Bob Roberts Reporting
CHICAGO (WBBM) – The train was loaded and ready to go at the 95th Street Red Line terminal at 7:30 a.m., but the brakes refused to release on the third car of the eight-car train. As a gaggle of workers from the CTA and manufacturer Bombardier tried to troubleshoot the problem, everyone was ordered off the new train and onto a train of older cars built in the 1980s.
After a delay of 10 minutes, the new train was underway. A number of riders commented on the smoother acceleration and braking, one of the benefits of switching to alternating current motors.
Another problem developed on the first southbound trip, when a pair of doors on the front car failed. This time, after trying to get it to work at several stations, workers slapped an “out of order” sign on the uncooperative doors.
CTA spokesperson Wanda Taylor called the problems minor, and said that is why the cars will continue to be tested in service until next spring, before the final go-ahead is given to build the rest of the 406 new ‘L’ cars.
Taylor said each of the 10 cars recently delivered to CTA will be tested on all eight of its rapid transit lines. Changes will be made to the cars as needed, and the changes will be incorporated in the rest of the production run for the new cars.
Because the cars remain officially “in testing,” Taylor said they will continue to carry additional personnel. In addition to the operator, an instructor will ride at first to make sure the operators understand how to operate the train. It’s different from anything else CTA owns.
And she said that representatives from Bombardier will be aboard throughout the testing to monitor how the trains run and troubleshoot any glitches that occur.
The capacity of the cars, said to be 123 including standing riders, did not get a workout on the first northbound trip because of the problems getting underway. But heading southbound from Howard at 9 a.m., the train was jammed with late rush-hour riders.
Riders were split on the New York-style seats. Most riders on the new cars face each other and the windows, instead of facing the front or back of the car. Some complained of not having enough elbow room. Others said they like the new arrangement because it allows them to stand up and walk off without having to ask anyone on the outside to move.
Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.
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