CRRC Chicago railcar facility steps closer to production with hiring milestone
CRRC Sifang America has hired more than 70 workers for its $100-million railcar manufacturing facility on Chicago's far southeast side. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval R. Carter, Jr., and the Chicago Federation of Labor attended an event to celebrate the milestone as the first group of production workers prepares to travel to China for highly specialized training in assembling the new railcars.
The new facility will assemble the CTA’s base order of 400 7000-series railcars with future options for an additional 446 railcars. Not only is the order the first since 2006 for the CTA, but the facility also marks the return of railcar manufacturing to Chicago after a 50-year absence. The first rail car prototypes are expected to be completed in 2019.
“We are excited to have hired the initial group of union production workers who will assemble the next generation of railcars for the Chicago Transit Authority,” CRRC Sifang America’s President Chengyong Liu said. “As we complete the new Chicago facility, our newly hired workers will be training in preparation to build the first 10 prototypes of the new 7000 Series railcars to be delivered later this year.”
The new facility, which is located on 45 acres on the Far Southeast Side of Chicago, will create approximately 170 manufacturing, warehouse and professional jobs at the CRRC. The construction of the facility created more than 200 jobs during construction.
The first order of 400 rail cars will replace CTA’s oldest railcars, which are more than 30 years old. Once these new rail cars are put into service, CTA will have one of the youngest fleets of any U.S. transit agency.
The new railcars will include AC-power propulsion for smooth, quiet rides; additional security cameras both inside and outside the vehicle; and GPS-triggered announcements and automatic passenger counting for improved service planning.
“This new facility reinforces our ongoing commitment toward ensuring our transit customers have a reliable and comfortable experience on our vehicles,” CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. said. “Once completed, these 7000-series rail cars will provide transit users with a more modern, more convenient and overall enhanced commuting experience.”
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
