CRRC Sifang America 7000 Series
The Chicago Transit Authority has ordered 400 rapid transit cars from CRRC Sifang America. They will be used to replace the 2600 Series cars which were built between 1981 and 1987. The first cars are expected to be delivered in 2019. The contract is for a total 846 cars broken down as: a 400 car base order, option 1 for 156 cars, option 2 for 100 cars, option 3 for 100 cars, and option 4 for 90 cars.
History
In early 2013, the CTA issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the supply of 846 rapid transit cars. Two manufacturers submitted bids: Bombardier Transportation and Sumitomo Corporation (Nippon Sharyo USA). Bombardier's bid of $1.39 billion came in lower than Sumitomo's bid of $1.55 billion. Kawasaki Rail Car expressed interest, but did not submit a bid. The CTA anticipated that the contract would be awarded in the summer of 2014. Delivery of the first 7000 Series cars would occur in late 2017 or early 2018.[1] In May 2014, the CTA announced that it had rejected both bids and would be restarting the RFP process. They dropped the requirement that the cars be compatible with the 5000 Series built by Bombardier. The base order was also increased to 400 cars.[2] A greater number of bids were received. CSR Sifang America submitted a proposal that was deemed the most favourable and was awarded the contract in March 2016.[3] Prior to that, CSR Corporation, the parent company, merged with CNR Corporation in 2015 forming CRRC Corporation. Bombardier appealed the decision to award CRRC the contract, but the CTA re-afirmed their decision in September 2016.
Both Bombardier and CRRC planned to perform final assembly in the Chicago area. A 380,000-square-foot facility for CRRC was approved in Chicago's Hegewisch neighbourhood in October 2016. It is expected to bring approximately 170 new jobs to the area. CRRC broke ground on the new facility in March 2017, and it was expected to be completed in 2018.[4]
By June 2019, assembly of the first 7000 Series cars was underway at the new facility.[5] In December 2019, CRRC released a photo of a ten-car pre-production train undergoing trials in China.[6] The first pair of 7000-series cars (7005-7006) was delivered to the CTA's Skokie Shops in August 2020. They began testing on the system in October 2020.[7]
The first 7000 Series train entered service on the Blue Line April 21, 2021. This began the series's in-service testing phase. By January 2022, the 7000 Series train had be tested in service on all of the CTA's lines.