7000 series (Chicago "L")

Last updated
7000 series
7000 series cta.jpg
In service2021 (projected)
Manufacturer CRRC Sifang America
Built atCRRC Plant, Chicago, Illinois
Replaced 2600-series (base order)
3200-series (options if picked up)
Constructed2019–2029 (projected)
Number under construction400 (base order)
846 (total if options are picked up)
Formation Married pair
Fleet numbers7001–7400 (base order)
7401–7846 (options if picked up)
Capacity37 to 38 (exact TBA)
Operator(s) Chicago Transit Authority
Specifications
Car body construction Stainless steel with fiberglass end bonnets
Car length48 feet (14.63 m)
Width9 feet 4 inches (2.84 m)
Height12 feet (3.66 m)
Doors4 per car
Maximum speedDesign: 70 miles per hour (110 km/h)
Service: 55 miles per hour (89 km/h)
Electric system(s) Third rail, 600 V DC
Current collection method Contact shoe
Braking system(s) Regenerative and Pneumatic
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The 7000 series is an upcoming series of rail car 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, [1] which are currently assigned to the Blue, Brown, and Orange Lines. If the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) orders 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. [2] The contract requires ten prototypes to be delivered by October 2019. [3] 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. [1] The cost per car is approximately $1.58 million. [4]

Chicago "L" rapid transit system in Chicago, Illinois, operated by the CTA

The Chicago "L" is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs in the U.S. state of Illinois. Operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), it is the fourth-largest rapid transit system in the United States in terms of total route length, at 102.8 miles (165.4 km) long as of 2014, and the second-busiest rail mass transit system in the United States, after the New York City Subway. In 2016, the "L" had 1,492 rail cars, eight different routes, and 145 train stations; average weekday ridership was 759,866.

2600 series (Chicago "L") class of Chicago L car

The 2600 series is a series of Chicago "L" car built between 1981 and 1987 by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 600 cars were built, and 503 of them remain in service as of 2019.

Blue Line (CTA) rapid transit line in Chicago, Illinois

The Blue Line, also known as the O'Hare-Congress Line and the West-Northwest Line, is a 26.93-mile-long (43.34 km) Chicago "L" line which extends through the Loop from O'Hare International Airport at the far northwest end of the city, through downtown via the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway and across the West Side to its southwest end at Forest Park, with a total of 33 stations It is the CTA's second busiest rail line, with an average of 186,796 passengers boarding each weekday in September 2012.

Contents

According to the CTA, when the 7000-series cars enter service, the Chicago "L" will have one of the youngest fleets of any U.S. transit system. [5] 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. [1]

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Public transport agency in Greater Boston, Massachusetts, United States

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is the public agency responsible for operating most public transportation services in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. Earlier modes of public transportation in Boston were independently owned and operated; many were first folded into a single agency with the formation of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in 1947. The MTA was replaced in 1964 with the present-day MBTA, which was established as an individual department within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts before becoming a division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) in 2009.

The Washington Metro, formally the Metrorail, is a rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area of the United States. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which also operates the Metrobus service under the Metro name. Opened in 1976, the network now includes six lines, 91 stations, and 117 miles (188 km) of route.

New York City Subway Rapid transit system in New York City

The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Opened in 1904, the New York City Subway is one of the world's oldest public transit systems, one of the most-used, and the one with the most stations. The New York City Subway is the largest rapid transit system in the world by number of stations, with 472 stations in operation. Stations are located throughout the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

Features

Each 7000-series rail car will feature 37 to 38 seats, and is a hybrid of the 3200-series and 5000-series. [5] The 5000-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. [6] 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. [4] In the 7000-series, the design and arrangement of seats were modified to improve ergonomics and increase leg room. [1] 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. [4] Compared to the 5000-series, there will be more front and back-facing seats. [1] 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. [4]

5000 series (CTA) An electric multiple unit train of CTA

The 5000 series is a series of Chicago "L" car built by Bombardier Transportation of Plattsburgh, New York. A $577 million order for 406 cars was placed in 2006. In July 2011, the CTA ordered 300 more cars for $331 million as an option on the first contract.

Alternating current electric voltage which periodically reverses direction; form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences; form of electrical energy that consumers typically use when they plug electric appliances into a wall socket

Alternating current (AC) is an electric current which periodically reverses direction, in contrast to direct current (DC) which flows only in one direction. Alternating current is the form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences, and it is the form of electrical energy that consumers typically use when they plug kitchen appliances, televisions, fans and electric lamps into a wall socket. A common source of DC power is a battery cell in a flashlight. The abbreviations AC and DC are often used to mean simply alternating and direct, as when they modify current or voltage.

Regenerative brake energy recovery mechanism

Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism that slows a vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed. In this mechanism, the electric motor uses the vehicle's momentum to recover energy that would be otherwise lost to the brake discs as heat. This contrasts with conventional braking systems, where the excess kinetic energy is converted to unwanted and wasted heat by friction in the brakes, or with dynamic brakes, where energy is recovered by using electric motors as generators but is immediately dissipated as heat in resistors. In addition to improving the overall efficiency of the vehicle, regeneration can greatly extend the life of the braking system as its parts do not wear as quickly.

