9000-series - Procurement & Updates

[Jstange059]

Currently procuring 300 cars with 146 optional for a max of 446 cars

Currently expected to have production delivery starting Q1 2032 to 2034. Is this an absurdly long timeline because it seems quite slow to me

[wayfaringrob]

46 minutes ago, Jstange059 said:

Currently procuring 300 cars with 146 optional for a max of 446 cars

Currently expected to have production delivery starting Q1 2032 to 2034. Is this an absurdly long timeline because it seems quite slow to me

Sounds on par with reality (5000s, 7000s).

46 minutes ago, Jstange059 said:

Currently procuring 300 cars with 146 optional for a max of 446 cars

Reading between the lines of the 2024 vs. 2025 budget book and this LIQ: sounds like the outlook on the 7000s improved, and that they may be anticipating at least one option order of them, accounting for the reduction in the total number of 9000 options.

2024 budget book: only base order 7000 mentioned, but 546 9000s mentioned.

(PDF page 83: https://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/6/FY_2024_Budget_Book_(Web_Version).pdf)

2025 budget book: mentions 7000 option cars expected to enter production in 2027 pending agreements; details on 9000 minimized (and perhaps erroneously referred to as 7400 series).

(PDF page 86: https://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/6/FY2025_CTA_Budget_Book.pdf)

[Jstange059]

So with the options of the 7000 series, how much of the 3200 series would that be able to replace and would the 9000s be likely to start replacing 5000 series vehicles?

[Sam92]

12 minutes ago, Jstange059 said:

So with the options of the 7000 series, how much of the 3200 series would that be able to replace and would the 9000s be likely to start replacing 5000 series vehicles?

5000s wouldn't be retirement age till 2035. These orders are pretty much to get rid of the 2600s, 3200s and whatever extras after that for new/expanded services (red extension, more north side service etc)

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, Sam92 said:

5000s wouldn't be retirement age till 2035. These orders are pretty much to get rid of the 2600s, 3200s and whatever extras after that for new/expanded services (red extension, more north side service etc)

The only thing I can figure out is that the Budget Office doesn't confer with the Chief Engineer or Procurement Office. The 2025 Budget had 7400s, but the grant and now this solicitation for engineering services is for 9000s, which is at least consistent with the announcement of the federal grant. Only consistency is that there is a total of 846 between 7000s and 7400s or 9000s. The announcement for the grant said to replace  2600s, but 700 cars would be too much, but clearly the federal program for the grant is for replacements.

I figure there must be something with which CTA is dissatisfied with the 7000s to start off the 9000s with engineering and to say that the cars need not be compatible with prior series, but not enough to terminate the current contract with CRRC (as SEPTA has done). Note also, this document says:

Also, from the following schedule, this won't be quicker than exercising the options on 7000s if production deliveries won't start until 2032:

I base that on if there are  <250 7000s to go, at 10/month that should be 2 years. not 7. But considering that one way or another, 446 cars are not under contract, I don't see CTA needing 1292 new cars (7000s, 7400s, and 9000s). So, all I can do is assume inconsistencies..

[Sam92]

2 hours ago, Busjack said:

The only thing I can figure out is that the Budget Office doesn't confer with the Chief Engineer or Procurement Office. The 2025 Budget had 7400s, but the grant and now this solicitation for engineering services is for 9000s, which is at least consistent with the announcement of the federal grant. Only consistency is that there is a total of 846 between 7000s and 7400s or 9000s. The announcement for the grant said to replace  2600s, but 700 cars would be too much, but clearly the federal program for the grant is for replacements.

I figure there must be something with which CTA is dissatisfied with the 7000s to start off the 9000s with engineering and to say that the cars need not be compatible with prior series, but not enough to terminate the current contract with CRRC (as SEPTA has done). Note also, this document says:

Also, from the following schedule, this won't be quicker than exercising the options on 7000s if production deliveries won't start until 2032:

I base that on if there are  <250 7000s to go, at 10/month that should be 2 years. not 7. But considering that one way or another, 446 cars are not under contract, I don't see CTA needing 1292 new cars (7000s, 7400s, and 9000s). So, all I can do is assume inconsistencies..

Maybe cta might be trying to give CRRC a chance but set up a back up plan if something goes wrong without making a bing production like the 4000s secretly replaced the NABI

[Busjack]

3 hours ago, Sam92 said:

Maybe cta might be trying to give CRRC a chance but set up a back up plan if something goes wrong without making a bing production like the 4000s secretly replaced the NABI

CRRC has the chance to finish the 400, and maybe the chance for either an otion order or to bid on this, but if this is the signal that the options are not being exercised on the CRRC contract, it looks like this doesn't get expansion cars in time for RLE, unless CTA plans to run 2600s/3200s on the Blue Line a lot longer than thought.

[artthouwill]

42 minutes ago, Busjack said:

CRRC has the chance to finish the 400, and maybe the chance for either an otion order or to bid on this, but if this is the signal that the options are not being exercised on the CRRC contract, it looks like this doesn't get expansion cars in time for RLE, unless CTA plans to run 2600s/3200s on the Blue Line a lot longer than thought.

I agree that the 3200s will be around for s while longer.  I think CTA Will exercise one option with CRRC so those cars can move to the Green Line and those Green Line 5000 series cars can be used for RLE.  The 9000s can be used to retire the 3200s  which i think would be back to the Brown and Orange Lines before being retired.  Those 3200s will be at least 40 yrs years old by then, which is consistent with the amount of time other series have been in service before being retired.