Here is a spread on Chicago's elevated/subway/surface lines that make up the CTA's heavy rail.

There are 8 routes with 144 stations that make up the system. The system was partially shut down from the 1950's through the 1980's as the city in general delined and suffered. The system is constantly under-funded and in poor shape. Regardless of funding issues, the rail system's usage has skyrocketed from the early 1990's when the city finally turned the corner and started to rebuild itself and once again become a desirable place to live.

Rail ridership this year is the highest in over 40 years, and had surpassed the 500 billion rides mark for 2008. Daily ridership is now well over 700,000 after falling as low as around 460,000 only 7 years ago. Consequently the system now not only in need of huge upgrades and reconstruction, it's suffering from crushing crowds during rush hour and difficulty keeping schedules on time as even with minimum headways, the rush hour demand on many lines exceeds the capacity. They upgraded one of the most crowded lines to hold 33% more riders during the past two years, but ridership has grown as well and now that the project is finished, it's hard to see results.

Anyway, it might not be as pretty as it could be, but people in Chicago have great pride in the trains and they are a critical asset to the city's ability to have such a hugly dense central business district.

I'll post the Subway, Elevated, as well as Surface lines. The surface lines aren't like trams, they're still heavy rail, but in some very select areas (very very few stations are actually at grade, just a small handfull) the trains cross streets at grade with cars. There's never really been any issues with this set-up though, and no one is proposing elevating these sections.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/2038472996_5336e36a92.jpg

Here are the subway's....


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2636469107_621db57d5e.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2717350200_8f06f926c3.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2782969326_be05cf7231.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3009326638_cea6153049.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3020307487_557353f41a.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3051247901_1481fb57c8.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3132374846_c599b44ff0.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3158487893_4b31b8725d.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/324502517_c1d17f0608.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/335400340_59ac527b95.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/485654918_28d4465445.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/487232252_57b0959f33.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/765694345_6ac650ebe8-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/867989722_e76ce85e7d.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/921733335_275b201b87.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1628588220_239bbc578b.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2055440158_d3a86436d9.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/252598759_387b3d1fed.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2547007854_d2b7da3a50.jpg

Surfact portions of the lines:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/101315067_ab0acc63f7.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1070005847_160463c50a.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/182026285_32b206639a.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2062434002_e3fc7a2b26.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2173941648_6e06f089c5.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2466469920_897ecae343.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2466882951_2eac51234c.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2577111138_bcc8eb4e63.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2804325325_7a875b493e.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/422515336_ec490ba96d.jpg

Elevated portion


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/841951149_887cacbb22.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/853722445_dcb9398d5f.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/854876313_8f9512f466-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/94583846_767203605f.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2554297768_ab0bddbd13.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2595813761_67b419d3b7.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2631185820_d4c7b43360.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2690663796_2001fbf5e9.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2812139754_5ef44caeef.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2866402615_45bb8fa460.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2889687106_296d73099a.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2964978611_0256be1cc0.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3030764373_eca67b91e5.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3062707794_68a3e544d6.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3111832700_ea527242bf.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/325718122_c0de21cbbf.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/439999401_2ea93bdd52.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/470610478_0919458a57.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/512426242_ab884221c8.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/533783928_6941f4c334.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/61421418_2eab9dd1db.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/81869843_b4994c25c6.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3080741155_acf0150d3d.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/325538067_3abac1154f-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/355794750_532ae66794.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/450028370_5e3cabffa0.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/485654918_28d4465445-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/518973708_ee2bdcf07d.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/566427960_0471db6b5d.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/65214695_bb5885aa23.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/124547832_7f92382485.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1301987595_94d0f3e495.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1611317480_0a954ebb72.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/161976359_d5df5cae34.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1800415899_c0689d6261.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1929337916_488f95f92d.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/195155843_b9db1b6d36.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2250870970_54e0029b37.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2370357425_351a44cc1a.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/239244896_742251c81c-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1301983763_3919ba982e.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/137912047_dc412ab7a5.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1493281868_a3e80de0c6.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1753018177_ab36201d49.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/184732491_0cd29d4998.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/1929329228_033b6bec87.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2090635656_8575cb4b84.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/209736451_ed8450a849.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/22849964_7ee48b3f39.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2328412353_ba0e0daca3.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2525666640_1ae71c359f.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2568969023_baf3e1415a.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2598114977_e5c6edc630.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2651476475_5a6e84b784.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2722859311_2f6a3a4376.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2831607747_da148f72e3.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2889536399_21ac1eaf37.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2939877908_8866cb2e8b.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3001661082_e7b760282a.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3053607642_43510b1962.jpg

