View source for R68A (New York City Subway car)

{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{redirect|R68A||R68 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Short description|Class of New York City Subway car}}
{{Infobox train
| name = R68A
| image = MTA NYC Subway N train arriving at 36th Ave.jpg
| caption = An R68A train on the '''[[N (New York City Subway service)|N]]''' at [[36th Avenue station|36th Avenue]]
| interiorimage = R68A Q Terminated @ 96th Street October 2021.jpg
| interiorcaption = Interior of an R68A car
| service = 1988–present
| manufacturer = [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company|Kawasaki Heavy Industries]]
| assembly = [[Yonkers, New York]] (final assembly)
| factory = [[Kobe|Kobe, Japan]]
| family = SMEE
| numberbuilt = 200
| refurbishment = 
| replaced = All remaining [[R10 (New York City Subway car)|R10s]], [[R27 (New York City Subway car)|R27s]], and [[R30 (New York City Subway car)|R30s]]
| formation = 4 cars per trainset
| fleetnumbers = 5001–5200
| operator = [[New York City Subway]]
| depots = {{NYCS const|depot}}
| lines = {{NYCS const|car}}<!-- please ONLY change this line by editing the NYCS const template and ONLY when the source given at the bottom of the article changes -->
| yearconstruction = 1988–1989
| yearservice = May 18, 1988
| yearscrapped = 
| numberconstruction = 
| numberservice = {{NYCS const|numcar}}<!-- please ONLY change this line by editing the NYCS const template and ONLY when the source given at the bottom of the article changes -->
| numberscrapped = 
| carbody = [[stainless steel]] with [[fiberglass]] end bonnets
| trainlength = 4 car train: {{convert|300|ft|m|2}}<br> 8 car train: {{convert|600|ft|m|2}}
| carlength = {{convert|74|ft|8.5|in|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} (over [[anticlimber]]s)
| width = {{convert|10|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}} (over threshold)
| height = {{convert|12.08|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| floorheight = 
| platformheight = {{convert|3.76|ft|abbr=on}}
| entrylevelorstep = 
| art-sections = 
| doors = 8 sets of {{convert|50|in|mm|0|adj=on}} wide side doors per car
| maxspeed = {{convert|55|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}
| acceleration = {{convert|2.5|mph/s|km/h/s|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|92720|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}
| capacity = 70 (seated)
| traction = E-Cam control ([[Adtranz]])
| traction motors = {{convert|115|hp|kW|1|abbr=on}} 1447J DC motor ([[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|Westinghouse]])
| poweroutput = 
| powersupply = 
| electricsystem = {{600 V DC|conductor=third rail}}
| collectionmethod = [[Current collector#Contact shoe|Contact shoe]]
| light = [[halogen]] [[light bulb]]s
| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| brakes = [[Westinghouse Air Brake Company|WABCO]] ([[Dynamic braking|dynamic]] and [[Brake#Frictional|friction]]), WABCO [[Brake shoe#Railway tread brake|tread brake]] rigging model TBU GR90
| safety = [[dead man's switch]], [[train stop|tripcock]]
| coupling = [[Railway coupling#Westinghouse H2C|Westinghouse H2C]]
}}
The '''R68A''' is a [[B Division (New York City Subway)|B Division]] [[New York City Subway]] [[Railcar|car]] order consisting of 200 cars built between 1988 and 1989 by [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company|Kawasaki Railcar Company]] in [[Kobe|Kobe, Japan]], with final assembly done at the Kawasaki plant in [[Yonkers, New York]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/13/nyregion/mta-picks-new-subway-cars-from-japan-over-a-consortium.html|title = M.T.A. PICKS NEW SUBWAY CARS FROM JAPAN OVER A CONSORTIUM|last = Levine|first = Richard|date = March 13, 1987|access-date = January 24, 2016|newspaper = New York Times|archive-date = October 8, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161008001429/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/13/nyregion/mta-picks-new-subway-cars-from-japan-over-a-consortium.html|url-status = live}}</ref> A total of 200 cars were built, arranged in four-car sets.

The R68A was the fourth and final R-type contract to be built with {{convert|75|ft|m|2|adj=on}} cars (the previous three being the [[R44 (New York City Subway car)|R44]], [[R46 (New York City Subway car)|R46]], and [[R68 (New York City Subway car)|R68]]). The contract had been given to Kawasaki because the manufacturers of the base R68 order, the joint venture Westinghouse-Amrail Company, had experienced significant integration issues that led to performance problems with the R68s. The first R68A train entered service on May 18, 1988. The R68As are scheduled to remain in service until at least 2025–2030.

==Description==
The R68As are numbered 5001–5200. They were the last cars to be built with a length of {{convert|75|ft|m|2}} (the previous three being the R44, R46, and R68). While the {{convert|75|ft|m|2|adj=on}} length allows more room for sitting and standing passengers per car than the {{convert|60|ft|m|2|adj=on}} length that was previously used, these cars suffer from [[Loading gauge|clearance]] issues and cannot run on the [[BMT Eastern Division]]. Additionally, the reduced number of doors on a train of eight {{convert|75|ft|m|2|adj=on}} cars have led to increased boarding and dwelling times. As a result, subsequent [[B Division (New York City Subway)|B Division]] subway car orders have returned to the previous length of {{convert|60|ft|m|2}}, the first being the [[R143 (New York City Subway car)|R143]] order in 2001.

