The announcements were re-recorded for the 7000s because they use a different software . It’s still the same voice artist Lee Crooks , but the original announcements are from 1999 , so his voice sounds different on the new announcements because he’s aged .
Being out at the end of the Metra, it will be a real challenge, but wow do I wanna ride in a 7000. It looks so clean and sleek. Thanks Lindsey for the video!
I take the orange line 4 times a week, and I've noticed it tends to get the more worn down trains, so hopefully we can get some upgrades on the southwest soon
just moved to Chicago and have been following a bunch of train youtubers. Ive been seeing a lot of videos about the new 7000s and I actually saw one pass me by the other day! hope you can ride one soon mate! great video!
I really enjoyed the video Thom. Thank you for sharing and to Lindsay for the footage. The 7000s are really advanced in my opinion. It's interesting to hear that the trains are in test but carry passengers. Almost unheard of in the United Kingdom. I'm glad to be one of your fairly recent subscribers. Congratulations! Here's hoping you get to travel on the 7000 series soon :-)
I know that the Netherlands does the same thing when they’re in the advanced stages of testing. But I do wish that the CTA would announce when their new trains are in service. Seems like something you’d want to advertise!
The 7000 series trains that were built by CRRC do look really nice and brand new. This is why Chicago needs new trains or wants more rolling stocks to cope with its people travelling on the CTA's metro system in and around Chicago.
I've been lucky enough to catch a few of these on the blue lines on my way to school and I really like the improvements they've made. I was talking with one of my friends though and we were wondering how the condition will hold up over time. This is my first time as a cta user being introduced to a new car so I don't really know how long it takes for it to become similar to the older models we have now. Great video though, you've got a new subscriber!
Thanks! Lucky you’ve been able to ride them a few times! I hope their quality will be okay. I have no experience riding Chinese-built trains before, so.
Been riding them for a while now, fantastic trains for usa standards. They also have been able to get a lot quieter as they sawed down the rails, and the rail replacement has made the blue line ridiculously fast. My commute from ohair was 35 minutes lmao
Lindsey’s absence from the recently released consecutive series of videos led me to compose a complaint I’d planned to register today if her absence continued. Foiled, thank goodness. Even better than Lindsey’s videography would be Lindsey in front of the lens, again. I enjoy watching your channel develop, Thom, and look forward to the release of each new “Trains Are Awesome” well researched and expertly presented video.
Thank you for always leaving a comment and encouraging me! The information you share is always insightful and interesting as well. Lindsey will be back, we’re still happily married haha. Just a matter of finding time to travel together again.
Those trains look so good. I was in Chicago in September and I was looking for them but I saw them on my last day in the city sitting in what I guess is the yard not far from O’Hare. I can’t wait to ride them on my next trip to Chicago!
I’m pretty sure I got to ride one of the 7000 series last week- outbound from downtown to ohare in late afternoon. I noticed a new color format announcing the stops and the yellow handles too. However I didn’t notice the LED message boards you mentioned. I felt them to be much quieter and wider too, overall an amazing experience!
I happened to catch a 7000 series train one time, probably 6 months ago on the Purple Line. I've never liked the seats all facing inward on the most recent (5000?) trains, so it's nice to see more window seats!
Haven't riden the "L" in a few years. Saw these cars while I was driving on the Kennedy near the Cumberland Ave station. Finally found CRRC around 130th and Burnham while railfanning the area.
Hi! Somebody from Boston here! The CRRC made 2 new trains for our lines: the CRRC 1900 series for the Red Line (not on the rails yet) and the CRRC 1400 series for the Orange Line (currently on the rails). The 1400 series have been giving riders and the MBTA HUGE problems to the point of me hearing rumors about the MBTA suing CRRC for malfunctions of these trains, but they HAD to use them due to an older 1200 series train catching on fire in between Assembly and Wellington (on a bridge) during the summer time in Boston. I just hope that these CRRC 7000 series don't have the same problem.
Just found you, and started this video…. I have on occasion used this CTA system, as well as the Metra system… I have a child whom uses both systems regularly, and funny as it is, was on a far older CTA train that they found, to be running on a weekend, super old and unfamiliar/vintage to them. Can’t wait to watch more! FYI, growing up, my dad and grandfather were huge into model RR, and We often traveled to see steam engines and ride trains….. also a Boy Scout in our troop was a huge train buff, and spotter….
If I'm not mistaken, the Blue Line was the last L line to get rid of the "blinker door" cars and seemingly the last ones go get newer trains. I recall seeing 5000s on most of the other lines, but never the Blue.
