7000-series - Delivery & Updates

[Javi75]

53 minutes ago, Elkmn said:

well there are no certainties as of yet but they most likely wouldn't cancel the rest of the base order unless the tariffs really do get insurmountable (all shall be revealed!!), but the option for 400 more probably isn't happening.

I guess it would depend on production timing, the cost per car in production & how long can the 2600s last. From the looks of the judge I don’t think CTA has any plans for 9000 series, I think the agency still has faith for 846 7000s. 

[Sam92]

5 hours ago, Elkmn said:

well there are no certainties as of yet but they most likely wouldn't cancel the rest of the base order unless the tariffs really do get insurmountable (all shall be revealed!!), but the option for 400 more probably isn't happening.

It may be slow but the options are still happening. Remember: earlier it was basically said sticking with 7000s was cheaper than starting a new thing with the 9000s. The Orange primadona starting trade wars is part of the issue 🙄

[Busjack]

To summarize after being absent

1. This  clarified that the shells are from China. As to when any unit of CRRC gets them depends on clearing customs which includes paying tariffs

 

2 .  Buy America requires 70 percent domestic content. If the shells are imported most of the rest cannot be.

3. The  Board has not voted on the options so anything is speculationmake

[artthouwill]

Finally spotted 7251 and 7252 in revenue service in a consist led by 7145 bound for Forest Park today.

[andrethebusman]

So is 7251-7252 it for the foreseeable future?

[renardo870]

On 5/25/2026 at 11:36 AM, andrethebusman said:

So is 7251-7252 it for the foreseeable future?

Maybe the numerical sequence is a tad bit off but I saw this beauty Thursday evening at Skokie Yard. 7315 and 7316 unmated at the moment.

[Mr.NewFlyer1279]

7 hours ago, renardo870 said:

Maybe the numerical sequence is a tad bit off but I saw this beauty Thursday evening at Skokie Yard. 7315 and 7316 unmated at the moment.

so they just said screw it we jumping to the 73xx’s? wow😂

[artthouwill]

2 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1279 said:

so they just said screw it we jumping to the 73xx’s? wow😂

It's been three months since 7251 and 7252 have entered service.  Perhaps it will be another 3 months before CTA receives another pai?  

[Bus1883]

4 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1279 said:

so they just said screw it we jumping to the 73xx’s? wow😂

They probably have 50-60 cars at the plant made in stages of completion or whatever cars are ready no matter the number is probably why 7315-16 got randomly delivered. 

[Javi75]

3 hours ago, Bus1883 said:

They probably have 50-60 cars at the plant made in stages of completion or whatever cars are ready no matter the number is probably why 7315-16 got randomly delivered. 

Does this mean production has resumed & there’s a delivery backlog?

[Rhys Pate]

On 7/18/2026 at 4:24 PM, Javi75 said:

Does this mean production has resumed & there’s a delivery backlog?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aqbgx6QPb/?mibextid=wwXIfr
7319-7320 were delivered as well, indicating that production has resumed.

[wayfaringrob]

3 minutes ago, Rhys Pate said:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aqbgx6QPb/?mibextid=wwXIfr
7319-7320 were delivered as well, indicating that production has resumed.

Trains in horto!

[Javi75]

27 minutes ago, Rhys Pate said:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aqbgx6QPb/?mibextid=wwXIfr
7319-7320 were delivered as well, indicating that production has resumed.

Good to know the sooner the blue line gets fully equipped with 7000s the sooner more 2600s can get retired. The blue lines 3200s will need somewhere to go when blue is filled with 7000s. 

[Mr.NewFlyer1279]

6 minutes ago, Javi75 said:

Good to know the sooner the blue line gets fully equipped with 7000s the sooner more 2600s can get retired. The blue lines 3200s will need somewhere to go when blue is filled with 7000s. 

i know a while ago there were talks of the 3200’s heading back to the brown line to retire their 2600’s and then the orange to retire theirs as well…..now the only good question is will CTA move foward with option orders.

[artthouwill]

2 hours ago, Rhys Pate said:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aqbgx6QPb/?mibextid=wwXIfr
7319-7320 were delivered as well, indicating that production has resumed.