Do you have info about the trains (numbers, dates, lenght, width) ?

:applause: Well done. Some of the gradients and sharp curves, just amazing.
Do the Trains suffer from Counductor rail power dropouts on the sharp curves?
The Commuters seem a happy bunch smiling on the trains-- we are given the impression over here that it is a dangerous place full of gun toting Gangsters!

Do you have info about the trains (numbers, dates, lenght, width) ?

there are 4 models of trains in usage, and the most recent were delivered in 1992. The oldest trains in use are from 1969 and were rehabbed in 1990.

The trains are coupled together into permenant "twins", so the length of trains is always a multiple of 2. Low ridership lines, and during off-peak hours many lines will only run 4 train cars. There are also sets of 6 train cars, and normally at rush hour many main lines will use 8 car trains.

The trains are a little less than 3 meters wide, and around 16 meters long. They are all air conditioned and heated, and there are two sets of doors on each car. The train cars tend to be smaller than many cities, as there are a lot of tight turns on many elevated sections.

:applause: Well done. Some of the gradients and sharp curves, just amazing.
Do the Trains suffer from Counductor rail power dropouts on the sharp curves?
The Commuters seem a happy bunch smiling on the trains-- we are given the impression over here that it is a dangerous place full of gun toting Gangsters!

There are actually poles that train conductors can use to connect the train to the 3rd rail if contact is lost (normally at a curve). As long as one train car is connected though, it can supply power and pull the rest of the cars through a curve. Only when they are running 2 car trains would they actually see this problem. They rarely (I'm not sure if they actually do on any lines anymore) run 2 car trains, and they'd rarely lose power.

You can tell on a car when the power is lost, because the air blower (for either heat or air conditioning) will click off for 3-4 seconds and then start back up again. Once every month or two the lights (in my experience, I ride every day) will go out on the cars for a few seconds, but no one seems to notice. I've never actually had an entire train lose power.


And yes, I always laugh when I go overseas and people talk about gangsters in Chicago like Al Capone or whoever. That was 70-80 years ago!!! It has problems with crime in certain neighborhoods which really hold a shadow over the entire city, but 75% of our murders happen in neighborhoods with only 25% of the city population. It's actually a very clean city and a nice place to live. The past 15 years has seen a massive rebuilding and cleaning up of places that you wouldn't have dreamed to go in the late 80's and early 90's.


If you look at the pictures or walk the city you notice how anal officials are about keeping everything clean. The city has countless employees who's only job is to walk the city and pick up and throw away any and all garbage. All grafitti is cleaned off by the city from any building immediatly, and even the alley's are quite spotless compared to what you find in many areas....

f1Q48BYejTs

Surfact portions of the lines:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/101315067_ab0acc63f7.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/182026285_32b206639a.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2062434002_e3fc7a2b26.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2173941648_6e06f089c5.jpg

You can tell on a car when the power is lost, because the air blower (for either heat or air conditioning) will click off for 3-4 seconds and then start back up again. Once every month or two the lights (in my experience, I ride every day) will go out on the cars for a few seconds, but no one seems to notice. I've never actually had an entire train lose power.


That explains why trains can go through these level crossings with no third rail or overhead catenary.

Fantastic! What a wonderful system. It must also be great for tourists to be able to see the city from the metro.

thanks for the great pics. its a shame that the second largest CBD in the country is "only" served by the red and blue lines both 2 tracks each and a 2 track loop; 6 tracks in total does not seem to be nearly enough. also, how does the fare pricing work? its it a flat fare or is it done by distance travelled?

thanks for the great pics. its a shame that the second largest CBD in the country is "only" served by the red and blue lines both 2 tracks each and a 2 track loop; 6 tracks in total does not seem to be nearly enough. also, how does the fare pricing work? its it a flat fare or is it done by distance travelled?

