The 7000-series is a series of rail car for the Chicago "L". The base order is for 400 cars and will be used to replace the 2600-series cars, dating back to the 1980s, which are currently assigned to the Blue, Brown, and Orange Lines. If the CTA ordered the additional 446 cars, these cars would replace the 3200-series cars, dating back to the early 1990s, which are currently assigned to the Blue and Brown Lines. Including all options, which is a total of 656 cars, the order will cost $1.3 billion.
The contract called for ten prototypes to be delivered by October 2019. If the rail cars prove to be acceptable, then full production cars would be delivered starting in October 2020, at a rate of 10 cars per month. The cost per car is approximately $1.58 million. Prototypes for testing were delivered in August 2020, and the base order is to be delivered by 2024.
Each 7000-series rail car will feature 37 to 38 seats, and is a hybrid of the 3200-series and 5000-series. The 7000-series train cars are equipped with AC propulsion; interior security cameras, interior readouts, interior maps GPS, glow-in-the-dark evacuation signs, operator-controlled ventilation systems. AC propulsion allows for smoother acceleration, lower operational costs, less wear and tear, and greater energy efficiency. In particular, AC propulsion can take advantage of regenerative braking, meaning the train returns excess energy to the third rail as it slows down. LED screens give real-time transit information to passengers. LCD screens, installed near the doors, display real-time surveillance footage of riders in order to deter crime.
In the 7000-series, the design and arrangement of seats were modified to improve ergonomics and increase leg room. In addition, because the seats are attached to the side of the train using a diagonal pole rather than a vertical one to the floor, cleaning the train will be easier. However, seats will still be a combination of fabric and plastic. Compared to the 5000-series, there will be more front and back-facing seats. Enhanced air conditioning will circulate air more efficiently during hot summer days. Laser sensors above the doors will count the number of passengers, allowing the CTA to track passenger volumes and change its schedules accordingly.
In August 2020, the first 7000-series rail cars arrived in Skokie Shops by semi truck. Testing began in October. The first 10 cars began testing in passenger service on April 21, 2021. In June 2022, delivery of the production cars began. In August 2022, the 7000-series production rail cars began service.
Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7000-series_(CTA)
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