CTA 'L' Rosters

[Sam92]

1 hour ago, chicagomusicfan said:

I am curious about the 5000s assigned to the blue line from 54th yard. Outside of rush periods, do those cars operate on the pink? It seems there are 20 cars assigned there, which doesn't add up with 8 car consists. Does anyone know if the long-term plan is to keep using 5000s during rush on blue, or is this temporary while we wait more 7000s? 

Pretty sure once entirely equipped with 7000s the 5000s won't be needed. They started because being all 2600s was killing reliability on the blue line so they transferred 3200s from Orange and Brown to help relieve the 2600s. The 5000s can't run the Forest Park line which is why they weren't assigned to the Blue Line thus these were added for Crowd relief purposes on the heaviest part of the line (Jeff Pk to UIC). Since it is safe to run them on that segment they probably chose 5000s since the layout has high capacity. As far as the cars, the 4 extra cars are for spares. 2 operators in the AM take the 2 trains out of service to UIC then do a round trip to Jeff Pk. When they get back to 54th they lay the consists up and take a 4 car consist out to finish on the Pink. I don't know what the PMs do outside of the Blue Line trip

[Shannon tahoeppv]

On 12/26/2025 at 10:02 AM, Sam92 said:

 

 

I get holding on to 2600s because of production issues but why move them back to a busier line that wears them down faster? Also since these are super old cars best to keep them on a line that can ship them back and forth to Skokie when needed vs the hassle of bringing them back and forth from the blue

True 

[garmon757]

3425-26 are currently on the Brown Line

[Bus1883]

5149-50 back in service 

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

6 hours ago, Bus1883 said:

5149-50 back in service 

They’ve been in service since February

[Rhys Pate]

A CTA L reunion: 2871-2872 and 2243-2244 were assigned to the West-Northwest/Blue Line together from 1984 to 1996 and they are now reunited at IRM. Picture is of 2872 and 2244 (picture taken from barn 8). May 23rd, 2026.

[Elkmn]

On 5/23/2026 at 2:05 PM, Rhys Pate said:

A CTA L reunion: 2871-2872 and 2243-2244 were assigned to the West-Northwest/Blue Line together from 1984 to 1996 and they are now reunited at IRM. Picture is of 2872 and 2244 (picture taken from barn 8). May 23rd, 2026.

i hear the 2200s are going to be out on trolley weekend! think they'll rig up a trolley pole the the 2600s by then?

[Rhys Pate]

4 hours ago, Elkmn said:

i hear the 2200s are going to be out on trolley weekend! think they'll rig up a trolley pole the the 2600s by then?

The installation of trolley poles onto CTA L cars does not take long. The 2200s (2243-2244) had them installed within a week after their arrival at IRM. It did not take long for trolley poles to be installed onto the 2400s (2433-2434) after their arrival at IRM as well. Trolley poles will be installed on the 2600s (2871-2872) soon.

[Javi75]

At this moment who makes up the majority for the brown line fleet 2600s or 3200s? How many cars over 400 does the blue line have and could it send more 3200s to brown with what it has now?

[garmon757]

3217-18, 3223-24, 3225-26, 3227-28, 3229-30, 3231-32, 3235-36, and 3241-42 are currently at Kimball. 

[Bus1883]

4 hours ago, garmon757 said:

3217-18, 3223-24, 3225-26, 3227-28, 3229-30, 3231-32, 3235-36, and 3241-42 are currently at Kimball. 

Spotted them as well. I had a feeling they’d send more 3200s back to Kimball lol surprisingly it’s all 32XX’s

[garmon757]

17 minutes ago, Bus1883 said:

Spotted them as well. I had a feeling they’d send more 3200s back to Kimball lol surprisingly it’s all 32XX’s

You’ll be surprised that if not just the more 7000s are coming. The main reason is the 2600s aren’t holding up well while you got Brown Line operators calling in so many defects to the point that some operators get held in at the terminal for 1 or 2 trips due to lack of equipment while I forgot to mention that Midway just recently gave Kimball 3157-58, 3161-62, 2869-70, and 2879-80. They might be loaners though. 

[Bus1883]

On 6/3/2026 at 11:34 PM, Javi75 said:

At this moment who makes up the majority for the brown line fleet 2600s or 3200s? How many cars over 400 does the blue line have and could it send more 3200s to brown with what it has now?

