7000-series - Delivery & Updates

[NovaBusFan]

11 hours ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

 

 

 

I think it's a combination of the orange line not being as linear as the other lines and also more distance between stations; the trains reach and maintain higher speeds than they do on other lines. The gap btwn 35th/Archer & Western is one of the longest in the system outside of the Yellow Line. Dan Ryan branch and Western-westward on the Congress branch are the only lines with similar gaps in between stations. In my experience though, it's never been rickety (although I'm always uneasy at the speed at which they take the flyover's), that award goes to the Evanston branch

True

[Mr.cta85]

Just a random thought about the 7000 series. I really love the new series of rail cars from their exterior and interior look even the Blue end caps, but now I’m kinda wishing once they really start to come in I’m hoping they go back to the grey end caps but only where the current blue is. The grey and black end caps would really make them look like the classic 2200 series even more than they already do. But yea that’s just a random thought.

[NovaBusFan]

17 minutes ago, Mr.cta85 said:

Just a random thought about the 7000 series. I really love the new series of rail cars from their exterior and interior look even the Blue end caps, but now I’m kinda wishing once they really start to come in I’m hoping they go back to the grey end caps but only where the current blue is. The grey and black end caps would really make them look like the classic 2200 series even more than they already do. But yea that’s just a random thought.

I like them how they look even with the blue end caps that make them look similar to the decals of what #5009-10 had when they were delivered. The only thing I wish that they could change back to is back to on the #7000s are the current announcements the previous series have. That’ll be cool but other than that they are fine.

[artthouwill]

15 hours ago, NovaBusFan said:

I like them how they look even with the blue end caps that make them look similar to the decals of what #5009-10 had when they were delivered. The only thing I wish that they could change back to is back to on the #7000s are the current announcements the previous series have. That’ll be cool but other than that they are fine.

I think the Blue end caps are also a function of necessity as to differentiate the 7000s from the other series.  Remember they can't be coupled with other series.  The distinguishing mark on the 5000s are on the couplers.  The 2600s and the 3200s are the same because those two series can be coupled together.

[NovaBusFan]

1 hour ago, artthouwill said:

I think the Blue end caps are also a function of necessity as to differentiate the 7000s from the other series.  Remember they can't be coupled with other series.  The distinguishing mark on the 5000s are on the couplers.  The 2600s and the 3200s are the same because those two series can be coupled together.

It’ll be good to see the #5000s and the #7000s couple with each other’s unless it is only for mechanical use, but sadly it can’t happen with both series one being reason they are not part of the High Performance Family cars like the #2000, #2400, #2600 and the #3200s or is it something else besides that or am I wrong? 

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

Just now, NovaBusFan said:

It’ll be good to see the #5000s and the #7000s couple with each other’s unless it is only for mechanical use, but sadly it can’t happen with both series one being reason they are not part of the High Performance Family cars like the #2000, #2400, #2600 and the #3200s or is it something else besides that or am I wrong? 

5000’s u can couple to 2600’s and 3200’s but mechanically i think 7000’s are the same way 

[artthouwill]

52 minutes ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

5000’s u can couple to 2600’s and 3200’s but mechanically i think 7000’s are the same way 

5000s and 2600s. Cannot be coupled together, except in a case where one is pulling or pushing it disabled train.  You have never seen a 2600 and 5000 coupled with each other on revenue service. 

[NovaBusFan]

1 hour ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

5000’s u can couple to 2600’s and 3200’s but mechanically i think 7000’s are the same way 

Nah the #5000s can only be mechanically coupled to other series in case an emergency happens on another train same with #7000s, while the #2600s and #3200s can run together.

[artthouwill]

It looks like the 7000z have migrated to the Orange Line for testing. 

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

1 hour ago, artthouwill said:

It looks like the 7000z have migrated to the Orange Line for testing. 

heard it’s only for 2 weeks so orange got em for the shortest period……wonder why and probably next line will be brown and green before they 9x outta 10 return to blue for more testing because at the beginning the CRRC employee did mention to me the 7000’s will visit the blue line a lot during testing 

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

heard it’s only for 2 weeks so orange got em for the shortest period……wonder why and probably next line will be brown and green before they 9x outta 10 return to blue for more testing because at the beginning the CRRC employee did mention to me the 7000’s will visit the blue line a lot during testing 

I'm surprised the Orange Line is getting such a short test, but it is in decent shape.

Why such extensive Blue Line testing?  Maybe the CTA is trying to figure out how it can assign these cars to that line.  The main issue is the Forest Park branch.   How much temporary track work can they get done and how long will it last before CTA has to do the major rebuild?  Will CTA need to shut down and/or reroute the branch over several weekends or do a 5 month shutdown?  Perhaps they want to see how the work they've done so far stands up.