The R68As are currently based out of the [[Coney Island Complex|Coney Island Yard]] and are assigned to the {{NYCS|B}}, {{NYCS|N}}, and {{NYCS|W}}, and occasionally run on the {{NYCS|Q}}. Like the previous R68 order, the R68As were originally single units, with a full-width cab on one end and a half-width cab on the other end. They were eventually linked into four-car sets and continue to run in this configuration.

==History==
===Delivery and revenue service===
[[File:Kawasaki R68A Q Train Side Rollsigns.jpg|left|thumb|Side destination and route rollsigns of an R68A]]
The first R68A cars were delivered to New York on April 12, 1988, and transferred to TA facilities the following day.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title = www.nycsubway.org: The New York Transit Authority in the 1980s|url = http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/The_New_York_Transit_Authority_in_the_1980s#New_Subway_Cars_for_New_York|website = www.nycsubway.org|access-date = January 24, 2016|archive-date = September 6, 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170906031353/http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/The_New_York_Transit_Authority_in_the_1980s#New_Subway_Cars_for_New_York|url-status = live}}</ref> The cars replaced all of the remaining [[R10 (New York City Subway car)|R10s]], [[R27 (New York City Subway car)|R27s]], and unrebuilt [[R30 (New York City Subway car)|R30s]], all of which were retired between 1989 and 1993. The R68As were built with American and Japanese parts.

The R68As' first entry to revenue service was on May 18, 1988, on the Bronx and Manhattan half of the divided [[D (New York City Subway service)|D train]] with the first fleet consisting of the consist 5010-5001-5006-5008-5009-5007-5004-5005.<ref name=":2" /> Originally, the R68A order was supposed to be a second option order of the R68. However, due to poor performance from the R68 cars produced by Westinghouse-Amrail, along with other issues, the MTA gave the order to [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]], with an offer of $958,000 per car versus Westinghouse-Amrail's offer of $1,012,200 per car.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/24/nyregion/transit-authority-is-critical-of-its-newest-subway-cars.html|title = Transit Authority Is Critical of its Newest Subway Cars|last = Levine|first = Richard|date = February 24, 1987|access-date = January 24, 2016|newspaper = New York Times|archive-date = July 6, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220706000245/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/24/nyregion/transit-authority-is-critical-of-its-newest-subway-cars.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

===Replacement===
The R68As are scheduled to remain in service until at least 2025–30.<ref>[http://mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/100621_1330_CPOC.pdf MTA Capital Program Oversight Committee Hearing, June 2010 (page 20)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125215251/http://mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/100621_1330_CPOC.pdf |date=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> In 2010, the MTA proposed mid-life technological upgrades for the R68As, including [[LED display|LED]] destination signs and automated announcements.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mta.info/nyct/procure/rfi/9003sol.pdf |title=Request For Information No. 9003 {{pipe}} Integrated Communications System on NYCT R62/R62A and R68/R68A Class Rail Cars |access-date=July 26, 2017 |archive-date=June 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627153047/http://www.mta.info/nyct/procure/rfi/9003sol.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/nyregion/transit-agency-weighs-digital-upgrade-for-subway-cars.html|title=Transit Agency Weighs Digital Upgrade for Subway Cars|last=Grynbaum|first=Michael M.|date=June 16, 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 26, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809132328/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/nyregion/transit-agency-weighs-digital-upgrade-for-subway-cars.html|url-status=live}}</ref> These upgrades were not implemented. 

In June 2023, the MTA released a document advertising an RFP for the [[R262 (New York City Subway car)|R262]] and R268 models, the latter of which is likely to replace the R68 and R68A.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Non-construction Contract Solicitation Notice |url=https://new.mta.info/document/112931 |publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] |access-date=October 23, 2023 }}</ref> In September 2024, the MTA further indicated that a handful of R68 and R68A cars would be retired by [[R211 (New York City Subway car)|R211]] cars. The MTA also wanted to replace the rest of the R68 and R68A fleet with 355 new {{Convert|60|ft|4=-long|adj=mid}} cars, thereby retiring the last remaining {{Convert|75|ft|4=-long|adj=mid}} cars in the New York City Subway system's revenue fleet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2024 |title=2025-2029 Capital Plan |url=https://new.mta.info/document/151266 |access-date=2024-10-07 |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority |page= |pages=84-85}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[R68 (New York City Subway car)]], the first order

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Sansone, Gene. ''Evolution of New York City subways: An illustrated history of New York City's transit cars, 1867-1997''. New York Transit Museum Press, New York, 1997 {{ISBN|978-0-9637492-8-4}}

==External links==
{{commons category inline|R68A (New York City Subway car)}}
*[http://www.nycsubway.org/cars/r68.html nycsubway.org - R68A page information]

{{NYCS rolling stock}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:R068A (New York City Subway Car)}}
[[Category:Train-related introductions in 1988]]
[[Category:New York City Subway rolling stock]]
[[Category:Kawasaki multiple units]]
[[Category:1988 in rail transport]]