CTA RPM Update
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2023
- The Red Purple Modernization project, or RPM, is one of several projects currently in progress at the CTA in Chicago. In this video, we look at the most recent developments, including the brand-new viaduct and the wooden, temporary stations at Argyle and Bryn Mawr.
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Date of filming: August 24, 2023
Camera: iPhone 12 
Авто/Мото
Bryn Mawr facts: Bryn Mawr station is named after Bryn Mawr Avenue of course, but Bryn Mawr Avenue was named in the 1880s by Edgewater developer John Lewis Cochran after Bryn Mawr station outside Philadelphia (now served by SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line) on what was then the PRR's Main Line, as John's hometown was Philadelphia. Thorndale in Chicago is also named for the Thorndale on SEPTA's Paoli/Thorndale Line. And Berwyn was named after the station and community in Pennsylvania as well, also on the Paoli/Thorndale Line.
Bryn Mawr, PA in turn was named after an estate near Dolgellau in Wales that belonged to Rowland Ellis, a Welsh Quaker who emigrated in 1686 to Pennsylvania to escape religious persecution. Bryn Mawr means "big hill" in Welsh.
The names did sound very familiar! cool little Philly/Chicago connection there
I wondered where all those Welsh names came from. Now how about all the Scottish names around the suburban golf courses? And is there still a golf course at Golf, IL?
We also have a Bryn Mawr in Minneapolis! It was named after an old farm that may have been named independently of the ones in Chicago and Philadelphia though.
As someone who goes to college in Philly, I noticed this right away when I took the Red line, didn’t know it was actually named after that 😅
One thing I noticed are the raised concrete barriers. Between that and the new concrete base it ought to be a lot less noisy for the neighborhood. Good job CTA!
Agree the old concrete viaducts needed replaced, but sad to see the last remnants of the old Milwaukee Road, north of Wilson, removed.
It is sad, I remember being surprised to find out it used to be the Milwaukee Road’s tracks
I'm excited about the Red Line extension to 130th as it's close to where I live, but I know this isn't what the video is about. This new structure up on what they used to call the north side main line seems quieter and makes for a smoother and more comfortable ride. And it seems much higher than the original structure.
I found out about the HUGE new grant for the extension just a few days after finishing this video!
I always wondered what a reconstructed El would look like in Chicago; the system is one of the most unique in the world. The new station renders look awesome and even the temporary stops are done in a nice manner.
It's fantastic that the system is seeing a rejuvenation. I'm hopefull for some pipe drean stuff too. Like a possible yellow line extension. The ROW is pretty much there to do so
Yellow Line extension, yes! A Green Line extension to Stony Island like in the good old days? HELL YES!!!
They could also rebuild the Asbury, Dodge and Crawford stops.
That Orange Line shot was SO perfectly done! 🤣
The thought of winter, especially in Chicago, makes me go “ugh”, too… but of course, I’ll more than likely be there sometime during early December or so, for Holiday Train time. ❤😅
I haven't been on the north side in over 12 years. I once was a motorman from Howard St. Seeing all the changes makes me feel OLD!
I lived in Chicago for 14 years. I miss riding the Red Line everyday.
Very interesting to see all these developments … haven’t been to Chicago in many years. Thanks for producing! 👍
The original plan was to build the new track pylons in the existing earthen embankment, but it was decided to remove it instead. The Northwestern "L" was elevated in 1914-1922 from Wilson to Howard, and an embankment was used instead of steel in order to support the heavier freight cars that used an outermost track to service coal companies on the North Side. The "L" had two electric freight locomotives, and the CTA inherited the freight service, which ended in 1973. There was a ground level connection to the Milwaukee RR at Wilson. All evidence of that is now gone.
I was actually in Chicago that same week and I checked out the RPM update on the Purple Line express the day before this was shot. Yeah I remember it being super hot those two days in a row. I had something going on in Evanston so I just saw it on the way there and coming back.
Funny how we had the same idea!
@@Thom-TRA I know, yeah exactly!
Cameo for the ex-Skokie Swift Brown Line cars, recognizable by the plates on top.
I really enjoyed the video and learned so much about the modernization project. You certainly put a lot of research into your videos.
I appreciate it! I hope you watch my video this coming Saturday, lots of research put into that one!
Looking forward to it.
Great job very informative, glad to see the L getting some upgrades and like you said that they could keep it going during this much-needed work. Thanks for sharing.
One of the more interesting aspects of this project is that much fill held in place by retaining walls are also being taken out
Woo, nice shot of the Pride train! Also I've probably commented a half dozen times on older videos recently, but I can't say enough good things about the channel. As a funny aside, being a noob around here, I was completely surprised clicking on an older video to hear you speaking Dutch! Hah, I've got some catching up to do, and looking forward to it
Yep, I'm a Dutch guy!