Well it worked out the best, and uses the least amount of tracks over the streets.

There are 5 lines that use the loop tracks, only one in each direction. All of the lines except one come into the loop, go in a circle, and go back where they came from. Only the Green Line enters the loop and leaves out the other end. This way they can have two lines going in each direction around the loop to try and even out the possible back-ups. The green line is the only random one that just goes straight through the loop. Unfortunately there's only ONE place in the Loop where the Blue Line subway connects straight with the loop elevated tracks. On the Red Line there are NO connections between the two, but at one place you can walk out of the subway and walk on the street and up to the elevated trains without paying a transfer. The two stops are on top of each other, there's just no fully enclosed connection. Otherwise it's a pretty quick walk from the elevated to the subways most places in the Loop.

It's actually pretty fast at rush hour, the trains just shoot by one after another after another. It's true though, only 3 tracks in each direction carry 10 different train line segments.

thanks for the great pics. its a shame that the second largest CBD in the country is "only" served by the red and blue lines both 2 tracks each and a 2 track loop; 6 tracks in total does not seem to be nearly enough. also, how does the fare pricing work? its it a flat fare or is it done by distance travelled?

It use to be very easy, just $1.50 for any bus or train ride, a transfer for .25 and another transfer for free during a two hour period.

That was a few years ago, and then they had MULTIPLE changes, everything from bonuses given for using large bills in machines, discounts for people who use the smart card as opposed to a transit card from a machine, rush hour surcharges and different prices depending on if you're using rail or bus. It's been annoying. There are no distance surcharges anywhere.


Here's the current "upgraded" pricing scheme. It is new as of January 1st.

Cash fare for bus only - no transfers given $2.25

Transit Card (sold all over) bus : $2.00; transfer .25

Transit Card train: $2.25; transfer .25

Transit Smart Card (with a chip, paid online through bank account) - same as using a regular transit card. It use to give a nice discount to use the smart card, now they took it away.

They were going to do a rush hour surcharge, but decided against it. Still, to raise from $1.50 a few years ago to $2.25 has a lot of people angry. Then there are a whole ton of 1 day cards, 3 day cards, 7 day cards, 30 day cards, reduced fares for seniors and students, U-Pass giving college students free rides, a program where no person over the age of 65 pays for any transit in the city, and other discounts for military, etc. The reduced fares are .85 with .15 transfers.

Chicago, like many cities in the US, would have world class transit if politicians(local, state, and federal) would give a damn about it.

I live near Chicago and it saddens me that such a great city has such a shitty rail system. It needs significant upgrading.

My Chicago transit wish list:

1) Circle Line- BUILD IT!!!!

2) Extend the Orange Line south from Midway and all the way to the Chicago Fire Stadium.

3) Construct a suburb-to-suburb METRA line

4) Connect METRA and CTA rail lines with one another

5) Connect Union Station (the main train station which is where all the Amtrak routes converge) to the CTA.

cool - i never even knew chicago had a subway - i knew it had the el trains

cool - i never even knew chicago had a subway - i knew it had the el trains

Technically two of the "Chicago El" lines are subway lines in the centre (the blue and red as far as I can tell). The rest take the elevated loop around the city centre.

The lines are all part of the same system though.

wow... nice info about Chicago :)

i wonder how do people endure passing trains on elevated sections and especially on curves... i notice rail distance from windows is only few meters... that must be an awful sound every day...

Thanks so much! It looks just wonderful to me. A great mix between vintage style and modernism. Looks like the perfect scenery for some sort of steampunk/cyberpunk/film noir crossover to me (in a good way!!) ;)

Btw. I love how wood is used in so many places. I hate all those concrete metros all around the world. Wood and steel - the combination to go!

Very nice! In London the network is mostly at grade, but it never crosses roads at grade.

