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Chicago Transit Authority continued its fleet modernization program April 24 by advertising bids for building up to 406 rapid transit heavy-rail cars that would run on CTA’s elevated lines, plus an option for up to 300 additional cars.



These will be the first new cars CTA ordered since taking delivery of 3200-series cars in 1992. The cars feature full-width motor cabs for one-person operation, air conditioning, upholstered seat inserts, wide sliding doors for quick boarding and disembarking, and wheelchair accessibility, and an intercom system enabling passengers to communicate with the train operator.



"[The 3200-series] cars have proven highly successful, but now it’s time to address the needs of the new century," said CTA President Frank Kruesi in a prepared statement. "Some of our older cars have been in service for as long as 33 years, and must be replaced. We also need more cars to accommodate the growing ridership we’ve experienced on our busier lines."



Bids are due Oct. 15; if CTA selects a firm by year-end, the first prototype cars would be delivered in 2005. Then, after these cars were used successfully in regular service for six months, the successful company would begin full production on the remainder of the order.