@@Thom-TRA Awesome! (googles quickly)
Aangenaam!
What a fantastic video! Gives me hope for American public transit!
Enjoying the Catalpa exit at Bryn Mawr while it lasts!
EXCELLENT VIDEO! Very informative and researched. I've lived here my entire life and even I didn't know the extent of what CTA was doing.
I’m glad it was helpful!
Cta 76th year happy late birthday CTA!!!!!!
This whole project is absolutely amazing. I have to compliment the CTA on this project because it is being done pretty much to schedule and within budget. Good project management is not very common on US transit systems. There have been no major delays and no ballooned costs as has been common in LA, NYC, and SF projects. We haven't had major equipment problems the way DC and Boston have had either. CTA project management has been consistently good.
My favorite part of the L are the tracks between Sheridan and Wilson. That century old structure is beautiful and I love walking underneath it as trains roar overhead. I do get excited when a north and southbound Red Line and north and southbound Purple Line trains all pass over me at the same time. That kind of timing doesn't happen very often so it's cool when it does. I'll be sad when that section is replaced with modern structures. CTA may be the only agency in the US that is doing so much modernization on its system and that is impressive. Much of the system has been updated in the last 20 years. I can't wait for the new elevated mega-station at State & Lake.
The new structures are great and the trains can run at speed now. There was something quirkily thrilling about the old tracks as the trains roared loudly over them and we were thoroughly jostled about in our seats on the old tracks. The new stations are the best part because they were old and dilapidated. There was nothing nice about those stations. That Wilson stop was disgusting and now it is thoroughly modern and beautiful. I do wish CTA could have joined Honolulu is pioneering platform screen doors in the US, but I'm happy with what we got and hopefully they can easily be installed on the new platforms in the future.
I saw those screen doors at a few stations in Paris. I wonder how they would stand up during the winter months? As an added safety feature, I would love to have them.
Yeah I'm glad they're doing it. It's a long time coming. I remember writing that thing back in the early '90s and I still live in Chicago. It definitely needs upgrading those stations need to be renewed. They're going to make them all accessible.
10 cars happening on the Red Line? They are really try to be like Japan
There’s just something sexy about a 10-car train
This Bay Area guy agrees! I like the 9- and 10-car BART trains and I'd love to see the CTA Red Line with them too.
@@IntersteightyWhile that may be a good idea, I do wonder if all L Red Line platforms can support 10 cars? I think I once heard someone say on the Chicago Bus message board that at least some reconstructed Red Line stations(not sure how many) technically can handle 10 cars. That is, if CTA wanted to go to 10 cars on the Red Line one day.
This video also forgot to say that Sheridan is included in phase 2, of the RPM project. My guess is when Sheridan is reconstructed one day, and due to the tight curves in that area, that they might move that platform to be just north of Irving Park near the cemetery.
Well, aren't Chicago subway cars signifcantly shorter than those Janapese or ones of BART? According to Wiki, all "L" trains are 48 ft 3 in (14.71 m) long, and the length of the BART cars varies from 70 ft (21 m) to 75 ft (23 m). I mean, a 10-car train in Chicago is almost as long as a 7-car train in Bay Area.
@BoratWanksta I'm sure most Red Line stations can accommodate 10-car trains. For 10-car service it's just a matter of retrofitting the remaining stations. Would be a sensible investment for the CTA's busiest line.
@vahonenko True to both. L cars are short so they can round those curves in the Loop and at other spots (curves built for historic streetcars). Most Japanese lines weren't built like this and as such they can accommodate larger cars and thus longer trains (believe me, a must for urban Japan). And the L Red Line runs more frequently than any single BART line right now (except an airport connector), so even with the shorter lengths than full BART trains you'd still get a good throughput of the masses riding the line.
Hope one day you do a Collab with miles in transit and visit south Florida's transit system
I would love to go to south and central Florida again someday
Very cool. Keep up the good work
Great video on update on cta red line
This was extremely interesting since I just took the purple line Express from Belmont to Main Street (Evanston) yesterday!!! The close-up look at the temporary stations was so fascinating!!! Thank you so much for this update and interesting video!!! I’m so sorry it was so hot while you were here, please come back for a beautiful fall day in Chicago!!!
How was your trip?
@@Thom-TRA I had to wait 42 minutes for a purple line northbound Express at Belmont, but I was determined to wait. Other than that it was fine and the southbound trip back was much better.
So, CTA is thinking about doing the "NY MTA thing", running 10-car trains as opposed to 8. It seems doable given that most of the subway and el lines of the New York Transit Authority run 10-car trains with the exception of the BMT J, L, M and Z lines. The IRT 7 line to Flushing is unique in that it runs 11-car trains, especially during rush hour. It will be interesting to see if CTA can pull that off.