Those subway stations are really mesmerizing with their mosaique roofs! I heard there is a walkway adjacent to the subway tracks, connecting the platforms of the stations. Is that true?

Even though many of the stations seem to have no roof... looking like a makeshift stop... it's incredibly charming. I love the wood on the platform, almost reminiscent of a boardwalk. Quite amazing. I thought Chicago's Metro system would look more like NYC's but it's actually quite different.

Chicago's one of the lucky cities along with NYC, San Francisco, and Atlanta, that had the opportunity to introduce real rapid transit... unlike many of the newer American networks.

Technically two of the "Chicago El" lines are subway lines in the centre (the blue and red as far as I can tell). The rest take the elevated loop around the city centre.

The lines are all part of the same system though.

Right, the Red Line starts up at the city limits and runs on an earthen embankment that's elevated for a few miles, then is a traditional elevated railway for a few miles, then turns into a subway for a few miles, then becomes at-grade and in the middle of a motorway for a few miles until it's near the south side of the city.

It's kinda a little of everything....

from north to south:

Howard Rail Yard

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/howard.jpg

North side earthen embankment

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/embank.jpg

North side elevated

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/belmont.jpg

A few neighborhood stations are located between the elevated section and downtown after the Red Line becomes a subway

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/clarkdivision.jpg

Then the busy downtown stations

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/downtown.jpg

Then back up where it goes one stop as an elevated again

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/chinatown.jpg

And then it's down into the median of an expressway for the rest of the journey.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/southside.jpg

It's interesting because the red line runs through the whitest areas of the city as well as the blackest areas of the city at either end. If you ride from one end to another you notice a huge switch downtown between different people. Certainly not ALL people, but it's fairly noticable.

wow... nice info about Chicago :)

i wonder how do people endure passing trains on elevated sections and especially on curves... i notice rail distance from windows is only few meters... that must be an awful sound every day...

Yes, many trains are very very close to the buildings. I lived right across the street from the trains for 4 years, and you get use to it very quickly. I never even registered the trains unless someone knew was over and commented on the noise.

Here's a video. You have to watch for about 1 minute 10 seconds and they turn the corner, but you can get a good sense of just how close the buildings come to the tracks.

VUHn6ZFaSnQ

Chicago's one of the lucky cities along with NYC, San Francisco, and Atlanta, that had the opportunity to introduce real rapid transit... unlike many of the newer American networks.

Don't forget Boston, Philly, and DC

The speed of the train in that video seems to be quite low. Is this a regular running speed or is it running particularly slowly in that video?

The speed of the train in that video seems to be quite low. Is this a regular running speed or is it running particularly slowly in that video?

It is slow because of construction. As you can see when the train is leaving the station, one structure doesn't have a track on it.

This was called "3-track construction" for the Brown Line Capacity Expansion project which increased the platform length of all Brown Line stations so berth 8-car trains. The station in this video, which is either Belmont or Fullerton, is a Brown Line station, but also serves the Red and Purple lines. Both Belmont and Fullerton are busy stations atop busy streets and therefore the stations were upgraded.

The normal elevated structure in this part of the city (known to the CTA as "North Side Main" is a very narrow, 4-track wide section. In the video, all the tracks separate, making a station about 50% wider than it used to be.

All four tracks are back in operation, but I believe many parts of those two stations are still under construction.

The speed of the train in that video seems to be quite low. Is this a regular running speed or is it running particularly slowly in that video?

Right, the 4 tracks are back in service as of late December, and the speeds are FINALLY back up to around 85kph. Of course many times the trains don't reach that speed due to closely space stations or curves.

Sadly, there were massive portions of the system that ended up being only 10kph zones because of tracks that were falling apart. Strangely most of these sections were either in the subways or at-grade, and not on the elevated sections (although they had their zones as well). There was a derailment that finally drew the attention of federal investigators, so all the slow zones popped up for the most part all at once and in a very large quantity. It was quite a shock to the normal commuter to one day go to work and have everything just crawling.....for over a year.

We got a new director of the CTA, and his top priority was fixing all these zones, so there was a massive over-haul during the past 18 months to fix all these slow zones.

