Chicagoans invited to take part in ceremonial last ride on Thursday
After more than 40 years of service to Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) customers, the CTA will celebrate the workhorses of the Blue Line – the 2200-series rail cars built in 1969-1970 – with a ceremonial last trip this Thursday, August 8.
Most distinctive for their pivoting ”blinker” entry doors, the 2200s spent most of their service careers assigned to the Blue Line and have served hundreds of millions of people traveling between work, home, O’Hare International Airport and spots in between. The CTA’s oldest cars are being retired as CTA continues to upgrade its rail fleet as part of an aggressive modernization and infrastructure plan by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CTA President Forrest Claypool.
Customers and rail fans are welcome to join in on the CTA tradition of saying “Goodbye, Old Friends” as the last, eight-car consist of 2200-series rail cars makes its final trip along the Blue Line from O’Hare to Forest Park and back. Normal CTA fares apply.
All eight rail cars will be decked out with their original exterior decals and will even feature interior advertising cards from the period when they first launched. Details of the event are as follows:
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Short-Run (Non-Stop): Rosemont – Jefferson Park
CTA will operate a ceremonial, short-run for those who wish to take part in the celebration, but cannot make the final full trip along the Blue Line. This train will depart from Rosemont and operate non-stop to Jefferson Park (just north of the station) before turning to make a non-stop trip back to Rosemont.
- Departure from Rosemont is 10:05 a.m. – no exceptions.
- NOTE: trains cannot be held or delayed, please plan accordingly and arrive early.
- Normal fares apply.
Full Run (All Stops): O’Hare – Forest Park
This will be the official last trip of the 2200-series rail cars on the Blue Line. The ceremonial train will depart from O’Hare and make all stops to and from Forest Park.
- Departure from O’Hare is 11:05 a.m. – no exceptions.
- CTA Train Tracker will indicate this trip as “(2200)”·
- NOTE: trains cannot be held or delayed, please plan accordingly and arrive early.
- Normal fares apply.
The following are estimated timepoints for the ceremonial 2200-series train traveling along the Blue Line:
Forest Park-bound Timepoints
- Depart from O'Hare 11:05 a.m.
- Rosemont 11:10 a.m.
- Jefferson Park 11:20 a.m.
- Logan Square 11:30 a.m.
- Division 11:38 a.m.
- Clark/Lake 11:45 a.m.
- LaSalle 11:50 a.m.
- Racine 11:55 a.m.
- Cicero 12:07 p.m.
- Arrive at Forest Park 12:16 p.m.
O'Hare-bound Timepoints
- Depart from Forest Park 12:50 p.m.
- Cicero 12:59 p.m.
- Racine 1:12 p.m.
- LaSalle 1:17 p.m.
- Clark/Lake 1:22 p.m.
- Division 1:28 p.m.
- Logan Square 1:36 p.m.
- Jefferson Park 1:47 p.m.
- Rosemont 1:56 p.m.
- Arrive at O'Hare 2:01 p.m.
IMPORTANT NOTE: these times are estimated and are subject to change without notice. Customers can also use CTA Train Tracker for estimated arrival times at their prefered stations. The ceremonial train will be indicated as "(2200)" on Train Tracker displays.
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