So far I haven't seen the return of the UIC and Jefferson Park short turns, but if the Blue Line somehow gets first dibs on the New cars, they will try to assign them to Rosemont Yard and send only a handful on the Forest Park branch. 

[Sam92]

13 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

I'm surprised the Orange Line is getting such a short test, but it is in decent shape.

Why such extensive Blue Line testing?  Maybe the CTA is trying to figure out how it can assign these cars to that line.  The main issue is the Forest Park branch.   How much temporary track work can they get done and how long will it last before CTA has to do the major rebuild?  Will CTA need to shut down and/or reroute the branch over several weekends or do a 5 month shutdown?  Perhaps they want to see how the work they've done so far stands up.

So far I haven't seen the return of the UIC and Jefferson Park short turns, but if the Blue Line somehow gets first dibs on the New cars, they will try to assign them to Rosemont Yard and send only a handful on the Forest Park branch. 

On schedule the Racine to Jeff Park 5000 runs are back. I actually thought what you were thinking myself as far as maybe having blue line deal with a mixed fleet temporarily.  8/10 Rosemont Put outs end at UIC so thats 8 guaranteed runs that can safely handle newer cars if FP is the trouble side. (64 cars) So I’m guessing out of 40 trains out during rush that handles 1/5 of the fleet being 7000s, then the 3200s (another 100) and the 2 5000 runs that helps bring the blue line closer to half its fleet having newer equipment 

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

32 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

I'm surprised the Orange Line is getting such a short test, but it is in decent shape.

Why such extensive Blue Line testing?  Maybe the CTA is trying to figure out how it can assign these cars to that line.  The main issue is the Forest Park branch.   How much temporary track work can they get done and how long will it last before CTA has to do the major rebuild?  Will CTA need to shut down and/or reroute the branch over several weekends or do a 5 month shutdown?  Perhaps they want to see how the work they've done so far stands up.

So far I haven't seen the return of the UIC and Jefferson Park short turns, but if the Blue Line somehow gets first dibs on the New cars, they will try to assign them to Rosemont Yard and send only a handful on the Forest Park branch. 

or they can rebuild while temporary suspend pink line service completely and send the blue line back to 54th like the old days for 5-6 months 

[Policeman]

5 minutes ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

or they can rebuild while temporary suspend pink line service completely and send the blue line back to 54th like the old days for 5-6 months 

Now that would definitely cause trouble cuz the people that get on the pink line between the loop and Ashland wouldn't be happy

[NewFlyerMCI]

1 hour ago, artthouwill said:

Why such extensive Blue Line testing?

One of many possibly reasons could because it has the most dynamic track environment. Has tunnel tracks, median tracks, elevated tracks, pretty much everything but a grade crossing (present only the Brown, Pink, Yellow & Purple lines) which probably isn't a priority. 

[NewFlyerMCI]

22 minutes ago, Policeman said:

Now that would definitely cause trouble cuz the people that get on the pink line between the loop and Ashland wouldn't be happy

I mean, oh well? There are worse places to suspend service than a stretch of track that will have existing train service already up and running. Also, CTA has an artic surplus, if they really needed to, throw artics on the 20 & 65 + run shuttles. People can do without the Pink Line running Ashland-Loop for half a year in this hypothetical scenario, especially if this were to occur anytime in the next 4 years.

[NovaBusFan]

5 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

heard it’s only for 2 weeks so orange got em for the shortest period……wonder why and probably next line will be brown and green before they 9x outta 10 return to blue for more testing because at the beginning the CRRC employee did mention to me the 7000’s will visit the blue line a lot during testing 

Dang many times do the Blue Line need them for testing? Sheesh….

Blue Line don’t need no more action from the #7000s, until they are actually assigned there (Joking) maybe they are trying to see where are they going to assign them when they get actually assigned to the Blue Line (My opinion), At first they’ve tested on the Blue, Pink and Red lines for 3-4 weeks at that time frame from that point now they’ve seem to cut it down to only 2 weeks of testing per line starting with the Purple Line.

[andrethebusman]

On 9/25/2021 at 6:18 PM, Policeman said:

Now that would definitely cause trouble cuz the people that get on the pink line between the loop and Ashland wouldn't be happy

You think Red Line riders were happy with the bus shuttles from Garfield Red? Ashland, Morgan, Clinton pretty minimal by comparison.

[Policeman]

5 hours ago, andrethebusman said:

You think Red Line riders were happy with the bus shuttles from Garfield Red?