Ya the slow zone repairs have been amazing! A year ago nearly 25% of all the rail lines were "slow zones". (The a large portion of this being the busiest Red Line) Some sections of the system were over 100 years old, with deteriorating wooden ties and trains could only travel 10kph. Now as of December '08 only 6% of the system is still classified as a "slow zone". As somebody who takes the Red, Brown, and Purple Lines every day I can attest to the effect these repairs have had.

Chicagoago, thanks for starting this thread. The pictures show a well rounded view of the CTA trains running throughout Chicago. I'll bet many people think Chicago's trains are all elevated because of the downtown loop area. As a resident of Chicago, I was very happy when I stumbled across this forum.

It is amazing how the CTA has eliminated the slow zones. I live on the Blue Line and take it to the airport all the time. It was a nightmare on the week-ends when they were ripping out a mile of track here and there and laying brand new track. We had to take buses to jump from one station to the next all weekend, every weekend. But now, having a fast, smooth, quieter train to work makes it all worth it!

-Luke-

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/3132374846_c599b44ff0.jpg
I love these guys! I've seen them at Monroe on a few occasions!.

Do you have info about the trains (numbers, dates, lenght, width) ?
http://chicago-l.org/trains/roster/index.html

it s a great system ,, i like it ,, it must be exciting going among skyscrapers and buildings ,, id like someday to know chicago and go in metro to the airport o hare ,, aviation is my love ,, and subways too:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Very nice compilation Chicagoago

If one wants to vist a vast comprehensive site on the web for the L then I suggest this great site. It is very useful especially if you want to know details about each station also with great info on routes and various plans (some fullfilled and some not) by transit planners in Chicago over the course of its history.

http://www.chicago-l.org/

I've only ridden 4 metro systems in my life. Those being, the TTC in toronto, the CTA in Chicago, Vancouver's Skytrain, and London's Underground.

Chicago was the only city that I definitely wasn't overly impressed with. The dingyness of the metra rail cars (separate agency, but still a major factor) and just how run down and potentially cheap things were. I've only ridden the red line from Jackson up to Addison (for a Cubs game) but have been on Metra rail 3 times, and it just seemed like I was in the 1960s based on the rail cars. Felt very outdated compared to the GO transit that I ride quite a bit back around Toronto.

And the above-mentioned use of wood wasn't something that I cared for. I guess it just looked incredible cheap, temporary (even though permanent) and almost rickety and un-safe (based on appearance)

Needs some upgrades, the El, while cool, didn't really impress me, mainly due to the pillars blocking the street and dividing lanes up.

That said, I love Chicago as a city. Easily in my top 5 favourite cities that I've visited and checked out. Just the CTA and public transit didn't do much for me.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii265/zimmer911/Chicago-TransitAuthority.jpg

Sorry, had to :D

Houses on the video posted above don't look great. Is it some kind of poor area?

I love the wood on the platform, almost reminiscent of a boardwalk. Quite amazing.
Well, it looks very dated for me with all this wooden platforms. Very unusual in Europe.

Chicago's one of the lucky cities along with NYC, San Francisco, and Atlanta, that had the opportunity to introduce real rapid transit... unlike many of the newer American networks.
Yes but these old networks are now more difficult to upgrade than building new networks from nothing. For example Portland, Denver or Dallas are building quite extensive networks at the moment and those networks will be much better than Chicago system.

Having said that, Chicago system looks very charming, kind of “old school” ;)

^Have you ever been on any of those systems?

Portland, Denver and Dallas have systems that are when completed will be puny compared to what Chicago already has.

Lets keep in mind that parts of the EL are very old. Older in fact than most European systems and certainly not funded as well either.

Houses on the video posted above don't look great. Is it some kind of poor area?

Actually it's a very well off area, but it's a matter of the houses in Chicago are mostly brick with stairs down the back. What people did was put up wooden or vinyl siding around those stairs and make unheated little storage areas around the stairs going down. They're just add-ons that have room to put things and protect the stairs. They look AWFUL from the back, but no one ever sees them anyway, so who cares.