At least on the red line I don’t foresee it being very difficult. Most stations are easy to expand, and the state street subway doesn’t need any expansion since the tunnel is basically one long platform
Great video, to learn all the awesome changes taking place, and how well you keep up
I hope the information was easily processable
My mom lives nearby the Bryn Mar station in Edgewater, Illinois.
The bold red exterior of the temporary Bryn Mawr station reminds me of the cladding of the new Albula tunnel building site at Preda on the RhB \m/
Thanks for this video! I used to live in the city, Berwyn was my red line stop. I moved out to the Chicago burbs in early 2021, so I don't really get to see what they've been doing all this time!
yessssss go cta!
This is fascinating to me, because the Red Line north is the L line I'm most familiar with. My mother grew up in Uptown near the Lawrence station, and my Aunt Hazel lived within eyeshot (and earshot) of Thorndale station. It's great to see the modernization happening to this line. Thanks for reporting!
If they light up those bright red stations at night, they will probably attract the drunks who ride the L all night. 🤭
The temporary Argyle Station is built on the Argyle turnback track
I enjoy the video👍👍
Heated platforms 🤯 We don't even have those in Finland... Commuter trains often run late when it's snowy and you have to stand outside in the cold 🥶
Finally something Chicago does better
Well researched!
Thanks!
12:18 Wow, that boogie looks so "streetcar-ish", it even has an electro-magnetic brake, a rare sight on the "big" (non-tramway) railroad equipment.
The “L” is a glorified streetcar. Hence the small profile and tight turns.
Love train geeky stuff like this!
12:54 love the subtle orange line slander (well deserves as the only lasting impact of that shutdown was the retirement of the old trains)
The Orange Line in Boston shut down because of the serious maintenance and safety issues that were years in the making, not because of construction issues. Instead of dragging out the repairs for months and months the T took the drastic option of doing it all at once as quickly as possible. Whether it worked is the subject of another video. Also, at 00:38 we see that the CTA has shut down part of the Blue Line for a complete re-hab.
I’m glad the shut down happened, but it wasn’t as well used as it should have been, and wasn’t the cure all that it was advertised to be, especially with regards to slow zones(5 minutes of slow zones prior to shut down, 44 minutes after, 15 minutes now). Yes some of the current slow zones are because of the safety directive given in March, but the work was 6 months old at the time, so none of it should have stuck around.
Bryn Mawr is the closest station to my house
I love the sound the train makes new tracks can’t wait to see how it is on the 7000 series in the future
The temporary station actually looks better than a lot of permanent stations... I'm hoping CTA renovate the red & blue line underground stations
Yes, especially the blue line stations look so trashy
Elevated concrete structures never last as long as steel ones and cost more to maintain/patch once cracks start to appear and corrosion of rebar begins.
I am surprised that the half that has been rebuilt doesn't have permanent half-station with rebar sticking out so the second half can be attached to it as the other 2 tracks are built.
Curious on the sequencing of work if they will have to close the station while the temporary structure is torn down and permanment one built once all 4 tracks are there. (and if they are able to build half of permanent station on second half, how come they couldn't do same for first half such that when 2 halves are done, you have 1 fully completed permanent station.
The temporary station be looking better than some permanent stations...
Sad but true
The Red Line is a work horse in the city. Aren't they also working on extending the Brown out to connect with the blue at Jefferson Park. The new CTA L system is going to be amazing. Just have to get the brown line running all day. So many damn nice bars that I have to uber to because it closes at night.
I wonder where this rumor comes from. There are no plans whatsoever to extend the Brown Line, even though it would be a really good idea.
@@Thom-TRA Its on the 2050 Unconstrained projects list.... www.cmap.illinois.gov/2050/mobility/regionally-significant-projects/unconstrained
I read a good argument to extend to Montrose Blue instead of Jefferson Park. It included an argument to add or relocate a station for the Metra UP-NW to Montrose so it can transfer with the Metra MD-N and the CTA Blue line all in one location. Instead of terminating at Montrose the Brown line could continue onto the inactive rail line and up the Valley Line to transfer with the Yellow line in Skokie or the Weber Spur to Evanston and 7 blocks of Church St to transfer with Purple line and Metra UP-N.
I LIVE IN CHICAGO
So sad seeing you with a temporary CTA pass rather than a Ventra card! Hope you enjoyed your visit!
Sorry to make you sad…
@@Thom-TRA Sorry, wasn't meant to be insulting! I was just saying it's sad you left Chicago and therefore using a temp pass for your visit!
@@paulcastle7007 ah, gotcha! But I’m very happy here in DC :)
@@Thom-TRA love to hear it, I've heard lots of good things about the area!
