7000-series (CTA)
The 7000-series is a 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, 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.
| 7000-series | |
|---|---|
7013 waiting to go into service at O'Hare on the Blue Line | |
| In service | 2021–present |
| Manufacturer | CRRC Sifang America |
| Built at | CRRC Plant, Chicago, Illinois |
| Replaced |
|
| Constructed | 2019–present |
| Entered service | 2021 |
| Number under construction |
|
| Number built | 100 |
| Number in service | 94 |
| Formation | Married-pair |
| Fleet numbers |
|
| Capacity | 37 to 38 (seated) |
| Operators | Chicago Transit Authority |
| Depots |
|
| Lines served | Blue Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Stainless steel with fiberglass end bonnets |
| Car length | 48 ft (14.63 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) |
| Height | 12 ft (3.66 m) |
| Doors | 2 × 2 per car |
| Maximum speed |
|
| Traction system | Siemens IGBT–VVVF |
| Traction motors | Siemens 3-phase AC induction motor |
| Auxiliaries | KB Powertech Corp. USA |
| Electric system(s) | Third rail, 600 V DC |
| Current collector(s) | Contact shoe |
| UIC classification | Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’ |
| AAR wheel arrangement | B-B+B-B |
| Bogies | Siemens |
| Braking system(s) | WABTec regenerative and hydraulic |
| Safety system(s) | Siemens ATC/ATO |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
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. Prototypes for testing were delivered in August 2020, and the base order is to be delivered by 2026.
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, 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. Ten cars in the 7000-series began testing revenue service on April 21, 2021.