5000-series - Updates

[Busjack]

I believe you missed the point of my post, Busjack. Bombardier is NOT the Fed. Gov't, I believe we all know that. But no money, no railcars, that's why I said if these bonds were not yet appropriated by both the Sales Taxes and Federal Funds, there might be a delay in ordering and/or receiving the 5000's.

But the shutdown is totally irrelevant, in that Congress is the only one to appropriate the money, and, unfortunately, it isn't being shut down.

I suppose* that Jewel will quit taking Link Cards on Monday, too. After all, they are federally funded, though the Federal SNAP program.

_______

* Not really.

[sw4400]

But the shutdown is totally irrelevant, in that Congress is the only one to appropriate the money, and, unfortunately, it isn't being shut down.

No, but the Treasury makes the bonds, no? Would that be shut down?

[Busjack]

No, but the Treasury makes the bonds, no? That is said to be one of the Federal Facilities going to be shut down.

No, they are bonds sold by either the CTA, with RTA permission, or by the RTA. All the 5309 money does is being pledged to paying those off, eventually.

No different than CTA bonding out the Brown Line in advance of reimbursement from 5309 money, or buses 1830-2029 in advance of reimbursement from 5307 money.

What really can be cut, and the Republicans have so threatened, is New Start authorizations. However, again that would be done by Congress, not some lackey at the FTA.

[Mr.cta85]

Haven't heard anything new from the 5000 series anybody know what line will they be on next after the Purple? And is cta making the orders in for the rest of the cars or what?

[greenstreet]

Haven't heard anything new from the 5000 series anybody know what line will they be on next after the Purple? And is cta making the orders in for the rest of the cars or what?

Per the bulletin, Purple through May 28

[BusHunter]

Haven't heard anything new from the 5000 series anybody know what line will they be on next after the Purple? And is cta making the orders in for the rest of the cars or what?

There may be an announcement soon about getting the rest of the cars if you believe this. Spring will be coming to a close pretty soon. We may then finally see the rest of the cars.

[artthouwill]

There may be an announcement soon about getting the rest of the cars if you believe this. Spring will be coming to a close pretty soon. We may then finally see the rest of the cars.

We will see. The article you referenced was dated March 14 of this year and it will be the end of May before the Purple Line is done with its second round of testing. One would like to think that this would be the last of the testing, but with CTA you never know. I wouldn't be surprised if the order wasn't okayed to proceed until September.

[sw4400]

Any more word on the 5000's? The report is the 29th is the last day on the Purple Line. Will this end the testing, or will another line see a 2nd Test?

[BusHunter]

Any more word on the 5000's? The report is the 29th is the last day on the Purple Line. Will this end the testing, or will another line see a 2nd Test?

Hilkevitch stated the #5000's wouldn't start arriving until next year. I hope we don't have to wait that long!! That would mean the prototypes would be in service for about 2 years!! :lol:

[railfan4072]

Hilkevitch stated the #5000's wouldn't start arriving until next year. I hope we don't have to wait that long!! That would mean the prototypes would be in service for about 2 years!!

Not sure where Hilkevitch got the idea that "New rail cars will start arriving in the next year...". He didn't cite any sources and CTA has not said that in any public materials I could find. Unless, rather than meaning that new cars would start arriving in the next calendar year, 2012, he actually meant that new cars would start arriving in the next 12 months. If he was attempting to convey the latter, then he is likely right.

I wouldn't be surprised if the CTA started receiving actual production models in the next several weeks. Information out of Plattsburg indicates that there are several cars ready to be shipped, and CTA is making plans to designate the first cars for training purposes - both maintenance and operations. When they have enough for training, an 8-car train, and spares, then they will put the first new cars into service. At this point, that is expected to happen this summer. For those who want to see the seating layout changed, that probably isn't good news. (I can't cite any official statements; this is my prediction based on information I have heard.)

[sw4400]

We've passed May 29th... Are the 5000's still on the Purple Line or have they switched to another line for testing or are they back in limbo again?

[ArcherRider]

We've passed May 29th... Are the 5000's still on the Purple Line or have they switched to another line for testing or are they back in limbo again?

It still on the Purple Line because I saw this morning.

[greenstreet]

We've passed May 29th... Are the 5000's still on the Purple Line or have they switched to another line for testing or are they back in limbo again?

Look for the 5000s to stay on the Purple Line for the immediate future - at least through the end of next week (6/11).

And look for 5001-5002 to be on property by early next week, if not later this week. Don't look for them to be put right in service, though. They will likely be used for training purposes first.

[mayfield]

Look for the 5000s to stay on the Purple Line for the immediate future - at least through the end of next week (6/11).

And look for 5001-5002 to be on property by early next week, if not later this week. Don't look for them to be put right in service, though. They will likely be used for training purposes first.

I don't know. I don't think we're ever going to see those cars.

[mayfield]

I don't know. I don't think we're ever going to see those cars.

I was wrong.

Riding the Yellow Line this morning, I saw what looked like a 5000-series car being unloaded from a truck at Skokie Shops. I couldn't read a number.

On my return trip 20 minutes later, I pulled out my camera at its highest resolution and tightest zoom and snapped a few shots. I'm only 99% sure, but when I zoomed in on the number in the photos, it sure looked like 5001.

[BusHunter]

I was wrong.

Riding the Yellow Line this morning, I saw what looked like a 5000-series car being unloaded from a truck at Skokie Shops. I couldn't read a number.