It appears that the 3200s make up majority of the line as @garmon757 confirmed, 16 more were transferred overnight, credits to him. I feel like Kimball and Midway are having a trade war with each other lol, as Kimball sent its 2600s over for Midway’s and now we have another wave of 3200s returning back home.
 

Midway does have extra space for Kimball’s cars to be stored as it doesn’t have enough room to fit all of its cars assigned.

[garmon757]

Just now, Bus1883 said:

It appears that the 3200s make up majority of the line as @garmon757 confirmed, 16 more were transferred overnight, credits to him. I feel like Kimball and Midway are having a trade war with each other lol, as Kimball sent its 2600s over for Midway’s and now we have another wave of 3200s returning back home.
 

Midway does have extra space for Kimball’s cars to be stored as the yard isn’t big enough to fit all of its cars assigned.

And keep in mind that we still got 2600s (32 cars (16 at Howard and 16 at Linden)) that are yet to be scrapped. 

[Bus1883]

3 minutes ago, garmon757 said:

You’ll be surprised that if not just the more 7000s are coming. The main reason is the 2600s aren’t holding up well while you got Brown Line operators calling in so many defects to the point that some operators get held in at the terminal for 1 or 2 trips due to lack of equipment while I forgot to mention that Midway just recently gave Kimball 3157-58, 3161-62, 2869-70, and 2879-80. They might be loaners though. 

Ahh gotcha I believe those could be loaners because a few months ago I spotted 2873-74 and 2891-92 on the Orange leaving Washington/Wabash recently transferred from Kimball

[garmon757]

6 minutes ago, Bus1883 said:

Ahh gotcha I believe those could be loaners because a few months ago I spotted 2873-74 and 2891-92 on the Orange leaving Washington/Wabash recently transferred from Kimball

I think those units are still at Midway but idk why I have a feeling that they went back to the Blue Line. I personally like 2873-74 while I was on the Blue Line a few years ago. 

[Sam92]

3 hours ago, garmon757 said:

I think those units are still at Midway but idk why I have a feeling that they went back to the Blue Line. I personally like 2873-74 while I was on the Blue Line a few years ago. 

 

4 hours ago, Bus1883 said:

Ahh gotcha I believe those could be loaners because a few months ago I spotted 2873-74 and 2891-92 on the Orange leaving Washington/Wabash recently transferred from Kimball

Have 2600s beat the 2200s record as far as service lives at this point? I think the 22s were 44 when retired right?

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, Sam92 said:

 

Have 2600s beat the 2200s record as far as service lives at this point? I think the 22s were 44 when retired right?

2600s were 1983-1987, so you're talking 39-43,so getting close.

[artthouwill]

2 hours ago, Busjack said:

2600s were 1983-1987, so you're talking 39-43,so getting close.

Actually the years started in 1981.  Therefore it's possible that some of these cars have exceeded 44 years.  I recently saw 2685 /2686 in service on the Orange Line with 3187/3188.  The latter two are definitely 1987 but 2685/ 2695 are either 1981 or 1982.  If 1981 then it's 45 yes old.  If 1982 then it's at least tied with the 2200s.  Since Alstom  rebuild the series I don't think the cars have their original dates on them anymore.  If I catch one, I will check.

[Bus1883]

7 hours ago, Sam92 said:

 

Have 2600s beat the 2200s record as far as service lives at this point? I think the 22s were 44 when retired right?

Correct. They entered service in April of 1981 that makes them 45 years old

[Bus1883]

3 hours ago, artthouwill said:

Actually the years started in 1981.  Therefore it's possible that some of these cars have exceeded 44 years.  I recently saw 2685 /2686 in service on the Orange Line with 3187/3188.  The latter two are definitely 1987 but 2685/ 2695 are either 1981 or 1982.  If 1981 then it's 45 yes old.  If 1982 then it's at least tied with the 2200s.  Since Alstom  rebuild the series I don't think the cars have their original dates on them anymore.  If I catch one, I will check.

2601-2604 (1981)
2600s (1982)

2700s (1983)

2800s (1984)

2900s (1985)

3000s (1986)

3100s (1987)