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Chicago Transit: New 'L' trains not expected until 2019

CTA reworked the original specifications after only two manufacturers submitted bids for the 7000-series “L” cars, which are intended to replace all but the latest series of cars currently being delivered to CTA.

June 12, 2014
Chicago Transit: New 'L' trains not expected until 2019

 

1 min to read


CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced its next order of new “L” railcars won’t begin to arrive until 2019, and only if the agency gets what it wants when soliciting bids from builders, according to CBS Chicago.

CTA reworked the original specifications after only two manufacturers submitted bids for the 7000-series “L” cars, which are intended to replace all but the latest series of cars currently being delivered to CTA. One of the most important changes made for the new round of bidding will no longer require the 7000 series cars to be interchangeable with the newly-delivered 5000s. For the full story, click here.

Topics:Rail

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