[29] CRRC is a Chinese state-owned enterprise; concerns have been raised over possible malware, cyber attacks, and mass surveillance by the Chinese government. However, the computer and software components and the automatic train control system will be made by American and Canadian firms.[30] Of the 24 suppliers to the project, 19 have business headquarters in the U.S., and 16 of which have previously done business with the CTA. Moreover, the CTA reserves to right to supervise production and to halt the process if it sees fit. There will be no payments until the cars are received. Late deliveries will result in a fine of $300 per car per day.[3]

Although CRRC has also been producing rapid transit trains for Boston, CTA Vice President for Purchasing Ellen McCormick said she was unsuccessful in obtaining information on the rail cars delivered to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.[3]

In mid-2019, the United States Congress considered banning federal dollars from being spent on Chinese buses and trains due to concerns about unfair competition from state-sponsored firms, sabotage, and espionage. This is a stand-alone bill but is rather part of a national security bill passed by the House of Representatives. The Senate was considering the same proposal, but the bill died in committee. This measure has bipartisan support. It would prevent the company from taking further orders in the American market, but would not affect CRRC's current contract with the CTA.[21]

In May 2023, the CTA announced their plans to replace their older cars with a new fleet dubbed the 9000-series currently in the design phase.[31] It is currently unknown how this announcement affects the CTA's decision on exercising the 7000 series options.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Performance metrics & dashboard". CTA. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "CTA 7000 series component suppliers" (PDF). CRRC.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "CTA Board OKs Deal For Nearly 850 New Rail Cars". CBS Chicago. March 9, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  4. ^ "Could the CTA pay the price for Trump's trade war with China?". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  5. ^ "Purchase Rail Cars - 7000 Series Options / RTAMS". Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Victory, Lauren (June 20, 2019). "Next Generation Of CTA Rail Cars To Include Six New Design Features To Make For Better Rides". CBS Chicago. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Chicago Transit Authority begins testing new CRRC cars". Trains Magazine. October 9, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Shropshire, Corilyn (March 16, 2017). "First step to new CTA rail cars: Build the factory in Chicago". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Salfiti, Zinya (April 21, 2021). "Blue Line riders get first look at new rail cars as CTA launches in-service testing". Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  10. ^ 5000-series Cars (2009). Chicago-L.org. Accessed January 28, 2019.
  11. ^ Greg Hinz (February 20, 2016). "What's really going down with the CTA's big rail car deal". Crain's Communications. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  12. ^ Wisniewski, Mary. "CTA board approves contract to replace half of rail cars". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  13. ^ "CTA Chooses Manufacturer for Newest-Generation Rail Cars". CTA. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  14. ^ "Losing bidder accuses CTA of rigging rail car deal". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  15. ^ "CTA finalizes $1.3 billion rail car deal". Crain's Chicago Business. September 28, 2016.
  16. ^ "Bidder loses appeal of biggest rail car contract in CTA history". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  17. ^ "Mayor Emanuel, CTA, CRRC Sifang America Announce Hiring of Workers at New Railcar Manufacturing Facility in Chicago". Chicago Transit Authority. March 1, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  18. ^ "Assembly Underway On CTA's Newest Rail Cars At Hegewisch Factory". CBS Chicago. June 20, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  19. ^ Blumberg, Nick (June 26, 2019). "Tour the Southeast Side Facility Producing New CTA Rail Cars". WTTW News. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  20. ^ Sarraf, Isabelle (January 13, 2021). "Metra to buy 500 new rail cars". Chicago Sun-Times.
  21. ^ a b Wisniewski, Mary (August 6, 2019). "Proposed ban on buying Chinese buses, rail cars could curtail job growth at Southeast Side factory". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  22. ^ "Governor Cuomo Announces $1.8 Billion Award To Build 676 New LIRR and Metro-North Rail Cars". Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. September 28, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  23. ^ George, Justin. "Metro selects Hitachi Rail to build its next-generation rail car". Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  24. ^ https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Metro-announces-contract-award-to-Hitachi-Rail-for-8000-series-railcars.cfm
  25. ^ Victory, Lauren (June 20, 2019). "Assembly Underway On CTA's Newest Rail Cars At Hegewisch Factory". CBS Chicago. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  26. ^ CTA "L" EXCLUSIVE - 7000 Series Cars Testing at CRRC Plant, retrieved December 15, 2019
  27. ^ Herguth, Robert (December 5, 2019). "CTA wants answers from Chinese L car manufacturer after NBC report on child labor". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  28. ^ May, Tiana (June 23, 2022). "CRRC Delivers New Chicago Metro Trains". Railway News. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  29. ^ Steinberg, Neil (June 30, 2019). "CTA's L cars mate for life, like swans". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  30. ^ China's takeover of U.S. rail car construction, including for the CTA, raises security concerns. Chicago Tribune. January 8, 2019. Accessed January 27, 2019.
  31. ^ "Duckworth, Durbin and Quigley Announce $200 Million for CTA Railcar Replacement". CTA. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
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