Chicagoist: CTA Buying New El Cars

The Curmudgeon

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:11:38 -0600

Seat Fabric... Is anyone else disappointed that new, modern subway cars feature seat fabric? Fabric has got to be the #1 component involved in the stench and filth on the El simply because they rarely get clean and are difficult to clean. I'd be perfectly happy with comfortable, somewhat ergonomically correct seats made of plastic than more fabric seats that are just going to become disgusting after a week. Look at the new buses in circulation. Those fabric seats are already filthy.

matty

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:34:44 -0600

ok after further review they don't suck. But don't expect the space age super galactic trains that we were promised with the new millenium.

spookhatespuppies

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:43:00 -0600

And to second pskosey, I had a chance to observe Seattle's monorail upfront, and it's a piece of crap. And Las Vegas' isn't much better. And they're both crazy expensive for the ride you get, which is slightly easier than walking.

pskosey

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:53:59 -0600

"but it looks like the CTA is sticking with the unimaginative regular rails. Sigh" -At the risk of sounding like a trident commercial, Studies have shown that the most cost effective way to rapidly move mass quantities of people is through a rail system such as the CTA's. Monorail and other technologies may wow the masses but they aren't as efficient as the heavy rail cars of the CTA. Furthermore, to retrofit the entire system with new cars, tracks, platforms, switches etc. would cost in excess of $50 billion (yes BILLION). So the smart and correct choice is to stick with the current technology which, by the way, is the preferred mode for most major urban rail systems.

spookhatespuppies

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:58:35 -0600

Hey, it worked for Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook. OK, seriously, I realize I need to cut down on the Simpsons, but I was sooo set up with the monorail reference. Anyway, looking over that .pdf Kevin linked to, Munich's layout is pretty damn cool. And Beijing's looks like their trains have separate "business class" cars.

Kevin

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:29:26 -0600

Actually, the CTA already ordered the cars nearly two years ago. They just made some changes today like the live security cameras. Check out today's President's Report for some renderings of possible design changes.

Tower18

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:27:01 -0600

South Side? Not sure. West Side? Immediately.

Remote

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:56:01 -0600

Any guesses as to how long it will take for some of these lovelies to land on the south side rail lines?

Stephen

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:47:48 -0600

biscuitcleaver: Yes. They've been waiting to pull the trigger on this deal for quite some time. A good portion of the funds aren't a product of the 'doomsday' debacle but rather FTA funds that have been reserved for capital improvements.

Fancypants1

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:41:23 -0600

they don't suck. they're cool.

biscuitcleaver

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:37:37 -0600

So soon after the disaster was averted?

matty

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:58:54 -0600

They look exactly like the ravenswood cars only with a different seating configuration LED Maps and and AC electricity (instead of DC). They kind of suck imo. at least they'll replace the dated ass blue line inward door trains. man those are broke ass trains!