Excited to ride them! That said, I do wish they considered an even more modern design like DC’s 7000 series by kawasaki. Those trains aren’t perfect - takes forever for the doors to open and the derailment issues took a long time to fix but it feels like you’re in a sparkling clean spacecraft inside. Is it me or do these new CTA trains look sorta like the old trains just with a tv mounted inside?
i just discovered your channel about two weeks ago and ive been slowly going through all of your chicago based videos, and now that im seeing this one im realizing i think i just recently got to ride on one of these! it was an o’hare bound blue line train around 5pm on a wednesday, i was wondering if it was a new series as soon as i boarded it. im most familiar w the orange line so i was super amazed cuz ive never seen any trains here look so new before LOL. ive been loving your videos, its been great learning more about chicagos public transportation system!
In Boston we have an app that tells us where new trains are. It works because their serial numbers are different from the old trains serial numbers in a consistent way. (eg on the orange line, they are 14XX instead of 13XX) If Chicago has an app that tracks the trains with serial numbers, you may be able to use it to track them in real time and find an odd one on a weekend or something.
There’s a tracker here in Chicago but unfortunately it doesn’t show the number of the train. Is it true the new cars have completely replaced the old fleet on the orange line in Boston?
@@Thom-TRA yes, that's true. They still have some of the old trains around, and in theory they can use them if they have trouble with the new ones. But I haven't seen an old train since the shutdown.
@@Thom-TRA I use the Train Tracker website not the app. It has train numbers. I don't know if numbers are assigned by scheduled times or assigned to the vehicle. I ride the Red Line, so it might be a while before I see the new cars.
@@Thom-TRA I suspected the numbers were schedule related. Thanks for your response. Enjoy some sunshine today. The forecast for the rest of the week looks pretty dreary and cold.
I happened to board one last week and it was super nice. I was a little weirded-out by seeing myself on the security footage but also super pleased with the tech advances.
@@Thom-TRA I hope so too, I take the blue to O'Hare most of the time and Orange once in a while. I am from the Philippines, but works in Chicago. I love this city!
Those new cars look nice! But it would be nice if they could at least do open gangways between the cars (especially because 2 cars are always connected with each other).
My good bro, you are doing an excellent job explaining, describing, and introducing all of the EL lines and bringing much understanding of transit in our beautiful city. Maybe you can get a job with the CTA and manage the order of service, including bus service too. You seem to care a lot more about ridership. In other words we need someone like you. So, please consider it. Thank you for your series.
So, its a year later but I've finally gotten a few rides on the 7000 - I promise, I don't live under a rock! The 7000s don't seem remarkable different on the interior, but the info screens are excellent. Also, the ride on the 7000s are so much smoother (they seem to kneel at stations, like there's an air suspension?). Was nice they brought them out for the DNC, wish they would get more off peak use.
The CRRC trains here in Hong Kong look almost exactly the same as older trains made by other sources. Examples include the C-Train and the SP1900 made by Kawasaki. As a super-paranoid Hong Konger, I instantly thought that these new trains could symbolise the gradual infection of CCP influence. CRRC is a state owned company, which means that they answer directly to the CCP. China is always stealing technology, all just to on top of the world by having a piece of all of the world.
It’s the same voice of Lee Crooks, the voice of cta! I met him one time at an event - I think they re-recorded some and the audio profile/equipment is likely different.
I’ve also been wanting to ride these new train cars. There have been some times I tried but I was still unable to find them running except for once when I was on a train the other direction. This was when I lived near Chicago at the time but now I live in Tennessee. I plan to be in Chicago next month so it’ll be my chance.
CRRC is also building new subway cars for Boston MBTA Orange and Red Line as of now there are 78 new Orange Line cars running the Red Line has 12 cars running the Orange Line cars are numbered in the # 01400 and # 01500 series the Red Line cars are numbered in the # 01900 and # 02000 series CRRC is also building new subway cars for LA and double deck commuter rail cars for Montreal Canada and SEPTA in Philadelphia Pennsylvania
I don't get the chance to ride the L as much these days since I graduated UIC; didn't even know that there was a new train being tested but I'm happy to find out! Hopefully the Orange Line can get a few of these bad boys every so often. We'll never get that expansion to Ford City so give us something at least!
An expansion to ford city would be nice for me, I have to be down there sometimes. But I think orange should be one of the first lines to get these! I’ve seen them in the yard at Midway.
The marker lights on the 7000s are interesting. They're set up so that the route indicator displays to the rear as well as the front. I think that's a first for anywhere in the world. Come to think of it, not many rapid transit systems use colored lights to indicate route information any more. New York had them, but stopped carrying them. That leaves Chicago's "L" and Philadelphia's Broad Street subway. Boston has them--sort of. Green lights on the Green Line, yellow lights on the Blue Line, and red lights on the Red and Orange Lines. But since the lines don't actually connect anywhere, the lights are not actually used to guide tower operators to route trains. There's also a line in South America. Do you know of any other lines that still use colored markers to indicate route information?
