Ideas for CTA’s incoming 5000-series train cars

By On February 3, 2011 · 8 Comments
Update: Stay current on this topic at Grid Chicago. Latest post was on July 25, 2011, about the latest rail car order. 
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is not exactly seeking feedback from the public at this time about the Bombardier-built 5000-series train cars it’s testing now. But this is our one chance to make these trains eve better.
  • No beige. This is not the 1980s.
  • The seats shouldn’t define individual spaces if they’re going to be longitudinal. Seat cups mean “If you fit into one, then you fit into one. If you take up 110% the width of one, you now take up two.” But if they were benches like in New York, people would only fill exactly as much space as they take up.
  • The end caps should be a different color plastic, not something intended to look like the aluminum siding from afar, which then up close is clearly nothing more than a plastic approximation. Even without redesigning the endcaps, the dye color being darker and some reflective striping (to make them not vanish into the night if the car has no lighting), would make them look ultra modern.
  • Remove the modesty panels. They serve little purpose in this day and age.

If you have ideas, leave them in the comments or email the Chicago Transit Authority.

Written in conjunction with Better bicycle storage on trains.

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Photo by Jeff Zoline.

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  • Guest

    I’m sure the seat pans are so the seat inserts – which reduce maintenance costs significantly – remain interchangable with the rest of the fleet. They chose this scheme to make the fleet consistent; if you look back through the development process you’ll see they considered any number of different schemes and features but chose this for consistency and cost-effectiveness.

    • http://www.stevevance.net/planning Steven Vance

      The CTA can make a new scheme of consistency, starting with interchangeable benches.

  • http://zolk.com Kevin Zolkiewicz

    Very good points. I’m disappointed that, other than the modified seat arrangement, these new cars are practically indistinguishable from CTA’s decades-old cars.

    If you want to encourage more people to ride transit, you need to provide modern amenities. How can you expect people to get out of their cars and ride trains that are dated and uncomfortable? Simple things like modern colors and seats like those on the newest buses could make a big difference.

    I don’t buy the “consistency” argument. That’s backwards thinking. Look at any other transit agency and their newest rail cars are miles ahead of the 5000-series. I think it’s telling that Bombardier’s web site makes no mention of these cars. They’re a joke compared to what they’re building for other cities like Toronto.

    • http://www.stevevance.net/planning Steven Vance

      “Indistinguishable” and “encouraging more people to ride transit.” I was talking to a graphic design friend (hm, like you!) about this. Here’s what I was saying (greatly summarized):

      CTA: Hey passengers, we got 400 new train cars that run smoother and have better maps inside.
      Passenger: Oh, that sounds awesome. But I ride a couple lines a week. Where are they? I haven’t seen them.
      CTA: Yeah, from the outside, and even from the inside, you can hardly tell the difference. But look at the ceiling where you’ll find 5 security cameras and didn’t you notice the seats face inward.
      Passenger: Not really. I just sat down in my same old seat and got off at my same old stop.

      • Aaron Brown

        I also think the new maps are not a real improvement. They look really tacky (think Lite-Brite) instead of high-tech. Some of the newer NYC subways have electronic displays that show the next few stations. I think that type of display – along with a “regular” system map – would look much better.

        • http://www.stevevance.net/planning Steven Vance

          Ah, you’re talking about the FIND strip map. Here’s a photo from my trip in August 2010.

          I didn’t suggest that mainly because I believe its a huge cost. But for a tourist who was riding the system kind of heavily for 4 days at all times of the day, it was extremely reassuring to be reminded of what stop I needed to transfer at – it includes both trains and bus routes! Marvelous!

    • Thaelusiveartist

      AMEN!! AMEN! I thought i only seen this PROBLEM the 5000 series test train or whatever is a joke when compared to what bombardier has done for transit systems around the world one word cta MOVIA thru gangway trainsets in 2-4 car sets! When it comes to the chief engineers of rail at cta YOU GUYS SUCK!!!!!! GET OUT OF THE FRIGGIN EIGHTIES ITS LAME DO SOMETHING NEW WITH THE ENDCAP ARRANGE THE HEAD LIGHTS AND MARKER LIGHTS DIFFERENTLY, AIR SUSPENSION A NEWER TRUCK TYPE OH THAT LEVELING SYSTEM(AN EXCUSE NOT TO FIX OLD PLATFORM HEIGHTS) IS GOING TO BE A PAIN TOO CTA GET OFF YOUR ASS AND STOP HALF ASSIN!

      • http://www.stevevance.net/planning Steven Vance

        Regarding the through-gangway, the track infrastructure might prohibit this kind of train design, where there are no doors between cars. I think the Loop L corners have too small radii to allow for a good car-car connection and allow passengers to pass between cars when the train is turning.