I think that the hottest shade temperature I have ever been in on Earth,well obviously Earth as I haven't been to any other planet!,is 45c in Yerevan, Armenia a few years ago.
You're telling me you've never summered on Venus? lol
@@Thom-TRA with it's cloud cover all shade temperatures on Venus but at about 800 Kelvin,hotter than an oven !
I don’t live or know anybody up north but I might ride the red line all the way to the new stations
You should!
the old steel viaducts used to scare the #2 out of me as trains would pass over.
Lol
L platforms are long enough for 8 trains max. So they're looking to create 10-car consists? Add to platform length, of course. But cynical me says they want longer trains to enable longer headways, longer waiting for the next train. Thats the MOST discouraging aspect of public transit.
do the trains go any faster on ttge newly buiult lines.
Another quality video, are you in some kind of a media job?
Surprisingly, no! I am currently in event planning but studying to be in diplomacy
Why does the red line include "in the direction of travel" when saying which side the doors open when it doesn't on the blue line (I don't know about the other lines I take the blue line most often)
They add it in newer announcements
Your Uniqlo shirt is nice! Drying them after laundry is tricky though, any tips?
When in doubt, I just air dry! I haven’t had any issues
@@Thom-TRA nice! I think, my problem was that I induced dimples by dashing the shirt under the shower, instead of spritzing it or going straight from wash to air dry like a normal person 😅
Did the CTA move to AC? The trains sound like they have a AC motors. When I was a kid, it was all DC. When that project is completed, those trains are going to move much faster. Are the new viaducts prefab or cast in place?
The 5000 and 7000 series are AC
In the future they won't be able to build cheap temporary stations like this because they're not wheelchair accessible. They can justify it here since the original stations weren't anyway, but the new ones will be
Good point
I thought the ADA act didn't cover temporary stations? And as the new permanent stations, will all be ADA accessible.
0:38 why is part of the Blue Line ripped up?
It’s been a slow zone for years. It’s overdue for track and power upgrades.
It’s to fix the unstable tracks. They’ve actually rebuilt a lot of it again.
People who wants berwyn and Lawrence to be back opened
But I'm not standing on Belmont 🤗
Is sheridan getting a new station? It's long overdue
Apparently they’re putting a stop at Irving Park to replace it.
@@picklerick_404 where'd you hear that?
@@af02271 The CTA apparently announced it a few years back, mentioned at ruclips.net/video/BtbiLwOEdTQ/видео.htmlsi=NiRC0TzbhNZWcBkD
TOM YOUR MY FAV RUclipsR I WISH YOU COULD COME TO MY HOUSE!
I’m honored
Nice, but WHAT IS THE SECRET CONTENT LOL
I've always been curious about the modernization of the Chicago L and this video provides a nice insight into it. The modernization looks amazing, certainly better than what MBTA is doing lol. Hope you can cover the Blue Line modernization as well!
I have some ideas for The RPM Modernization that could work. 1: at certain stops they should add Ramps to the stops they're built at. In my opinion they should be built at Berwyn because of the many stores that are around the stop and buses that come from Downtown Chicago and Jefferson Park I think having an ramp alongside the elevator would be beneficial for everyone who uses the stop. Another place that should have a ramp is at Howard Street for obvious reasons. Like Berwyn Howard Street CTA Terminal is in the middle of a shopping district so there's a lot of people who uses shopping carts so having a ramp would help people to catch their train without having to wait for the elevator to come back down or having to climb the stairs while pulling up the heavy shopping cart up the stairs. Also being Howard Street CTA Terminal is a major CTA and Pace Interchange having a ramp would help with potential crowds. 2: At Main Street CTA Station the platform for the CTA Purple Line and the platform for The Metra Union Pacific North Line is so close that even when I was a kid I wondered why they never built a ramp/bridge between the platforms. Like it would be really convenient for people who want to transfer to The Metra or The CTA Purple Line and don't want to have to go down the stairs and go around the corner to get to the station they can use the ramp to do it. And there would be a employee who would make sure that people are paying the fares and everything.
Great video!
I've got a drone and live in the area. Hit me up if you'd like some drone footage of the project for a future video.
Ooh yeah for my next video I’ll definitely hit you up
Aqui linea morada seria el tren Low Cost AVLO, ruclips.net/video/dEST3jRe4e0/видео.htmlsi=1Ojur4IjMOTR9-FJ&t=1
Madrid Barcelona 7€ aunque hay que comprar 3 semanas antes de viajar para conseguir esos precios.
10-car trains? I thought 8 was the magic number! At least, according to the Chinese.🎉
By the way, why a duct?🦆🥸
“You try to cross that canal on a chicken, and you’ll find out vy a duck!”