7000 Series for 7000 subs! Congrats and nice. I just took a trip to Chicago and flew in and out of Midway this time. So I took the Orange line. It was a great ride. The new information screens are a great addition. Do you think they'll find their way into the older trains with time? As for the voice, I have to chime in with the objective ( smirk ) observation that the DC Metro had the best voice for mass transit back in the late 00's. Bong Bong ... Stand Back! Doors Closing! th-cam.com/video/dcHjrumh3Ig/w-d-xo.html
The latest chatter I’ve heard is that they’ll be deployed on the Orange line first. I’ve seen the 7000 at Midway. It would make sense, since the cars on that line are so old. Glad you enjoyed Chicago! I love the DC metro, I have a friend who works there. Hopefully they fix all the issues with their trains.
They Really Need to Get Trains like How in Toronto Canada. Where the Train Cars are Attached like a Articulated Bus where you can go between Cars without exiting the Train Car and Entering a Another Car.
If you ever at O'Hare between 6.30am and 8am Monday through Friday you might have a chance to ride on the 7000 series. I work at O'Hare and I had a chance to ride on it a few times already.
Why do i love the look of these new 7000 series? I hate TTC current fleets. But fuck, im falling inlove with Chicago new fleets more than i am with ttc subway fleets.
It really surprises me everytime on how the rest of the country subway cars are so small. I realize BART’s wide Indian Gauge is hugely inconvenient because we have to order special equipment, but the bonus of our long and wide subway cars is a major plus. Can definitely tell BART cars can accommodate wayy more people then other rail systems.
Yeah, the L was built to trolley standards, so there are some really low clearances, tunnels, and tight turns. Unfortunately, there’s no flexibility to make them bigger. I would love to ride BART, the Bay Area is #1 on my list of places to visit.
I'm kinda curious as to why the 7000 series consists aren't running all the way to the Forest Park/Des Plaines Ave. terminal on the west side stretch the Blue line as opposed to terminating at UIC. The 5000s likewise terminate at UIC. I know that for a time, the right of way that runs along the Eisenhower median had experienced power supply/third rail issues. I don't know if that was corrected as of yet. But in addition to that, the track alignment for that stretch is riddled with "slow zones" because of moderate deterioration of both roadbed and track alignment. It was said that the track condition along this stretch could possibly cause damage to the hydraulic suspension components on the 5000s. Since appears that the 7000s have a similar type of suspension, although slightly different in functionality, could this be the reason why they too are not allowed to go any further west than UIC?
Hey Thom! Excellent content! I moved to Chicago a few years ago and I love the “L”. I don’t use it for commute but I live walking distance from the Blue Line. I started gaining more interest for trains lately, there’s a lot to learn! I have a question, what are those 3 lights on the outside for? Those right above the US flag by the doors? Thank you, and keep up the good work!
Those lights tell the driver that the doors in that car are still open or the breaks are still applied. They’re pretty common in the US, if you look closely, even Amtrak cars have them!
Tom, hopefully you rode the 7000 series. You could've easily taken a weekday off from work and you go to ride in the other direction. By now, the cars are probably running everywhere.
I have been on them multiple times now, but it is a little bold to assume I could have just casually taken a day off of my job. Not all of us can afford that luxury.
I am going to miss the 2600 trains but it's completely understandable why they are being replaced but the 2600 trains I miss as I remember riding them when I was really young in preschool and kindergarten to go to the navy pier children's museum every weekend. I Miss those days and I still continue enjoying riding the 2600 series as they are nostalgic and I love the wooden interior of the 2600 trains. The seat layout isn't very good though in them it is nostalgic but the 7000s seat layout looks so much better
Out of many of the newer subway system rolling stocks across what I've seen, this is the best one IMO. It still has the same appearance on the sides and while the front looks different, it still holds the shape of the older ones. I wish WMATA did this too, the 7000 series trains on that system are too bland since they ditched the chocolate brown paint and have less comfortable seats.
I dont know if this has been answered,Why cant these new trains be built so people can walk through the cars like other cities? Is it because of the tight turns on the loop?
The design of the outside of subway cars remind me of the Scarborough RT known as line 3 on the TTC but instead with completely blue cars and different interior as it is a older car model. Rip to bombardier tho they were a Canadian company that made all the TTC subway cars and go train cars (commuter/ regional rail) (Hopefully that's not the case in the future), even street cars. Due to the fact that they sold the division of the company that made street cars and subway cars.
Red line has very rare 7K trains other than the blue line which has alot of 7K trains Which pink line still doesn't have alot but its more likely than red,orange,yellow,green,purple,and brown.
The new trains are great but I noticed a difference in the suspensions and steadiness of the trains. The older trains actually provide a smoother ride compared to the new. Also when arriving at the station they kind of kneel but I find it weird.