Is it safe to guess that the newest arriving shells are the ones getting built first to speed up the process?  Of this is the case we will see 7399 - 7400 before 7261 - 7262

 

[Busjack]

5 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1279 said:

i know a while ago there were talks of the 3200’s heading back to the brown line to retire their 2600’s and then the orange to retire theirs as well…..now the only good question is will CTA move foward with option orders.

While the RLE topic "got offtrack" when we thought 7252 was it, what seem more likely with the nontransparent CTA are (1) it is still going ahead with the 9000s consulting contract, so no CRRC options, and (2) 2600s might go into storage at 61st St. yard until needed again.  We probably will have to wait 4 to 8 years to know for sure, although the storage is supposedly already is happening.

 

[Bus1883]

4 hours ago, Busjack said:

While the RLE topic "got offtrack" when we thought 7252 was it, what seem more likely with the nontransparent CTA are (1) it is still going ahead with the 9000s consulting contract, so no CRRC options, and (2) 2600s might go into storage at 61st St. yard until needed again.  We probably will have to wait 4 to 8 years to know for sure, although the storage is supposedly already is happening.

 

There is junk still stored at midway that came off the blue line over 2 years ago graffitied everywhere even on the cab end just like the ones at 61st. I’d say just scrap whatever stored cars are retired. Howard has two sets of them parked on the west end of the yard just left from the southbound platform side and a few sets at Linden yard. Since production has started back up I don’t believe in any need of them again. The scrapyard is where they should be.

[Bus1883]

10 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1279 said:

i know a while ago there were talks of the 3200’s heading back to the brown line to retire their 2600’s and then the orange to retire theirs as well…..now the only good question is will CTA move foward with option orders.

It’s a hit or miss, I can’t confirm it but I thought there were plans for option cars… I’m guessing that must of fell through since CTA would continue to crave for 9000s. We were at the remainder of 16 or so 2600s left on the blue until around January after 2999-3000 was not too long ago sent to the Brown Line and now the pair is currently sitting in the Rosemont yard lol, when they sent some 3200s back to downgrade back to 2600s. They were much better off removing the rest of the 2600s onto the Brown as they are much more older. Just saw 2625-26 the other day pull in at Racine… (Sigh)

[Busjack]

5 minutes ago, Bus1883 said:

It’s a hit or miss, I can’t confirm it but I thought there were plans for option cars

If you go waaay back, the original CRRC contract was for a base order of 400 cars, with 4 options totaling 446 cars. Then there was the "replacement grant," which CTA said was going to be spent on a new 9000 series. When CRRC got behind, the lawyers came to the board with a proposal to give CRRC more money to catch up, and a different inflation index for the options. Then CTA solicited proposals for a consultant to design 446 9000 series cars.

Given this tortuous paper trail, your guess is as good as mine. But I don't think CTA intends to get 892 new cars.

[Bus1883]

15 hours ago, Javi75 said:

Good to know the sooner the blue line gets fully equipped with 7000s the sooner more 2600s can get retired. The blue lines 3200s will need somewhere to go when blue is filled with 7000s. 

The 3200s on the blue line will go back to brown and orange   

[renardo870]

7315 - 7316 was leading a 6 car Blue Line transfer drag pulling 7083 -7084 & 7223 - 7224 when I saw it yesterday running SB on Track 1 by Granville heading to Rosemont 

[Busjack]

From the August agenda, looks like CTA is sticking with CRRC in the near term:

[Bus1883]

On 7/18/2026 at 4:24 PM, Javi75 said:

Does this mean production has resumed & there’s a delivery backlog?

Probably so, sorry for the late response 

[Javi75]

On 8/10/2026 at 9:13 AM, Busjack said:

From the August agenda, looks like CTA is sticking with CRRC in the near term:

Despite all the headaches with CRRC, I’m personally hoping for cta to pick up all options of 7000s. Hopefully there won’t be another major production delay. I want to see a higher presence of them in the l system beyond just the blue line. 

[Busjack]

3 minutes ago, Javi75 said:

Despite all the headaches with CRRC, I’m personally hoping for cta to pick up all options of 7000s. Hopefully there won’t be another major production delay. I want to see a higher presence of them in the l system beyond just the blue line. 

Yeah, but what about all the 9000s noise?