Absolutely not

[artthouwill]

8 hours ago, andrethebusman said:

You think Red Line riders were happy with the bus shuttles from Garfield Red? Ashland, Morgan, Clinton pretty minimal by comparison.

The Red Line riders should be thankful for the Green Line.   Im sure most South Siders don't know or don't remember when there was NO CTA rail service south of 69th and Normal.

The Blue Line is sandwiched between the Pink Line and the Green Line  so there would be minimal impact as riders have alternatives along the entire Forest Park branch.  Currently,  South Siders only have alternatives from 63rd northward.

[Sam92]

2 hours ago, artthouwill said:

The Red Line riders should be thankful for the Green Line.   Im sure most South Siders don't know or don't remember when there was NO CTA rail service south of 69th and Normal.

The Blue Line is sandwiched between the Pink Line and the Green Line  so there would be minimal impact as riders have alternatives along the entire Forest Park branch.  Currently,  South Siders only have alternatives from 63rd northward.

Blue line is basically the same situation as the red line but with a shorter shuttle ride if you take the green line. BUT it might be better to use the pink line for rerouted trains since the lake branch seems to the line the red line in terms of being the heavy hitter branch of the green line and idk of yard personnel want the trouble of making sure 8 car trains stay on Ashland or any loop short turns (can’t simply add 8 cars to all greens due to the limitations at cottage.) to accommodate. 

[artthouwill]

54 minutes ago, Sam92 said:

Blue line is basically the same situation as the red line but with a shorter shuttle ride if you take the green line. BUT it might be better to use the pink line for rerouted trains since the lake branch seems to the line the red line in terms of being the heavy hitter branch of the green line and idk of yard personnel want the trouble of making sure 8 car trains stay on Ashland or any loop short turns (can’t simply add 8 cars to all greens due to the limitations at cottage.) to accommodate. 

With the exception of Forest Park to Harlem,  shuttles aren't really necessary because every other route that serves the Blue Line serves the Green Line and/or Pink Line.   And as you get closer to downtown,  there are several parallel bus routes as well.  The Green Line could add extra service to downtown only.  They would go to Roosevelt in a.m. rush and circle the outer Loop tracks in the p.m. rush, similar to the service Green Line trains ran during the Red South Rebuild. 

[Sam92]

14 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

With the exception of Forest Park to Harlem,  shuttles aren't really necessary because every other route that serves the Blue Line serves the Green Line and/or Pink Line.   And as you get closer to downtown,  there are several parallel bus routes as well.  The Green Line could add extra service to downtown only.  They would go to Roosevelt in a.m. rush and circle the outer Loop tracks in the p.m. rush, similar to the service Green Line trains ran during the Red South Rebuild. 

Oh yeah no doubt that but green is already pretty packed on the lake branch and unlike the red line you wouldn’t be having those trains substitute for one branch and I think using the green solely would cause an imbalance vs using pink. Plus pink offers the benefit of not having to transfer and walk up 3 floors which is probably why they did UIC to IMD first and separately. I think what’s gonna happen service-wise is trains are gonna temporarily revert to pre-pink line service pattern. Blues will alternate between 54th trains and IMD trains. Pink is probably gonna survive on a reduced degree but not completely because the reverse rush is pretty heavy and pink gives easier access to more lines for UIC/ rush university students. 

[NewFlyerMCI]

4 hours ago, Sam92 said:

Blue line is basically the same situation as the red line but with a shorter shuttle ride if you take the green line. BUT it might be better to use the pink line for rerouted trains since the lake branch seems to the line the red line in terms of being the heavy hitter branch of the green line and idk of yard personnel want the trouble of making sure 8 car trains stay on Ashland or any loop short turns (can’t simply add 8 cars to all greens due to the limitations at cottage.) to accommodate. 

Given current climes, I don't know if that would have the impact that it would otherwise. Service on the Lake Branch is concentrated to the 4 Oak Park stations & Ashland on eastward. California, Laramie, Central Park, etc are some of the least busiest stations in the system (esp cause their other competition is Purple Line Shuttle, Pink Line and Green Line South). The busy areas are filled with riders who are probably still at WFH status, elective or not, so there's probably space for more offset Blue line riders than there would be otherwise. 

That said, I agree with what you in said later on in terms of what's likely to happen. I don't think shuttles will be needed, and I don't think the Pink Line will hurt that much. If it does, CTA should have the capacity to boost service on routes like the 60 & 157.

Hell, even the X21 could make a comeback lmao. _{(this is a joke)}

[NovaBusFan]

The #7000s are now on the Brown Line, some have left midway this mid morning. Expect to seem them go in service Monday. The first 6 cars are here and the next 4 cars haven’t made their way there yet.