@@Thom-TRA th-cam.com/video/ChOWSK10oMI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ahVL-7eO1xMdhR4W Speaking of Metra trains, I just caught Metra Engine #214 in Oak Lawn, Illinois and it's currently heading to the Chicago Union Station in Chicago, Illinois.
I almost went on cta train in the loop 🔁 for saint patty’s day but the train was too crowded to ride because of my autism and I hate when too many strangers are creeping up on me and I’m not mean to random people
@@Thom-TRA It's wild and such a waste. A friend of one of my co-workers died on her birthday while she was commuting on the MTA. She was trying to escape a creep and died while trying to go from one car to another. Not saying open gangways would have stopped the creep, but it would've helped her go to more crowded areas much safer. Hopefully the new R211Ts will have them
The announcements were re-recorded for the 7000s because they use a different software . It’s still the same voice artist Lee Crooks , but the original announcements are from 1999 , so his voice sounds different on the new announcements because he’s aged .
Ah thank you! Pinning this!
Agree
I remember when the L didn't have voice announcements. And security guards with muzzled k-9s.
Lee Crooks runs this city I s2g and god bless him
@@rickmahoney317 and the guardian angels
What great new trains ! Many thanks to Lindsey for her efforts !
She’s great! I’m excited for the trains to be deployed on a fuller scale.
Being out at the end of the Metra, it will be a real challenge, but wow do I wanna ride in a 7000. It looks so clean and sleek.
Thanks Lindsey for the video!
You should! But it will be hard to time it. There’s no guarantee they run every day as of right now sadly.
I take the orange line 4 times a week, and I've noticed it tends to get the more worn down trains, so hopefully we can get some upgrades on the southwest soon
Yeah the orange line trains are the oldest in the entire network. I’ve seen a 7000 in the yard at midway, so hopefully that means good news for you.
@@Thom-TRAWhen did you see that?
@@Fallingbread_playz there’s almost always one there but this was sometime last spring
Ok,Nice!
How kind of the CTA to introduce new trains just to celebrate your 7k! Well congratulations from me too mate, onwards to 10k! 👏🏻🎉
I know right? Such great insight two years ago! 😂 but in all serious, thank you! You’ve helped me along the way!
You two are awesome. What a superstar videographer Lindsay is. Awesome footage, well done, and covered everything. 🌼🌻🌺
Thank you! Such a nice comment :)
just moved to Chicago and have been following a bunch of train youtubers. Ive been seeing a lot of videos about the new 7000s and I actually saw one pass me by the other day! hope you can ride one soon mate! great video!
Thank you! And thanks for caring about us train nerds here on TH-cam. Hope you’re liking Chicago so far, I know we are.
The voice has not changed . The sound quality of the announcement system is better
They also completely did the announcements though. Same voice actor, but he’s saying different things.
Bro CRRC has the best announcement system I’d say
Why did they need to have Lee Crooks record those lines again?
@@DnD_Robb404the old ones were from 1999 and back them, sound quality wasn’t the same so they rerecorded it so the sound quality can be better
@@TransitAvenue I thought it had something to do with the new cars and the cta not being able to use the current voice clips in them.
So crazy to see CRRC make trains halfway across the world! Hope you get to ride the 7000s soon.
I really enjoyed the video Thom. Thank you for sharing and to Lindsay for the footage. The 7000s are really advanced in my opinion. It's interesting to hear that the trains are in test but carry passengers. Almost unheard of in the United Kingdom. I'm glad to be one of your fairly recent subscribers. Congratulations! Here's hoping you get to travel on the 7000 series soon :-)
I know that the Netherlands does the same thing when they’re in the advanced stages of testing. But I do wish that the CTA would announce when their new trains are in service. Seems like something you’d want to advertise!
Another great video,I am a cta railfanner and i like your videos so much!
The 7000 series are amazing. I saw them on the Pink line last summer
They are nice. Now I still need to ride them!
@@Thom-TRA me too.
Nice improvement. We needed it a long time ago. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!
Thank you Trains Are Awesome for 7000 subscribers so congrats.
The 7000 series trains that were built by CRRC do look really nice and brand new. This is why Chicago needs new trains or wants more rolling stocks to cope with its people travelling on the CTA's metro system in and around Chicago.
I like the blue fronts. Gives them a bit of color and personality
I've been lucky enough to catch a few of these on the blue lines on my way to school and I really like the improvements they've made. I was talking with one of my friends though and we were wondering how the condition will hold up over time. This is my first time as a cta user being introduced to a new car so I don't really know how long it takes for it to become similar to the older models we have now. Great video though, you've got a new subscriber!
