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One of the last CTA with our last NYC bus today. Very surreal for sure, I am glad so many people enjoy the buses! I have probably hundreds if not thousands of photos from my years there that I will definitely share at some point. I lost my Flickr account due to not using my Yahoo account ugh.

7185-86 are ready to go for service while sitting on the lead tracks at Skokie. 7187-7194 are at the final stages of being prepared for service inside the shops. 7157-58 are yet to be mated. 7201-7206 are also mated. 7195-7200 are waiting to be sent back to the shops for servicing and testing. 7207-7210 have been delivered. Per the shop personnel, they’re receiving 4 new cars per week.

This was 2 mins ago.

Here's the remaining list of #8350s at SS along with the remaining batch that have yet to be delivered embolden in black below. There is a total of 13 left that haven't been delivered yet. Once they arrive that will conclude the delivery process. #8765, #8804, #8816, #8822, #8825 - #8843, #8845 - #8853, #8856 - 8879, #8880, #8881 - #8885, #8886, #8887 - #8895, #8896, #8897 - #8909, #8910, #8911 - #8913, #8914, #8915, #8816, #8817, #8819, #8821 - 8924, #8925, #8926 - 30, #8931, #8932, #8933 - #8935, #8936, #8937, #8938, #8939 #8940 - #8945 (Total: 109) Excluding the the ones embolden.

I gave up the bus assignment game once they stopped grouping fleet numers together 😅. Hopefully it's easier to put stuff in service, get heavy maintenance and milage trades done without having to make sure the fleet numbers stay consolidated in blocks.

8804,8826-27,8833,8850 entered service out of North Park

That would get it up to the promised rate. About time!

There was a CT Board presentation that CTA was supposed to get 6 of on the left, but I'm sure you can confirm that's not gonna happen.

7199-7206 are currently at Skokie Shops. 7177-78 should be in service while 7157-58 are yet to be mated. 7203-04 were delivered today and I decided to show how they’re delivered from the flat trucks. The unit we were using is called a shuttle wagon. It’s a diesel engine unit that can drag any unit anywhere around the yard when there’s no third rail available. We had to use a flatbed car to couple to the 7000s because of coupling issues in the past with the shuttle wagon.

That's the paper that every bus got on the assembly line, LD75 the contract # and the date is when the bus was scheduled for lay down. Usually these are removed prior to shipping, but as it's a pilot bus it may not have gotten removed.

8949 is in Plattsburgh inside the building right now, or was at 4pm. I was working on it today replacing a Clever unit and doing validations on Rosco. 😉

Well, Rosemont Yard capacity is 260 cars and Des Planes Yard capacity is 122 cars. Since the Blue Line currently have 80 runs (30 Forest Park and 50 O’Hare) while having to ton of runs terminating at UIC-Halsted, I wouldn’t be surprised if Rosemont have at least 100 cars of spares.

#8945 is at SS.

Elston actually isn't that hard to navigate (compared, say, to Lincoln or Clark), but now with all the big box stores on it, is about as pedestrian friendly as Golf Road in Schaumburg (ha ha).

I'd rather support the 41 coming back, despite the service hours of the 11 being garbage. That being said: The problem with the 11 and the 41 is the need for infrastructure that prevents cars (and buses) from moving faster. I feel that bus speeds (even off-peak) won't justify a return for any diagonal routes because walking might be a priority. The partnership with Hayden, along with enforcement powers, might help the red lanes (as a whole), but doesn't solve our initial problem with the diagonal streets.

It seems very confusing with the slow rates of them being put into service while at the same time there’s hardly any 2600s out there at Skokie Shops awaiting scrapping. The last time I’ve checked before I’ve left the Blue Line, it was approximately 380 cars to equip the entire line.

Flxible Metro E

1727 is now retired. The new farebox it once had is now up for display at the headquarters which proves it is now retired.

The trips you're thinking of operated between Mercy/Reese and 79th/81st up till a few years after the 2003 Lake Shore Restructuring. Ironically 3 was counted as "key" initially when should've been counted as support back then since North of 35th #4 helped provide the frequency between there and downtown before being rerouted (only difference 3 provided was a one seat ride to mag mile) thus was only heavy from bronzeville to the south; of course that all changed when 3 had to pick up the 4's slack. If we were going by frequency I'd count 29 as support and 3 as key but I think of it like this. Half mile streets are mainly support cause they support not having to walk as far as you would have to if buses only ran on main streets lol

How about 1. Deconstructing the existing station? 2. The high cost of materials? 3. Labor costs? 4. More specialized features 5. Bigger footprint to allow for elevators and wheelchair access. These things didn't exist 120 years ago.

