M7 (railcar)

M7
An M7A leaving Morris Heights station
In service	2002-present
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Number built	1,172 cars
Operator	Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Specifications
Maximum speed	100 mph (161 km/h)
Electric system(s)	750V DC
Current collection method	third rail
Braking system(s)	Regenerative / Pneumatic

The M7 is an electric multiple unit railroad car built by Bombardier, with delivery beginning in 2002. The cars were ordered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) for the Long Island Rail Road (M7) and Metro-North Railroad (M7A). The M7 replaced the M1 railcars, which had previously provided electric service on these lines. The M7 are powered from an electric third rail.

There are two different versions, owing to the different electrical and signaling systems on the LIRR and Metro-North. The M7 has AC traction motors and can accelerate more quickly from a standing stop than previous MU sets. The two different cars also contain different door-closing lights; the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) has small red button-sized closing-lights, while Metro-North has white light strips. Unlike the M7s, the M7As have pads behind each headrest. On the M7, the seats face towards the center, but away from the center on the M7As.

The cars are operated in married pairs, with each car containing a complete set of controls for an engineer, conductor, or brakeman. However, the B Cars contain a handicapped accessible restroom, which is larger than the restroom provided on the M1 and M3 railcars and designed to accommodate a wheelchair, as well as an attendant and/or service animal (such as a guide dog, hearing dog or service dog) accompanying the passenger. The enlarged bathroom reduces the number of seats in the car. B cars are assigned odd-number designations.

Early trouble-shooting

The M7 cars swayed from side to side more than intended when introduced to service, and required modifications to reduce the sway. In late 2006 the MTA began a replacement of all M7 armrests after paying out over $100,000 to customers who filed complaints. The factory installed armrests were notorious for slipping into trouser pockets and then destroying them when sitting. The new design is of a different profile and is coated in a more fabric-friendly rubber. Some passengers complained about having fewer seats per B car, a consequence of the larger ADA-compliant restrooms, and about the width of the seats. Metro-North's management received feedback about the M7, which influenced the development of the M8 railcars - which were built by Kawasaki Rail Car and used on the New Haven Line.

LIRR M7 service began October 30, 2002 and Metro-North's first M7 started scheduled service in April 2004. A new eight-car set of M7s cost $18 million.

In the fall of 2006, the M7s started to experience serious braking problems due to foliage on the right of way, a condition known as "Slip-Slide." This caused nearly 2/3 of the fleet to be removed from service on Metro-North, due to flat spots on wheels. While the LIRR fleet performed significantly better, stripped M1s from both railroads were reactivated, and diminished schedules were instituted until the M7 fleet was able to resume full operation.

Today, the fleet has the highest mean distance between failures out of the entire LIRR fleet.

Technical Data

• M7 Electric Multiple Unit – New York, USA
• Builder: Bombardier Transportation
• Operators: Long Island Rail Road (836 cars - 7001-7836) and Metro-North Railroad (336 cars - 4000-4335)
• Length 25,908 mm - 85' 0
• Width 3,200 mm - 10' 6"
• Mitsubishi Electric AC Traction Motors and IGBT inverters
• Power output - 265 horsepower (200 kW) per motor, 4 motors per car, two inverters per car
• Max. Speed 160 km/h - 100 mph
• Seated Passengers: 110 (A car); 101 (B car)

Images

• 

  Metro-North M7-A entering Bronxville on the Harlem Line

• 

  LIRR M7 (foreground and background) and Metro-North M7A (center) railcars stored at the Arch Street facility in Long Island City, Queens.

• 

  M7 railcars with one set of M3 railcars Jamaica, Queens.

• 

  M7s in service at Saint Albans, on a 10-car local to Babylon.

• 

  The Interior of an M7A A Car.

See also

Media related to M7 (railcar) at Wikimedia Commons

• M1/M3 (railcar)
• M8 (railcar)
• M9 (railcar)
• Long Island Rail Road
• Metro-North Railroad

External links

• MTA Long Island Rail Road official website
• MTA Metro-North Railroad official website
• Bombardier information page for M7