On my return trip 20 minutes later, I pulled out my camera at its highest resolution and tightest zoom and snapped a few shots. I'm only 99% sure, but when I zoomed in on the number in the photos, it sure looked like 5001.

Now we need to spot on what line they will be trained. That would probably indicate where there headed.

[Amtrak41]

That means no 5000's exist right now in Plattsburgh ?

[BusHunter]

That means no 5000's exist right now in Plattsburgh ?

According to railfan4072, (a few posts up) he indicates "Information out of Plattsburg indicates there are several cars ready to be shipped" so it sounds like more cars are there. (Rereading his post would indicate there could be an 8 car set complete at Plattsburg) I doubt Plattsburg would ship it's only workable example unless it had something else. There's probably going to be an announcement shortly from CTA giving the go ahead to build the #5000's. (even though some are built already or very close to completion most likely) What I don't understand, by doing the training on the new cars, is couldn't the training be done on the prototypes unless these newer cars have something newer yet on them the prototypes do not.

[Busjack]

Well, apparently the weak kneed official response to this is in the Tribune (under "on other matters...").

[Mr.cta85]

Yeah it's true the 2 cars you all are talking about were in fact 5001 and 5002 they finally got them in cbs reported it so yeah.

[BusHunter]

Yeah it's true the 2 cars you all are talking about were in fact 5001 and 5002 they finally got them in cbs reported it so yeah.

Here's the link to the CBS story. Actually it has quite a bit of information. According to the article the old prototypes (#5003- #5012) will go back to Plattsburg for equipment upgrades and more cars will be coming CTA's way in the next week or two. Cars may start arriving even though approval has not been given to proceed. But approval is close nonetheless.

[sw4400]

Can't say I know where the 5000's will be sent when they start arriving, but Claypool says that the plan to replace the 2200-Budd and 2400-Boeing-Vertol Cars is still going to happen, one can't help but notice his mentioning the Blue, Red and Brown Lines. Which makes me speculate that the 5000's might go to the Red? and Brown? Lines and move some of the 2600's from the Red Line and all the 3200's from the Brown Line to the Purple, Green and Blue Lines to replace the 2200's and 2400's on these three lines, respectively. This is my take on the article, you all are welcome to shed your own lights on it, however.

[artthouwill]

Can't say I know where the 5000's will be sent when they start arriving, but Claypool says that the plan to replace the 2200-Budd and 2400-Boeing-Vertol Cars is still going to happen, one can't help but notice his mentioning the Blue, Red and Brown Lines. Which makes me speculate that the 5000's might go to the Red? and Brown? Lines and move some of the 2600's from the Red Line and all the 3200's from the Brown Line to the Purple, Green and Blue Lines to replace the 2200's and 2400's on these three lines, respectively. This is my take on the article, you all are welcome to shed your own lights on it, however.

The way the article reads, the question came up about retiring the 2600s. Claypool's answer was that he was uncertain, given the need for max capacity at peak times, and with the massive slow zone called the Red Line, that he couldn't really answer that. Thus I will stick with my initial prediction that the new cars will first go to the Blue Line to replace the 2200s. Once the 2200s are all gone, the Blue Line (IMO)will continue to get 5000s while the 2600s go to the Green and Purple Lines to replace the 2400s. Once the Blue Line is made up completely of 5000s, then I believe we can start looking for 5000s on the Red Line, but we are still about 2 years away from that, I think.

[Busjack]

The way the article reads, the question came up about retiring the 2600s. Claypool's answer was that he was uncertain, given the need for max capacity at peak times, and with the massive slow zone called the Red Line, that he couldn't really answer that. ...

My take is similar to yours.

I don't know if Claypool was thinking about the following, but as far as expansion there are issues that while the Brown Line was expanded to 8 car trains, there is no indication that, due to the number of cars available, it resulted in an expansion of capacity instead of longer intervals, and the previously stated one that if the Red Line is extended, they'll need cars for that.

I also got the implication from the CBS story that if the Red Line were fixed, they could run more trains on it, but because of the slow zones, they can't.

You can combine that with the Tribune story today that Claypool doesn't see a source of capital funding.

Of course, I might have added 2+2+2 and come up with 21.

[BusHunter]

My take is similar to yours.

I don't know if Claypool was thinking about the following, but as far as expansion there are issues that while the Brown Line was expanded to 8 car trains, there is no indication that, due to the number of cars available, it resulted in an expansion of capacity instead of longer intervals, and the previously stated one that if the Red Line is extended, they'll need cars for that.

I also got the implication from the CBS story that if the Red Line were fixed, they could run more trains on it, but because of the slow zones, they can't.

You can combine that with the Tribune story today that Claypool doesn't see a source of capital funding.

Of course, I might have added 2+2+2 and come up with 21.

The brown line has more cars on it than when it was first expanded to 8 cars. The orange line is down to 94 cars, everything else went to brown. Riding the Orange line, I seem to be noticing longer headways than before. In the rush it seems to be as frequent as the green line. As far as #5000's to brown, that could only be done if the blue and Red lines don't swallow up all cars to complete there fleets or if there's no expansion, which I don't see happening in the next 3 years. That would leave about 50 left over. With talks of cutting service this winter they might be thinking of cutting purple line express altogether or any overlapping bus service with Pace. Maybe that could shake up the fleet totals enough to get the brown line some more #5000's.