CRRC Sifang America hands over first batch of railcars in Chicago

A train with 7000-series railcars stops at a station during an in-service test run in Chicago, the United States, on May 6, 2021.  (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Assembled by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Sifang America Incorporated, the first batch of 7000-series railcars have been delivered to the Chicago Transit Authority CTA Rail Skokie Maintenance Facility on June 6, marking the project officially entering the stage of mass delivery, reported Chinanews.com Tuesday.

It is learned that CRRC Sifang America won a 1.3-billion-U.S. dollar contract in 2016 to supply 846 7000-series railcars to CTA. It is the largest scale purchase of railcar in Chicago history and also sets a record for subway vehicles exported by Chinese enterprise to developed countries.

The new generation railcars are equipped with several new technologies, such as improved active vehicle suspension system, new ultrasonic intelligent sensing technology with platform high-definition and etc.

Besides, the railcars adopt real-time Ethernet control system, which has stronger network transmission and data processing capabilities, and will improve the intelligent handling of fault diagnosis and operation and maintenance. In addition, the railcars adopt a series of targeted designs, which can adapt to extreme weather conditions so as to better meet the needs of complex route operation environment in Chicago.     

Except for the first batch of railcars being delivered this month, the rest ones will be manufactured and delivered in batches according to the operational needs in the later period. After delivery, these new 7000-series railcars will be put into operation on eight subway lines in Chicago, providing local citizens with higher-quality transportation services. 

(Edited by Bao Nuomin with Xinhua Silk Road, baonuomin@xinhua.org)