New Train Cars Debut On Green Line This Week

By Anna Deem in News on May 16, 2010 6:30PM

After testing out the new 5000-series rail cars on the Red Line for the past month, the CTA has decided to move on to the Green Line, debuting the new train cars this Monday. Throughout the rest of the year, the CTA plans to test the new cars on all eight rail lines. The new train cars must complete their testing successfully before the CTA can finalize their remaining order of 396 rail cars.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Green Line riders will notice the following on the 5000-series cars:

"Each 5000-series car has seven networked security cameras, an event recorder system similar to a black box on an airplane and sensitive door sensors that will detect obstructions better than CTA's current rail fleet, the release said.

Riders may notice the new aisle-facing seating configuration that accommodates more customers per car, allowing more room for customers carrying backpacks, packages, luggage, strollers and bikes. The configuration provides 38 seats and space for two wheelchair positions and added support poles and hand-straps in the center of the car for standing customers. Other features of these rail cars include: an LED station indicator map with lights that move in conjunction with the train's location and electronic destination signs--widened to increase the size of the text, thereby improving readability--both inside and outside of the rail car."