Thanks! Lucky you’ve been able to ride them a few times! I hope their quality will be okay. I have no experience riding Chinese-built trains before, so.
Been riding them for a while now, fantastic trains for usa standards. They also have been able to get a lot quieter as they sawed down the rails, and the rail replacement has made the blue line ridiculously fast. My commute from ohair was 35 minutes lmao
Numbers are up to 7036, however according to Facebook 7058 has been built at the factory
Thanks for the update!
I love the TH-cam algorithm for recommending such a niche topic. Specifically Chicago trains too which makes it much cooler
Haha I’m glad the algorithm recommended this!
Lindsey’s absence from the recently released consecutive series of videos led me to compose a complaint I’d planned to register today if her absence continued. Foiled, thank goodness. Even better than Lindsey’s videography would be Lindsey in front of the lens, again. I enjoy watching your channel develop, Thom, and look forward to the release of each new “Trains Are Awesome” well researched and expertly presented video.
Thank you for always leaving a comment and encouraging me! The information you share is always insightful and interesting as well.
Lindsey will be back, we’re still happily married haha. Just a matter of finding time to travel together again.
Lindsey and you are a good team.
Those trains look so good. I was in Chicago in September and I was looking for them but I saw them on my last day in the city sitting in what I guess is the yard not far from O’Hare. I can’t wait to ride them on my next trip to Chicago!
I’m pretty sure I got to ride one of the 7000 series last week- outbound from downtown to ohare in late afternoon. I noticed a new color format announcing the stops and the yellow handles too. However I didn’t notice the LED message boards you mentioned. I felt them to be much quieter and wider too, overall an amazing experience!
Congratulations on 7000 subscribers!!! Happy for you and your channel!!! Press on!!! 😀
Thank you!!!
I happened to catch a 7000 series train one time, probably 6 months ago on the Purple Line. I've never liked the seats all facing inward on the most recent (5000?) trains, so it's nice to see more window seats!
Haven't riden the "L" in a few years. Saw these cars while I was driving on the Kennedy near the Cumberland Ave station. Finally found CRRC around 130th and Burnham while railfanning the area.
I'm really excited to ride these railcars
Me too. They’re in regular service now.
Hi! Somebody from Boston here! The CRRC made 2 new trains for our lines: the CRRC 1900 series for the Red Line (not on the rails yet) and the CRRC 1400 series for the Orange Line (currently on the rails). The 1400 series have been giving riders and the MBTA HUGE problems to the point of me hearing rumors about the MBTA suing CRRC for malfunctions of these trains, but they HAD to use them due to an older 1200 series train catching on fire in between Assembly and Wellington (on a bridge) during the summer time in Boston. I just hope that these CRRC 7000 series don't have the same problem.
Just found you, and started this video…. I have on occasion used this CTA system, as well as the Metra system… I have a child whom uses both systems regularly, and funny as it is, was on a far older CTA train that they found, to be running on a weekend, super old and unfamiliar/vintage to them. Can’t wait to watch more! FYI, growing up, my dad and grandfather were huge into model RR, and We often traveled to see steam engines and ride trains….. also a Boy Scout in our troop was a huge train buff, and spotter….
Hello, from the Davis St. Local stop !
If I'm not mistaken, the Blue Line was the last L line to get rid of the "blinker door" cars and seemingly the last ones go get newer trains. I recall seeing 5000s on most of the other lines, but never the Blue.
Excited to ride them! That said, I do wish they considered an even more modern design like DC’s 7000 series by kawasaki. Those trains aren’t perfect - takes forever for the doors to open and the derailment issues took a long time to fix but it feels like you’re in a sparkling clean spacecraft inside. Is it me or do these new CTA trains look sorta like the old trains just with a tv mounted inside?
i just discovered your channel about two weeks ago and ive been slowly going through all of your chicago based videos, and now that im seeing this one im realizing i think i just recently got to ride on one of these! it was an o’hare bound blue line train around 5pm on a wednesday, i was wondering if it was a new series as soon as i boarded it. im most familiar w the orange line so i was super amazed cuz ive never seen any trains here look so new before LOL. ive been loving your videos, its been great learning more about chicagos public transportation system!
Yep, I recently visited Chicago again and was amazed to see just how many of these new trains are running around now!
Your struggles catching the 7000 sound like my struggles when NYC began rolling out R-160’s and R-179’s 🥲
In Boston we have an app that tells us where new trains are. It works because their serial numbers are different from the old trains serial numbers in a consistent way. (eg on the orange line, they are 14XX instead of 13XX)
If Chicago has an app that tracks the trains with serial numbers, you may be able to use it to track them in real time and find an odd one on a weekend or something.
There’s a tracker here in Chicago but unfortunately it doesn’t show the number of the train.
Is it true the new cars have completely replaced the old fleet on the orange line in Boston?
