R160 (New York City Subway car)
R160 | |
---|---|
![]() Interior of an R160 car, prior to refurbishments | |
In service | 2006–present |
Manufacturer |
|
Built at |
|
Family name | New Technology Train |
Replaced | |
Constructed | 2005–2010 |
Entered service |
|
Refurbished | 2017–present |
Number built |
|
Number in service | 1,662 (1,381 in revenue service during rush hours) |
Formation |
|
Fleet numbers |
|
Capacity |
|
Operators | New York City Subway |
Depots | East New York Yard (372 cars) Jamaica Yard (1290 cars)[1][2] |
Service(s) assigned | |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Stainless steel with fiberglass ends and rear bonnets |
Train length |
|
Car length | 60 ft 2.52 in (18,352.0 mm) |
Width | 9 ft 9.28 in (2,979 mm) |
Height | 12 ft 0.29 in (3,665 mm) |
Floor height | 3 ft 9.12 in (1,146.0 mm) |
Platform height | 3 ft 9.12 in (1,146.0 mm) |
Entry | Level |
Doors | 8 sets of 50-in-wide side doors per car |
Maximum speed | 55 mph (89 km/h)[7] |
Weight | 85,200 lb (38,600 kg) |
Traction system | IGBT–VVVF (Alstom ONIX 800 or Siemens SITRAC[a]) |
Traction motors | |
Acceleration | 2.5 mph/s (4.0 km/(h⋅s)) |
Deceleration |
|
Auxiliaries | SAFT 250AH battery (B car) |
Electric system(s) | Third rail, 600 V DC |
Current collector(s) | Contact shoe |
UIC classification | Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’ (4 car sets) Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo (5 car sets) |
AAR wheel arrangement | B-B+B-B+B-B+B-B (4 car sets) B-B+B-B+B-B+B-B+B-B (5 car sets) |
Braking system(s) | Dynamic braking propulsion system; WABCO RT96 tread brake system |
Safety system(s) | CBTC Dead man's switch Tripcock |
Headlight type | halogen light bulb |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The R160 is a class of New Technology Train subway cars built for the New York City Subway's B Division. Entering service between 2006 and 2010, they replaced all R38, R40, and NYCT-operated R44 cars, and most R32 and R42 cars. The R160s are very similar to the earlier R143s and later R179s. The biggest difference between the R160 and R143 is the Flexible Information and Notice Display (FIND) system on the R160s in place of static LED maps on the R143s and all A-Division New Technology fleet.
In total, 1,662 cars comprise the R160 class, which consists of two models, the 1,002 Alstom-built R160A cars and the 660 Kawasaki-built R160B cars. The R160A cars are organized in two different configurations, with 372 cars arranged in four-car sets and 630 cars arranged in five-car sets. All R160B cars are in five-car sets, but are subdivided by which propulsion system they use; the majority use the Alstom ONIX propulsion system also found on the R160A cars, while cars 8843-9102 use Siemens SITRAC propulsion.
Kawasaki had little to no problems in delivering the R160B cars, which entered service on August 17, 2006. Alstom was behind the delivery schedule early on for the R160As, which first ran on October 17, 2006. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority exercised options for both contracts, and by June 2010, all R160 cars were in service. Numerous experimental features were added to the R160s through the 2010s. 64 R160A cars were fitted with communications-based train control (CBTC) equipment installed for service on the Canarsie Line (L train), while the rest of the remaining fleet has CBTC equipment installed for service on the Queens Boulevard Line (E, F, M, and R trains).
Description
There are two versions of the R160: the R160A (built by Alstom, numbered 8313–8712, 9233–9802, & 9943–9974) and the R160B (built by Kawasaki, numbered 8713–9232 & 9803–9942).[12] The two car types differ only in a few ways; both can interoperate with each other. The R160As and the majority of the R160Bs utilize the same traction motors as the R142s, while the rest of the R160Bs utilize traction motors similar to those tested on R143s 8205–8212.[13] Both versions of the R160s are very similar to the R143s and R179s, but the three car types are not interoperable with each other due to electrical incompatibilities between them.[14][15][16]
The R160 cars are configured in either four-car sets or five-car sets. 372 R160A cars (8313–8652 & 9943–9974) are configured as four-car sets and maintained at East New York Yard for the BMT Eastern Division. All four-car sets are assigned to the J, M and Z trains, but sets 8313-8376 are able to run on the L alongside the line's fleet of R143s. The remaining 630 R160A cars as well as all R160Bs are configured as five-car sets and maintained at Jamaica Yard for the E, F, G and R trains.