I never noticed it really until a friend from Amsterdam was on the train and said "god, I can't believe all your houses are made out of wood!", to which I told him those are just small porches put on years after the building was completed.

The front of those places look much nicer for the most part.

Here are some typical shots from around that neighborhood from the video:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/250889511_5b50801912.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/250897160_87a2e2cff2.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2744427666_932266252e.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/59158598_7b9d154f2e.jpg

Well, it looks very dated for me with all this wooden platforms. Very unusual in Europe.


It's very unusual for the United States as well, but this system was built in the 1890's.

When they rebuilt the lines, they rebuilt them as they were historically. At first I was like "gross...wood!?" when I moved here, but you get use to it very fast, and it can be charming.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what it's made of when you just want to go somewhere.

They have rebuilt many lines, and they just are finishing up on the Brown Line. They rebuilt it like it was 110 years ago.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/103082305_a09642eac3.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2350293800_af0fa0dda8.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/mmmm/2979836332_fb12ed7c37.jpg

Yes but these old networks are now more difficult to upgrade than building new networks from nothing.

For example Portland, Denver or Dallas are building quite extensive networks at the moment and those networks will be much better than Chicago system.


Right, you've got multiple cities building and expanding networks, but they're mostly light rail, and they're in a different league than Chicago or New York or Boston. It will take a long time before they're "better" than Chicago in regards to people served without having to use cars. At most of the stops in the newer systems, many many people drive to the train stations and commute. In Chicago a vast majority walk or take a bus to their local station.

Trips given per weekday:

Chicago: 708,000
Portland: 110,700
Denver: 70,400
Dallas: 71,700
St. Louis: 67,700
Houston: 40,200
Minneapolis: 35,500
Charlotte: 22,300

Chicago serves 10 times as many people as most of the newer systems.

As far as number of stations:

Chicago: 144
Portland: 64
Denver: 36
Dallas: 34
St. Louis: 37
Houston: 16
Minneapolis: 17
Charlotte: 15

Lets keep in mind that parts of the EL are very old. Older in fact than most European systems and certainly not funded as well either.
I think that's the main point here. Chicago's system is almost as old as many european systems. Considering that transit here gets only a fraction of the funding as it does in Europe (and barely a nod of the head), the CTA is "not that bad".

Yeah the funding here drives me insane. I'm fairly amazed the system runs as often and as well as it does for basically being bastardized by anyone involved in any funding.

The system is underfunded by tens of millions every year, and sadly by BILLIONS in needed infrastructure upgrades.

They did an audit to find out why it's always having issues and "where's all the money going???". There were tons of people just thristy for the report so they could yell and scream about how the CTA wastes SO much money, is completely mismanged and completely corrupt.

Well the report came out by the independant auditors comparing the CTA to the other transit systems in the country, stating trends, funding and what can be inproved.

Amazingly, the CTA was at the top as far as the agency that is able to provide the most options and service for each dollar of funding it receives.

Instead of finding out where all the millions are being wasted, it was discovered that compared to other US transit, the CTA was basically running as a skeleton, providing as much service as possible with as few resources as possible.

This is why the system looks so "old school".

The state will finally give in and hand over $20 million in some given year so the agency doesn't collapse, and then people yell and scream their heads off when the CTA needs another "bailout" of $20 the next year. As if they're just throwing it all away or stealing the money. The state needs to compeletely revamp the funding structure to finally FIX the problems instead of just throwing $1 at a problem that needs $100 to correct.

As the newspapers stated it "you're putting bandaids on a gunshot wound"

They did revamp the funding structure last year - but of course our INSANE governor said he'd increase the levels of funding.....and then at the very last second said he also wanted to give free rides for every single person over the age of 65. Well boom, there goes another $35 million a year. It was silent mouths hanging open at his crazy request after 2 years of finally getting things settled..and now the CTA is broke again. Welcome to Chicago.

No it is not almost as old, it is older than most european system. (I don't understand why for many people Europe = old, most european system were build after the second half of the 20th century)
Paris metro was opened 8 years after Chicago El train.