@@Thom-TRA yes, that's true. They still have some of the old trains around, and in theory they can use them if they have trouble with the new ones. But I haven't seen an old train since the shutdown.
@@Thom-TRA
I use the Train Tracker website not the app. It has train numbers. I don't know if numbers are assigned by scheduled times or assigned to the vehicle. I ride the Red Line, so it might be a while before I see the new cars.
@@claireduston5177 those are the run numbers, not the train car numbers.
@@Thom-TRA
I suspected the numbers were schedule related. Thanks for your response. Enjoy some sunshine today. The forecast for the rest of the week looks pretty dreary and cold.
I happened to board one last week and it was super nice. I was a little weirded-out by seeing myself on the security footage but also super pleased with the tech advances.
Hope you said cheese for the camera!
Love the new trains, I can’t wait until they are everywhere. I’ve seen them also but haven’t been on them.
I like them a lot too!
Wow thank you! I did not even know about the differences! Nee fan here.Love that you acknowledged your wife's contribution.
She’s the best! Hope you get a chance to ride the new trains soon!
@@Thom-TRA I hope so too, I take the blue to O'Hare most of the time and Orange once in a while. I am from the Philippines, but works in Chicago. I love this city!
Those new cars look nice! But it would be nice if they could at least do open gangways between the cars (especially because 2 cars are always connected with each other).
My good bro, you are doing an excellent job explaining, describing, and introducing all of the EL lines and bringing much understanding of transit in our beautiful city. Maybe you can get a job with the CTA and manage the order of service, including bus service too. You seem to care a lot more about ridership. In other words we need someone like you. So, please consider it. Thank you for your series.
I appreciate the kind words. However, I can think of a thousand places I’d rather work haha.
So, its a year later but I've finally gotten a few rides on the 7000 - I promise, I don't live under a rock! The 7000s don't seem remarkable different on the interior, but the info screens are excellent. Also, the ride on the 7000s are so much smoother (they seem to kneel at stations, like there's an air suspension?).
Was nice they brought them out for the DNC, wish they would get more off peak use.
In Boston the new CRRC trains have been very problematic. Hope Chicago doesn’t have issues.
The CRRC trains here in Hong Kong look almost exactly the same as older trains made by other sources. Examples include the C-Train and the SP1900 made by Kawasaki. As a super-paranoid Hong Konger, I instantly thought that these new trains could symbolise the gradual infection of CCP influence. CRRC is a state owned company, which means that they answer directly to the CCP. China is always stealing technology, all just to on top of the world by having a piece of all of the world.
It’s the same voice of Lee Crooks, the voice of cta! I met him one time at an event - I think they re-recorded some and the audio profile/equipment is likely different.
I would love to meet him!
I’ve also been wanting to ride these new train cars. There have been some times I tried but I was still unable to find them running except for once when I was on a train the other direction. This was when I lived near Chicago at the time but now I live in Tennessee. I plan to be in Chicago next month so it’ll be my chance.
CRRC is also building new subway cars for Boston MBTA Orange and Red Line as of now there are 78 new Orange Line cars running the Red Line has 12 cars running the Orange Line cars are numbered in the # 01400 and # 01500 series the Red Line cars are numbered in the # 01900 and # 02000 series CRRC is also building new subway cars for LA and double deck commuter rail cars for Montreal Canada and SEPTA in Philadelphia Pennsylvania
I don't get the chance to ride the L as much these days since I graduated UIC; didn't even know that there was a new train being tested but I'm happy to find out! Hopefully the Orange Line can get a few of these bad boys every so often. We'll never get that expansion to Ford City so give us something at least!
An expansion to ford city would be nice for me, I have to be down there sometimes. But I think orange should be one of the first lines to get these! I’ve seen them in the yard at Midway.
You make trains awesome!
The marker lights on the 7000s are interesting. They're set up so that the route indicator displays to the rear as well as the front. I think that's a first for anywhere in the world. Come to think of it, not many rapid transit systems use colored lights to indicate route information any more. New York had them, but stopped carrying them. That leaves Chicago's "L" and Philadelphia's Broad Street subway. Boston has them--sort of. Green lights on the Green Line, yellow lights on the Blue Line, and red lights on the Red and Orange Lines. But since the lines don't actually connect anywhere, the lights are not actually used to guide tower operators to route trains. There's also a line in South America.
Do you know of any other lines that still use colored markers to indicate route information?
hopefully the new trains can be kept clean and smoke free
Especially smoke free. I hate it when people smoke on board, those rules need to be enforced stricter.
7000 Series for 7000 subs! Congrats and nice. I just took a trip to Chicago and flew in and out of Midway this time. So I took the Orange line. It was a great ride. The new information screens are a great addition. Do you think they'll find their way into the older trains with time?