Beneath the train, there are 8,000 wires that need to be individually connected. [3]

Contracting and production

On February 20, 2016, two finalists were announced for the contract—Canada's Bombardier Transportation and China's CRRC Sifang America. [7] Bombardier was the manufacturer of the previous 5000-series cars. [1] On March 9, 2016, the contract was awarded to CRRC Sifang America, with a bid that is $226 million lower than Bombardier's. [8] [9] However, on April 11, 2016, Bombardier filed a protest of the award, alleging that CTA rigged the procurement to give CRRC an unfair advantage. [10] On September 28, 2016, the CTA finalized its decision to make CRRC Sifang America the manufacturer of the 7000-series cars. [11] [12]

Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail vehicle and equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin. There are many regional offices, production and development facilities worldwide.

CRRC Qingdao Sifang rolling stock manufacturer

CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., formerly known as CSR Qingdao Sifang Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co., Ltd., is a Chinese rolling stock manufacturer based in Qingdao, Shandong province.

Chicago Transit Authority operator of mass transit

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the operator of mass transit in Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs, including the trains of the Chicago "L" and CTA bus service.

The cars will be 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. [5] This is the first time in more than 50 years CTA rail cars are manufactured in Chicago. [5] [13] In June 2019, production began on the 7000-series cars. [4] [14] [15] The rail cars will be manufactured over a period of more than 10 years. [5] 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. [5] As of August 2019, because CRRC was the only bidder, Metra once again asked competitors to present their proposals. CRRC has also placed bids for to produce rail cars for the Long Island Railroad (in New York) and the Washington Metro. [16]

Hegewisch, Chicago Community area in Chicago

Hegewisch is one of the 77 community areas of Chicago, Illinois, located on the city's far south side. It is bordered by the neighborhoods of Riverdale and South Deering to the west, the East Side to the north, the village of Burnham to the south and the city of Hammond, Indiana to the east. The community area is named for Adolph Hegewisch, the president of U.S. Rolling Stock Company who hoped to establish "an ideal workingman's community" when he laid out the town along a rail line in 1883, six years before Chicago annexed the town.

Metra suburban railway operator in the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area

Metra is a commuter railroad in the Chicago metropolitan area. The railroad operates 242 stations on 11 different rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area. There were 83.4 million passenger rides in 2014, up 1.3% from the previous year. The estimated busiest day for Metra ridership occurred on November 4, 2016—the day of the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series victory rally.

Long Island Rail Road commuter rail service in Long Island, New York

The Long Island Rail Road, often abbreviated as the LIRR, is a commuter rail system in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of New York, stretching from Manhattan to the eastern tip of Suffolk County on Long Island. With an average weekday ridership of 354,800 passengers in 2016, it is the busiest commuter railroad in North America. It is also one of the world's few commuter systems that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. It is publicly owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which refers to it as MTA Long Island Rail Road.

By law, 69% of each rail car must be U.S.-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. [17]

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 U.S. and Canadian firms. [18] 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 till the cars are received. Late deliveries will result in a fine of $300 per car per day. [1]

Although CRRC Sifang 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. [1]

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 not part of a stand-alone bill but is rather a defense policy bill passed the House of Representatives. The Senate was considering the same proposal. This measure has bipartisan support. However, it would not affect CRRC's current contract with the CTA, but it would prevent the company from taking further orders in the American market. [16]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "CTA Board OKs Deal For Nearly 850 New Rail Cars". CBS Chicago. March 9, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Could the CTA pay the price for Trump's trade war with China?". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  3. 1 2 Victory, Lauren (June 20, 2019). "Assembly Underway On CTA's Newest Rail Cars At Hegewisch Factory". CBS Chicago. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 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.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shropshire, Corilyn (March 16, 2017). "First step to new CTA rail cars: Build the factory in Chicago". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  6. ↑ 5000-series Cars (2009). Chicago-L.org. Accessed January 28, 2019.
  7. ↑ Greg Hinz. "What's really going down with the CTA's big rail car deal". Crain's Communications. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  8. ↑ Wisniewski, Mary. "CTA board approves contract to replace half of rail cars". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  9. ↑ "CTA Chooses Manufacturer for Newest-Generation Rail Cars". CTA. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  10. ↑ "Losing bidder accuses CTA of rigging rail car deal". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "CTA finalizes $1.3 billion rail car deal". Crain's Chicago Business. 2016-09-28.
  12. ↑ "Bidder loses appeal of biggest rail car contract in CTA history". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "Assembly Underway On CTA's Newest Rail Cars At Hegewisch Factory". CBS Chicago. June 20, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  15. ↑ Blumberg, Nick (June 26, 2019). "Tour the Southeast Side Facility Producing New CTA Rail Cars". WTTW News. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  16. 1 2 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.
  17. ↑ Steinberg, Neil (June 30, 2019). "CTA's L cars mate for life, like swans". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  18. ↑ 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.
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