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|Formation = 4 or 5 car sets
|Formation = 4 or 5 car sets
|Built = 400 cars (base order), with an option order of 360 cars (purchased on July 25, 2007), with another 260 cars still on option, for a total of 1,020 possible cars.
|Built = 400 cars (base order), with an option order of 360 cars (purchased on July 25, 2007), with another 260 cars still on option, for a total of 1,020 possible cars.
|LinesServed = Limited operation on {{NYCS|J}}, Full time on {{NYCS|L}}, {{NYCS|N}}, {{NYCS|M}}, and {{NYCS|Z}}
|LinesServed = Limited operation on {{NYCS|J}}, Full time on {{NYCS|L}}, {{NYCS|N}}, {{NYCS|M}}, and {{NYCS|Z}} (and probably on the {{NYCS|R}}
|InService = 2006-present
|InService = 2006-present
|Refurbishment =
|Refurbishment =

Revision as of 21:15, 7 April 2008

R160A
An R160A at Nostrand Avenue during testing on the A in autumn 2006.
Specifications
Car length18.34m (60 ft 2.5 inches)

The R160A is a class of 400 New York City Subway cars being built by Alstom Transportation. The R160A base order is part of a $961,687,121 contract funded in part by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The R160 is designed to operate on the New York City Transit Authority's lettered lines ("B" Division), and intended to replace older subway cars. Some of these older subway cars have been in service since 1964. The primary base order of the R160 class consists of 660 cars. The base order was broken into R160A and R160B classes because the cars are being built by different manufacturers.

Alstom is assembling 400 R160A cars at its manufacturing plant in Hornell, New York. Kawasaki is assembling 260 R160B cars at its plant in Yonkers, New York.[1]

The R160A base order is further broken down into two different sets. R-160A-1 sets are 4 car sets that will run on the BMT's Eastern Division (the J, L, M, and Z lines) because the platform lengths on these lines cannot accommodate longer trains. The R-160A-2 sets are 5 car sets.

Currently, R160A-1s are running on the L, M (As of April 7, 2008), and Z services. A few R160A-1s are running on the J during rush hours and will see full time service on the line after certain station modifications. Some cars have also tested on the A in the past. R160A-1s 8313-8500 and R160A-2s 8653-8662 have been delivered so far, and 8313-8448 are in service.[1][2][3] One ten car R-160A-2 set (8653-8662) is currently seeing service on the N line.

On July 25, 2007, the MTA had ordered 360 additional R160As, part of the option order. These cars are to arrive by 2009.

Brooklyn-bound Z train of R160As at Essex Street

Features

One of the major changes and highlights of the new cars is the addition of the electronic "FIND" (Flexible Information and Notice Display) display, which includes an LCD screen displaying the route, route information and advertisements, and a tri-color (red, yellow, green) LED strip map which displays the next ten stations, plus five consecutive "further stations" to riders. There will be three of these in every car. The display updates the stations at every stop, also giving the number of stops to each station listed, and replaces a plastic card which had a set route and stations printed on, which was used in the R142, R142A, R142S, and R143 cars. This allows instant route or line changes with the correct information, which includes, but is not limited to, omitting of certain stops.

Production problems

Alstom has encountered significant production problems since being awarded the base contract. In July 2005, Alstom missed its contractual deadline to deliver a 10-car test train, which arrived five months late in December, to the New York City Transit Authority. Alstom requested three additional months to deliver the test train. In addition, the Transit Authority rejected several car shells made in a plant in Lapa, Brazil, near São Paulo, after discovering welding defects. [4]

Delivery problems

Alstom is also behind on its delivery schedule. Alstom was to have delivered 200 out of the 400 car base order by September 2007. However, by that month, Alstom had only delivered 80 cars. [5] Under the base contract, Alstom agreed to pay damages of $800 a day for late deliveries of four-car trains, and $1,000 a day for five-car trains. However, the Transit Authority has not yet fined Alstom for its late deliveries and was negotiating with Alstom to accelerate their delivery schedule. As of March 2008, Alstom has delivered 198 cars.[2]

Specifications

Car Builder Alstom Transport Inc., Hornell, NY and Lapa, Brazil
Car Body Pure stainless steel with fiberglass front and rear bonnets.
Unit Numbers 4 Car Set: 8313-8652 and 5 Car Set: 8653-8712
Fleet size 760 cars (including options purchased on July 25, 2007)
Car dimensions Length: 60 feet, 2-1/2 inches (18.3 m)
Width: 10 feet (3.048 m)
Height: 12 feet, 1-5/8 inches (3.7 m)
Car weight 85,200 lb
Track Gauge 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.435 m)
Maximum Operating Speed 55 MPH (Maximum design speed around 65 MPH)
Brakes Dynamic braking propulsion system; WABCO friction braking system
Propulsion System Alstom Onix AC Traction
Seating capacity Cab car (A car): 40 (42 for cars 8653 - 8662) / No Cab (B car): 44
Standing Capacity Cab car: 200 (198 for cars 8653 - 8662), No cab: 202
Total capacity (seating plus standing) Cab car: 240, No cab: 246
Built in 4-Car sets or 5-Car sets
Cost per new car USD$1.3 million

See also

References

  1. ^ MTA Press Release #24 2002
  2. ^ "R160A 8316 approaching New Lots Avenue station in service on L".
  3. ^ "R160A 8337 at New Lots Avenue station in service on L".
  4. ^ "New York Times".
  5. ^ "New York Post".
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