The R160A base order was part of a $961,687,121 contract funded in part by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration.[17] The primary base order of the R160 class consisted of 660 cars, 400 R160As to be built by Alstom, and the remaining 260 R160Bs to be built by Kawasaki. The contract included options for further orders, which, if exercised, would have brought the total business with NYCT to about US$2.4 billion, for 1,700 subway cars, and Kawasaki would have manufactured 40% (680 cars) of the 1,700 cars. The R160 fleet was purchased at an average cost of $2.0 million USD per car.[18]
Features
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/NYC_N_train_cockpit.jpg/250px-NYC_N_train_cockpit.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/LCDAdScreens_R160.jpg/250px-LCDAdScreens_R160.jpg)
The R160s are equipped with regenerative braking, which allows the cars to capture the braking energy as trains enter a station and transfer it to trains on nearby tracks.[19]
One of the major changes and highlights of the new cars is the addition of an electronic "FIND" (Flexible Information and Notice Display) system, 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 stops" to riders. There are three of these in every car. The display updates the stations at every stop, also giving the number of stops to each station listed. The FIND system replaces a plastic card that had a set route and stations printed on, which was used on the R142, R142A, R143, and R188 subway cars, each of which has 64 amber LED dot station indicators.[20] This allows for instant route or line changes with the correct information, which includes, but is not limited to, the omitting of certain stops.[14]
Other features
As part of a 2010 pilot program to increase security and capacity,[21][22] R160B cars 8713–8722 tested folding seats, CCTV, pivoted grabhandles, and looped stanchions. Following passenger complaints and Kawasaki's refusal to test the same equipment on a set of R142 cars, the program was canceled in 2012[23][24] and the equipment was removed. Some of the remaining grabhandles and folding seats from the program have been reused to address a state of emergency in 2017,[25] but have been the subject of vandalism.[26]
In 2016, a non-advertised pilot program saw 20 R160 sets based out of Jamaica Yard testing onboard WiFi.[27][28] That same year, many cars had their Arts for Transit boards replaced with LCD information screens to display public safety announcements, advertisements, and trivia. These screens are similar to the ones onboard all R143 cars; however, they can display a range of colors instead of just red, orange, and green.
In 2018, R160A car 8395 had its truck suspension system replaced with carbon fiber reinforced plastic "efWING " leaf springs from Kawasaki, to determine the feasibility of them replacing the heavier coil spring suspension found on all other R160s. R160B car 9116 was also equipped with the new suspension.[b]
In September 2020, a set of R160s received digital display advertising as a pilot test. This is similar to the digital advertising found on R188 cars 7847–7848.[29] Multiple R160s have since had these screens installed in place of the paper advertisements.
The R160 cars began to receive CCTV security cameras in mid-2022 as part of a program to combat the rise of vandalism within the subway system.[30]
Communications-based train control
There are current and future use cases for communications-based train control with the R160 cars.
64 R160As (8313–8376) have CBTC equipment installed for use on the Canarsie Line (L train), alongside already-equipped R143 cars.[31][32] R160As 8313–8316 and 8377–8380 were temporarily taken out of service to test equipment between Bergen Street and Church Avenue on the express tracks of the IND Culver Line, and later returned to service.
1,486 additional R160 cars, comprising all 5-car sets and many 4-car sets, have been equipped with CBTC for use on the Queens Boulevard Line (E, F, M, and R trains).[33][34] As of November 2021[update], the remaining 4-car sets will be equipped with CBTC for $11.9 million for use on the Eighth Avenue Line.[35]
History
Construction
On July 31, 2002, it was announced that New York City Transit awarded a $961,687,121 contract to Alstom for 660 new cars, with two new options that could provide for a total of 1,040 cars. Kawasaki and Alstom organized a joint venture called Alskaw Inc. for project management, engineering, and equipment purchasing to pursue the contract, and to allow for operational compatibility with the R143s, which were built by Kawasaki.[36] The two companies built and delivered the rolling stock through the joint venture. Kawasaki not only manufactured 260 cars for the base contract but was also the engineering leader for the whole project and provided the trucks for all cars. Alstom assembled 1002 R160A cars at its manufacturing plant in Hornell, New York, while Kawasaki assembled 660 R160B cars at its plant in Yonkers, New York.[37] Shells for the Alstom-built cars were built in their Lapa plant, in São Paulo, Brazil, and shells for the Kawasaki-built cars were assembled at their Lincoln, Nebraska plant. The base order consisted of 660 cars, the first option included 620 cars, and the second option included 382 cars.[38]
Delivery
Early on in the order, Alstom encountered significant start-up production problems since being awarded the base contract. In July 2005, Alstom missed its contractual deadline to deliver the 10-car test train, which arrived five months late with Alstom requesting three additional months to deliver the test train. In addition, the Transit Authority rejected several car shells made earlier at their plant in Lapa, Brazil, near São Paulo, after discovering welding defects.[39]
The first 5-car set of R160As (8653–8657) was delivered on November 29, 2005, and the next remaining five cars (8658–8662) were delivered on December 6, 2005, to the New York City Transit Authority, forming a complete 10-car train for acceptance testing and evaluation. The R160As entered revenue service on the A on October 17, 2006, for in-service acceptance testing after several months of exhaustive non-revenue service tests.
