The CTA has sent out an invitation for bids for a new generation of 7000-series rail cars— two billion dollars' worth. It's essentially long-term planning, as the new cars wouldn't begin to arrive until 2016, but people already want to know what design changes might be coming. Particularly when it comes to seating configuration Chicagoans can be a fussy bunch, and so the CTA is wisely leaving that design component to the bidders. The order could replace up to 650 cars currently 20 to 30 years old. That's the CTA's normal cycle, even though many agencies rotate more often than that. Over the past year, new 5000-series cars have been rolled out on three lines. [CTA via Chicagoist, previously]
Filed under:
Loading comments...