As for the voice, I have to chime in with the objective ( smirk ) observation that the DC Metro had the best voice for mass transit back in the late 00's. Bong Bong ... Stand Back! Doors Closing!
th-cam.com/video/dcHjrumh3Ig/w-d-xo.html
The latest chatter I’ve heard is that they’ll be deployed on the Orange line first. I’ve seen the 7000 at Midway. It would make sense, since the cars on that line are so old.
Glad you enjoyed Chicago! I love the DC metro, I have a friend who works there. Hopefully they fix all the issues with their trains.
I’m on Wolverine train #350 with the new venture cars rn and they are incredible
I do like me some venture cars
I was on that train a few days ago
They Really Need to Get Trains like How in Toronto Canada. Where the Train Cars are Attached like a Articulated Bus where you can go between Cars without exiting the Train Car and Entering a Another Car.
I like that design of trains better too. But that would be really hard with the super tight turns on the network.
@@Thom-TRA what about semi-open gangway train cars?
I almost had thee chance to ride one on the brown line, it was the train RIGHT after mine. I heard it go over me while I was waiting for the bus.
No way! When was this?
@@Thom-TRA Probably around a year ago.
Hey, 7000 is a special number for me!
If all goes well, come next semester you may be able to ride one, or many.
If you ever at O'Hare between 6.30am and 8am Monday through Friday you might have a chance to ride on the 7000 series. I work at O'Hare and I had a chance to ride on it a few times already.
I’m always traveling the exact opposite direction ar that time!
I think it would look cool if CTA started using green and white on their trains again.
I think so too. Making a video about this soon
Why do i love the look of these new 7000 series?
I hate TTC current fleets. But fuck, im falling inlove with Chicago new fleets more than i am with ttc subway fleets.
I rode this train last week lol. I noticed the new stuff like the signs when I got off though. It was too crowded earlier
Hope you get to ride it again soon!
It really surprises me everytime on how the rest of the country subway cars are so small. I realize BART’s wide Indian Gauge is hugely inconvenient because we have to order special equipment, but the bonus of our long and wide subway cars is a major plus. Can definitely tell BART cars can accommodate wayy more people then other rail systems.
Yeah, the L was built to trolley standards, so there are some really low clearances, tunnels, and tight turns. Unfortunately, there’s no flexibility to make them bigger.
I would love to ride BART, the Bay Area is #1 on my list of places to visit.
Update: The 7000s are now running completely on the Blue Line 3 trains are now in service.
I saw that the other day!
I'm kinda curious as to why the 7000 series consists aren't running all the way to the Forest Park/Des Plaines Ave. terminal on the west side stretch the Blue line as opposed to terminating at UIC. The 5000s likewise terminate at UIC. I know that for a time, the right of way that runs along the Eisenhower median had experienced power supply/third rail issues. I don't know if that was corrected as of yet. But in addition to that, the track alignment for that stretch is riddled with "slow zones" because of moderate deterioration of both roadbed and track alignment. It was said that the track condition along this stretch could possibly cause damage to the hydraulic suspension components on the 5000s. Since appears that the 7000s have a similar type of suspension, although slightly different in functionality, could this be the reason why they too are not allowed to go any further west than UIC?
Definitely the same voice but, I'd agree in that they were rerecorded. Both are rather apparent, at least to me they are.
Hey Thom! Excellent content! I moved to Chicago a few years ago and I love the “L”. I don’t use it for commute but I live walking distance from the Blue Line. I started gaining more interest for trains lately, there’s a lot to learn!
I have a question, what are those 3 lights on the outside for? Those right above the US flag by the doors?
Thank you, and keep up the good work!
Those lights tell the driver that the doors in that car are still open or the breaks are still applied. They’re pretty common in the US, if you look closely, even Amtrak cars have them!
The pink line uses only 5000 series and 7000 series and barely 2600 because its one of chicago's newest line from 2006.
Bro now you got 38.4K subs just after 1.5 years!
I know, isn’t it crazy??
I rode them on the Yellow Line last year
Tom, hopefully you rode the 7000 series. You could've easily taken a weekday off from work and you go to ride in the other direction. By now, the cars are probably running everywhere.
I have been on them multiple times now, but it is a little bold to assume I could have just casually taken a day off of my job. Not all of us can afford that luxury.
Looking forward to some videos about Japanese trains! :D
I am going to miss the 2600 trains but it's completely understandable why they are being replaced but the 2600 trains I miss as I remember riding them when I was really young in preschool and kindergarten to go to the navy pier children's museum every weekend. I Miss those days and I still continue enjoying riding the 2600 series as they are nostalgic and I love the wooden interior of the 2600 trains. The seat layout isn't very good though in them it is nostalgic but the 7000s seat layout looks so much better
I live in Desplanes and I take the blue line all the time. I’ve never seen this. Before. What stop do u get on at? I normally get on at rosemont.
