CRRC Sifang America Delivers 7000 Series Railcars Built on Chicago’s Southside

CHICAGO – CRRC Sifang America Incorporated (CRRC) has delivered on schedule the first ten 7000 Series passenger railcars to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), which will begin in-service testing today on CTA’s Blue Line – the second most heavily traveled rail line in the system.

“CRRC is proud and excited the new 7000 Series CTA passenger railcars have begun the in-service testing phase of the production process,” said Marina Popovic, Human Resources Director and Chief Legal Counsel for CRRC Sifang America Incorporated.  “CRRC reached this critical milestone in a timely fashion despite a global pandemic, which is a significant accomplishment.”

The next generation railcars were manufactured at CRRC’s state-of-the-art production facility on Chicago’s southeast side, which reintroduced railcar manufacturing to Chicago after a nearly 60-year absence. CRRC hired and trained production workers from neighborhoods surrounding CRRC’s manufacturing facility on Chicago’s southeast side. CRRC will announce additional hiring events later this year as the 7000 Series completes its testing phase and the mass production of the passenger railcars begins.

Photo Credit: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)

The 7000 series railcars are the most modern in the United States and feature many new customer amenities including:

  • Redesigned interior with LED lighting, additional grab bars and straps and digital signs
  • Improved suspension for a smoother ride
  • Double-sided displays located in the center of the cars displaying a moving rail system map that shows the line, next station and the upcoming stations
  • Improved active vehicle suspension system that uses new sensors to adjust the height of the railcar floor with that of the platform.

Riders will be able to experience the new railcars during in-service testing through early 2022. The new 7000 Series passenger railcars are easily distinguished from the rest of the CTA rail fleet by its bold, blue end caps; new layout of headlights and taillights; as well as a redesigned interior featuring a new seating configuration that includes a mix of forward-facing and aisle-facing seats. Once testing is satisfactorily completed, production and delivery will begin on the remaining balance of railcars.

“CRRC will continue working with the CTA to streamline testing to ensure the railcars meet all CTA’s specifications and needs, and to offer CTA riders a new experience in public transportation,” said Popovic.