The first train of R160Bs (8713–8722) was delivered on July 22, 2005. The R160Bs entered revenue service on the N on August 17, 2006, for in-service acceptance testing after slightly over a year of successful non-revenue service tests.[40][41]
While Kawasaki had few or no problems in delivering the R160Bs, Alstom was behind on its delivery schedule early on in the R160A order. Alstom was to deliver 200 out of the 400-car base order by September 2007. However, by that month, Alstom had only delivered 80 cars.[42] Under the base contract, Alstom agreed to pay damages of $800 a day for late deliveries of four-car trains, and $1000 a day for five-car trains, though the Transit Authority had not yet fined Alstom for its late deliveries and was actually negotiating with Alstom to accelerate their delivery schedule. The 200 cars were finally delivered 7 months late in early April 2008.
On November 10, 2008, the MTA exercised options for 140 R160B cars (9803–9942) and 242 R160A cars, broken down into 32 cars arranged as 4-car sets (9943–9974) and 210 cars arranged in 5-car sets (9593–9802).[43][44][45]
The option order cars were delivered starting in late 2009, and the final cars were delivered on May 6, 2010.[38] By June 2010, all R160A and R160B cars were in revenue service.[46]
Post-delivery incidents and refurbishments
After Hurricane Sandy, R160B set 8738–8742 was damaged and required an extensive electrical reconstruction at Coney Island Shops. In March 2016, the set underwent pre-service testing and finally returned to service in fall 2016.[47]
In response to the 2017 New York City transit crisis, the R160s have seen mass refurbishments. A majority of the R160s have been given LED interior lighting, yellow-painted looped stanchions, traffic flow signage, and LCD information screens (that replaced the Arts-for-Transit cards). Some R160s have also been deep-cleaned. Twenty 5-car sets (100 cars) assigned to the E received the same features, but the seats at the end of the cars were removed to increase capacity. To identify these cars, they were given interior artwork and exterior wrapping.[48][49][50] Two 4-car sets (8 cars) assigned to the L were later given the same exterior wrapping, LED interior lighting, yellow-painted looped stanchions, traffic flow signage, and LCD information screens (that replaced the Art-for-Transit cards), plus folding seats and pivoted grabhandles previously tested in 2010. Passengers sometimes vandalize the seats when they are locked in the up position during rush hours.[51]
After Hurricane Ida, R160B set 9108–9112 was damaged and required an extensive electrical reconstruction at Coney Island Shops. It was moved to the shops on September 22, 2021. It returned to service almost two years later on July 3, 2023.[52]
Notes
- ^ a b 8843–9102 only
- ^ See also:* DJ Hammers (March 24, 2018), R160 efWING Truck Test Train at Euclid Avenue, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved March 30, 2018
References
- ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^
- 'Subdivision 'A' Car Assignment Effective December 19, 2021'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. December 17, 2021.
- 'Subdivision 'B' Car Assignment Effective December 19, 2021'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
- ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.
- ^ "New York City Transit Authority R160B". Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ Hughes, Murray (January 1, 2003). "Subway contract won with help from Brazil". Railway Gazette International. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
- ^ "CIYT201122.jpg Photo by mediccjh | Photobucket". Smg.photobucket.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ "Alstom Motors Catalogue 2015 - English" (PDF). Alstom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
- ^ "R160B Siemens Traction Motor Build Plate".[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Supplementary Information for §1269(d) 2012 – 2017" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2012. p. 30. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ Samsone, Gene (October 25, 2004). New York Subways: An Illustrated History of New York City's Transit Cars. Baltimore, MD: JHU Press. p. 282. ISBN 0801879221. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ a b Chan, Sewell (November 30, 2005). "New Subway Cars Promise All Kinds of Information". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2007.