I’ve seen them up there a few times. But only the really early mornings.
@@Thom-TRA I take it all over tho as far as lasalle at times surprised I’ve never seen it.
Great video!
Thank you!
Would be great to see this in Train Simulator World 3.
Out of many of the newer subway system rolling stocks across what I've seen, this is the best one IMO. It still has the same appearance on the sides and while the front looks different, it still holds the shape of the older ones. I wish WMATA did this too, the 7000 series trains on that system are too bland since they ditched the chocolate brown paint and have less comfortable seats.
I have not seen the 7000 series sense the old CTA buses.
This low key looks like a New York R211 because of the blue
That's why I refer to them as "R211 Chicago Spec"
I dont know if this has been answered,Why cant these new trains be built so people can walk through the cars like other cities? Is it because of the tight turns on the loop?
Yes, primarily. Those turns are very, very tight. I’m happy to see the new cars in New York are walk-through, though.
The design of the outside of subway cars remind me of the Scarborough RT known as line 3 on the TTC but instead with completely blue cars and different interior as it is a older car model. Rip to bombardier tho they were a Canadian company that made all the TTC subway cars and go train cars (commuter/ regional rail) (Hopefully that's not the case in the future), even street cars. Due to the fact that they sold the division of the company that made street cars and subway cars.
I rode on them 5 times on the blue line coming from work at the airport
Lucky
Red line has very rare 7K trains other than the blue line which has alot of 7K trains Which pink line still doesn't have alot but its more likely than red,orange,yellow,green,purple,and brown.
no reflection guard seems applied to dynamic info screens there either
Me in NY waiting for the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)’s new R211 and wishing for it to be like the el line where you can ride it in testing
Wishing you strength and endurance during this difficult season of waiting! Haha
Took a couple rides on them. So much more quieter but good grief most of the seating arrangement are not friendly to taller people.
Yeah it’s cramped
How do youbdo fellow chicagoan?? Also had no clue about this new model since I got a bike. Thanks for covering it!
BRO LOVE THE VID. W RIZZ
Hopefully, you'll get a opportunity to finally get a chance to get your first physical experience riding on the 7000 Series
I really hope so! Have you had a chance yet?
@@Thom-TRA Twice, once on the Blue Line and the second time on the Pink Line
@@dangelohartley5977 nice! I wonder if they’ll start running on orange anytime soon.
I enjoy the video👍👍
I ride the train daily and rode the new series one time. What's the hold up? We need those video screens to help us be safe.
The new trains are great but I noticed a difference in the suspensions and steadiness of the trains. The older trains actually provide a smoother ride compared to the new. Also when arriving at the station they kind of kneel but I find it weird.
🎉good for cta blue
Let's see how these trains are distributed across the city...equally.
I mean… orange and blue are slated to be the first lines to get them, so
Why doesn’t the third rail have a shield?
So they are running them during morning and afternoon rush periods?
Only the morning right now
7000s!
I just saw a 7000 series on the blue line running to Forest Park. Did they improve the tracks so these trains can run the full length now?
Yes, they have. The 7000s are now in fu service, no more tests.
Have you ever rode on Metra's Southwest Service line and checked out the Oak Lawn Patriot Metra Station in Oak Lawn, Illinois before.
Yes. You can see it in the video I made about that.
@@Thom-TRA th-cam.com/video/ChOWSK10oMI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ahVL-7eO1xMdhR4W Speaking of Metra trains, I just caught Metra Engine #214 in Oak Lawn, Illinois and it's currently heading to the Chicago Union Station in Chicago, Illinois.
@@Carspotter682 nice
@@Thom-TRA You should watch it by tapping the link above in my previous comment.
I almost went on cta train in the loop 🔁 for saint patty’s day but the train was too crowded to ride because of my autism and I hate when too many strangers are creeping up on me and I’m not mean to random people
probably because the speakers in use r better u hear a fuller range on the 7k it sounds crushd on the older 1s
I think the original actor returned but re-recorded a bunch of things
Hope they run on the SKOKIE SWIFT… less noise
Pretty nuts that despite that they are married pairs, they still don't have open gangways
Yep, imagine designing something outside the box…
@@Thom-TRA It's wild and such a waste. A friend of one of my co-workers died on her birthday while she was commuting on the MTA. She was trying to escape a creep and died while trying to go from one car to another. Not saying open gangways would have stopped the creep, but it would've helped her go to more crowded areas much safer. Hopefully the new R211Ts will have them
@@Thom-TRA what about semi-open gangway train cars?
5000s!'
Look these trains only go from O'Hare to UIC??? Sounds the same to me! And I been riding L's for a long long time!!