The Chicago Transit Authority is defending its decision to reduce the length of trains on some “L” lines on weekends this summer, saying the practice will save money and help keep trains in better shape.
The decision to reduce trains to only four cars on several “L” lines took some riders by surprise over the weekend and prompted gripes on social media from those who said trains were overpacked.
The CTA, which has said cutting train cars on weekends was a regular practice pre-pandemic, initially said trains would be shortened on the Blue, Orange, Brown and Purple Lines most weekends this summer.
Then on Monday, the agency issued an updated service alert that said only the Orange, Brown and Purple Lines would be affected. Shorter trains are planned to run between 3:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 3:30 a.m. on Mondays. Service frequency and hours of operation will not change, according to the CTA. Blue Line trains are expected to run at full-length throughout the summer.
“We updated our service alert yesterday to provide clarity to Blue Line customers in light of the frequency of construction work and special events during this busy season that may impact riders,” the CTA said when asked why the Blue Line had been removed from the abbreviated train program.
In response to questions from the Tribune, the agency said cutting train lengths will reduce the wear and tear on train cars that can cause service delays and enable better deep cleaning of train cars. The practice will also save money on energy costs because of the reduced power needs of the shorter trains, the agency said.
It’s not entirely clear how much money the shorter trains will save the CTA.
“A full system implementation of shortened trains during all off-peak windows” could save up to $15 million, the agency said. “At this time, however, we are deploying shorter trains only in limited times and locations, as outlined in our service alert,” the CTA added.
The CTA did not immediately respond to a follow-up question about how much money the agency expected to save in actuality.
The CTA noted the practice was identified as a cost-saving measure under the regional transit budgeting process last year. Landmark transit funding legislation that took effect last week requires Chicago-area transit agencies to identify cost savings.
“Riders have also indicated that vehicle cleanliness impacts their perception of security, and reducing wear and tear helps prevent future service disruptions that may be caused by equipment, promoting reliability across the system,” the CTA said in a statement.
The agency indicated it would make decisions about cutting train cars on a case-by-case basis. Its updated service alert notes specifically that Brown Line trains will run at their full eight-car length on weekends “when higher ridership is expected.”
Regarding the Brown Line, the CTA said it would “continue to identify instances” where shorter Brown Line trains will not cause crowding. “This approach allows us to maintain our vehicles more effectively and reduce delays caused by equipment issues, a leading cause of service delays on the Brown Line due to aging fleet,” the agency said.
The CTA also said that it will run longer trains during “major construction work and special events” such as Lollapalooza and Pride.
Events in Chicago last weekend included the Pokémon GO Fest and a U.S. soccer match against Germany at Soldier Field.
Also last weekend, Red Line trains weren’t stopping at subway stations because of planned maintenance work, and Blue Line trains were operating on the same track in both directions between Jefferson Park and Harlem.
The Red Line work, which involves trains being rerouted to the elevated tracks between Fullerton and Cermak-Chinatown, is expected to continue this weekend.