- ^ "Specifications for Furnishing and Delivering Passenger Cars for the New York City Transit System" (PDF). geniustransitchallenge.ny.gov. July 2017. p. R160 1–2. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "Transit & Bus Committee Meeting May 2016" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. May 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ^ "MTA - Press Release - MTA Headquarters - MTA NYC Transit Awards New Car Contract". mta.info. Archived from the original on 2006-02-03. Retrieved 2014-10-12.
- ^ http://web.mta.info/mta/budget/pdf/2008-2013%20Capital%20Plan.pdf Archived 2020-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, p24
- ^ "Greening Mass Transit & Metro Regions: The Final Report of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Sustainability and the MTA" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2009. p. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ R36_9346 (2013-11-13), Information, archived from the original on 2022-12-20, retrieved 2022-12-20
((citation))
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Camera- and flip seat-equipped train debuts on E". Second Ave. Sagas. February 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
- ^ "MTA New York City Transit Places into Service Camera-Equipped Train on the E Line". www.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ "Transit scraps flip-seat pilot but other tests go on". Second Ave. Sagas. August 27, 2010. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ "Seatless train experiment stalling out". Second Ave. Sagas. September 21, 2009. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ "MTA to add more space on L line by retrofitting train cars with fold-up seats". New York Daily News. 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
- ^ "New NYC Subway Design Fail: Lockable Folding Seats - Core77". Core77. Archived from the original on 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
- ^ Hawkins, Andrew J . (June 2, 2016). "The MTA is testing Wi-Fi inside its subway cars". The Verge. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
- ^ Martinez, Jose (June 1, 2016). "Exclusive: MTA Quietly Begins Testing Wi-Fi Service in Subway Cars". TWC News. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
- ^ "Digital ads on display". 2023-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-03-15.
- ^ "New York to install surveillance cameras in every subway car by 2025". NBC News. September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "Volume 2, Part 3 - November 2008 MTA Financial Plan: Section IV-3 and section IV-12" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ^ "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting June 2011" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 27, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 17, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting 7/24/2017" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 24, 2017. p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting 7/20/2015" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 20, 2015. p. 39. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ MTA 2022 Final Proposed Budget November Financial Plan 2022-2025 Volume 2 November 2021. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2021. p. 151. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ "MTA NYC Transit Awards New Car Contract". www.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 31, 2002. Archived from the original on February 3, 2006. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ MTA Press Release #24 2002
- ^ a b "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting February 2012" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 27, 2012. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
((cite web))
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Chan, Sewell (July 27, 2005). "Damaged Cars Hinder New York's Order for New Subways". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
- ^ Lueck, Thomas J. (August 18, 2006). "City Subways Put New Cars Into Service as a Test Run". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
- ^ "Facts and Figures". web.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ Golding, Bruce (September 30, 2007). "Train-Car Builder is Off Track". New York Post. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
- ^ "MTA Capital Program Commitments & Completions through December 31 2010" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 24, 2011. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
((cite web))
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Alstom to supply an additional 242 subway cars to New York City". alstom.com. November 10, 2008. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009.
- ^ "New Technology Train Rolled Out This Morning Along the E Line". www.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 22, 2008. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ "MTA NYC Transit Takes Delivery of Final Set of New Subway Cars". www.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ "New York City Subway Car Update" (PDF). The Bulletin (April 2016). Electric Railroaders' Association. March 30, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^ Chung, Jen (October 3, 2017). "Photos: Step Inside The MTA's New Subway Cars, Now With Less Seating". Gothamist. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ Furfaro, Danielle (October 3, 2017). "MTA removes seats from E train cars". New York Post. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ "news - Subway Action Plan Update: New Subway Cars on E Line". MTA. October 3, 2017. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ Rivoli, Dan (October 5, 2017). "MTA to add more space on L line by retrofitting train cars". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ R160 9108-9112 on the F train after 2 years OOS, retrieved 2023-07-03
External links
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- nycsubway.org: R160 cars
- National Geographic video about Alstom's manufacturing of the R160A car on YouTube
- Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc.: R160B
Current |
| ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Future |
| ||||||||||||
Retired (R-type) |
| ||||||||||||
Retired (private operators) |
| ||||||||||||
Experimental | |||||||||||||
Work trains | |||||||||||||
Never built | |||||||||||||
See also: R-type contracts |
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.