#8830 and #8845 are in service out of North Park. Spotted #8845 with advertising wrapping last night, in which I think that's the very first 8350s being wrapped on the first day of service.

Looks like CTA is going to have to get buses from New Flyer (or someone else) now. https://www.wcax.com/2023/06/21/nova-bus-close-plattsburgh-plant-end-bus-production-us/

#8859 is now in service out of North Park and an interesting move #8866 is now at North Park from 77th.

That's #1034 it's been on rear run all weekend.

8866 has entered service on the 2

#8862 has entered service out of 77th this afternoon and I'll assume it's only for the PM rush.

This pic taken a few weeks ago shows 1272 does not have a farebox anymore. last week I took this picture below showing the controls appear to be in the process of removal.

Here’s what else entered service this morning on the 22

#8829, #8836, #8838, #8851, #8852, and #8855 are now in service out of North Park.

Just spotted #8853 on #155 about 4 hours ago.

#8831 and #8834 have entered service out of Kedzie this morning.

This past week saw a dramatic increase of 7000s in service on the Blue Line including 7183 and 7184 in revenue service. Several 7000 series consists ran back to back. There was nearly a 50/50 mix of 7000s and 3200s/2600s. Maybe the Blue Line will be fully equipped with 7000s by the end of 2026.

#8939 is at SS.

Governor Pritzger has publicly said he didn't see a scenario where the State gives the RTA more funding without reforms being put ib place. He didn't specify what exactly he meant. We know he wasn't a fan of Dorval Carter as CTA President. I also think the relationship between Pritzger and Mayor Brandon Johnson is frayed. Clearly there are some political issues that may influence how this gets resolved, if st all. Years ago this would have been a city Democrats vs downstate Republicans battle. It's a completely Blue State but it's still shaping up as Chicago vs downstate.

The Harvard Tunnel has platforms on the driver-side the bus requiring an door on the other side.

TransSee has been fixed earlier today.

That wasn't even the same plant. That one was in Schenectady, NY. Only thing in common was that CTA had the last order before Nova Bus pulled out.

I doubt it. The only way 103rd gets more artics, if they're stimulus artics come back from the dead.

Thanks for sharing - when I get to Toronto next week, hoping I can catch one more (Orion 7).

That solves my running thoughts from last week - it's still 8-12 minutes on the 119, which really doesn't impact the interline as much as I would expect.

Really curious about the interior that they're doing a 4 door artic and not a 5 door. Also funny that MBTA is also taking delivery (or will be soon) of 3-door XE40s

#8885, #8941 - #8944 are at SS.

Not the X21 😂 Agreed on your proper P/R point. I have too many firsthand examples of changes we've made to our infrastructure projects that might not necessarily live up to our safety guidelines b/c the community rallied behind it (hint: when parking needs meet bike lane needs)

The X3, X80 & dare I say it X21 would have a better chance at coming back before the 11 gets an extension...... 😅 The problem I have with the 11 is the amount of traffic/ foot traffic it has south of Lawrence on certain days. It may seem like a good idea to extend it further south to Fullerton but again that traffic near Halsted is hell at times. Business does seem to be booming along that corridor versus several years ago so I'll give you that extended olive branch. I do believe that with proper P/R any route can make a comeback outside of data analysis and environmental studies. 😅 We're in the tech age so I'm pretty sure if CTA spent more time and effort on getting the word out to the general public via social media outlets along with the news outlets anything is possible. In order to get people to care about service they have to have it engrained into there minds that it will reliable, easy to navigate and safe.

So I got very lucky to be at Skokie Shops as part of my Switching Training yesterday and spotted 7165-66, 7179-80, and 7181-82 inside the shops while 7017-18 are currently out of service also inside the shops. 7177-78 are outside of the West Yard Lead Track. 7157-58 are currently mismates outside the East Yard while 7183 through 7198 are also outside the East Yard.

CTA Spring 2025 Bus Alert... https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/alert-detail/?AlertId=105673

Probably because the system pick was switched from summer to fall

That turns out to be a good question. Pace used to buy the cheapest bus (like the Orion VI) but specified BRT for the ENC Axxess and NF buses. Similarly, gillig.com used to have separate menus for body type (2 types of standard, 2 types of BRT, trolley replica, and commuter) and powertrain, but the body style menu is gone. The answer may depend on what is available under the Washington state cooperative contract, under which Pace is buying these buses, and how modifiable that contract is. For instance, the reason Pace is buying 35' hybrid buses may be that 30' hybrids are not listed on that contract.

Ok as a biker I totally understand. I avoid modern carbon and aluminum frames and use vintage steel for durability