Notice how quiet the CTA is now?

The recently rebuilt Fullerton stop on Red/Brown/Purple has a new style of construction where the track is laid on roadbed, on a concrete and steel viaduct. This is in comparison to the old style of bolting track to steel structure. The new style is so much quieter!

The Red Subway is also CWR now and is much quieter too.

I love riding CTA, but the noise kills me. A definite step forward.

Walking along 21st St. west of Pulaski on Chicago's west side where the Pink line runs parallel to the north, you used to be able to hear an eastbound train approaching from as far as two blocks away as it crossed Keeler Ave. while ascending up from grade level. But you're right, there was noticeable reduction in noise after the rehab work on this route completed, you can't hear the trains from quite as far away anymore, and the sound itself has evolved from the harsh clanging of jointed rail to the quieter, dull roar of welded rail. It's a big difference...