I think that's the main point here. Chicago's system is almost as old as many european systems. Considering that transit here gets only a fraction of the funding as it does in Europe (and barely a nod of the head), the CTA is "not that bad".

I made my comment because someone put up some rinkydink LRTs in other cities as an example for Chicago which I thought was asinine.

Same with the age of the system thing, both were uninformed and kind of silly. Generally most people who have never been to Chicago do not realize how ambitious the system was when it opened.

The system was actually larger in the first part of the 20th century than it is today. They closed down many elevated lines shortly after WWII

^What is sad is that there was a coordinated campaign against transit.

Most towns and cities in North America dismantled their streetcars and other infrastructure because of it.

In this regard Chicago was not all that different but at least it held onto some of what it had.

:no:

Generally most people who have never been to Chicago do not realize how ambitious the system was when it opened.

Sadly, it's remained for the most part stagnant.

No it is not almost as old, it is older than most european system. (I don't understand why for many people Europe = old, most european system were build after the second half of the 20th century)
Paris metro was opened 8 years after Chicago El train.
I thought Paris' was older than that. Guess not... Ok, is the London Underground and NYC subway the only older systems in the world? Seems hard to believe.

^Oddly enough I think Budapest is the second oldest but if not it is certainly up there.

Budapest I believe is 1896, Chicago's 'L' dates to 1892. I think Budapest is the 2nd oldest subway in the world, but I'm not sure.

^Sounds about right and the point has been made.

Chicago L train is elevated, Budapest is underground.
The first underground section for Chicago was opened in 1951.
So Budapest has an oldest subway than Chicago.

Sadly, it's remained for the most part stagnant.

I thought Paris' was older than that. Guess not... Ok, is the London Underground and NYC subway the only older systems in the world? Seems hard to believe.

Paris metro was opened in 1900.
New York subway date of 1904, 12 years after Chicago L train,
New York had elevated train before Chicago but these aren't in service anymore.

Chicago L train is elevated, Budapest is underground.
The first underground section for Chicago was opened in 1951.
So Budapest has an oldest subway than Chicago.
I think we are getting confused with what we are talking about. I am talking about heavy rail transit (subway, elevated, or grade). In Chicago and NY the first rail networks happened to be elevated, in Boston they were subways, etc. True enough, Chicago's first subway (State St) opened in 1943, but passenger service on a heavy rail network dates to 1892 (South Side Elevated)

^^It's a difficult task to decide when the first urban heavy rail network opened in a city: for example, despite what people usually think, the first urban network in Paris opened in 1862 with the inner ring line (closed in 1937). It did not begin with the opening of the Métro in 1900. There is the same problem in NYC with El vs Subway.

^^ That's what I'm trying to find out. NYC's lines date to before the creation of the MTA, and similarly Chicago's 'L' dates to well before the creation of the CTA. I had thought that Pari's was much older than 1900

Looks like slow zones have actually increased in the past few months! Blame winter. The weather really plays havoc on our system. But I'm looking forward to continued work on the slow zones!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/transportation/chi-cta-slow-zonesmar19,0,1479082.story

Looks like slow zones have actually increased in the past few months! Blame winter. The weather really plays havoc on our system. But I'm looking forward to continued work on the slow zones!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/transportation/chi-cta-slow-zonesmar19,0,1479082.story

But at least it only crept up from 7% to 8%! Hopefully they get things fixed again this summer. They blamed most of the issue on the fact it's hard to do work in the winter when there's a half meter of snow on the ground and it can get down to -25C.

I see in the 3rd quarter of 2008 ridership was:

680,000 trips per weekday.

Ridership has actually increased from 120,000,000 trips in the late 90's to 200,000,000 in 2008. That's pretty good growth for such an old system. Around 66%.

I posted this on the fantasy thread. But I figured you guys would appreciate it as well. It's my dream for the CTA..I can dream can't I.

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4185/20061103233731ctamap.png

^^That would be a kick-ass system.

The changes you propose would: allow commuters to take CTA rail around the city without having to transfer in the Loop, and connect CTA rail with Metra rail. Those are the two biggest flaws in Chicago's rail system.