New Technology Train (NTT) [1] [2] [3] is the collective term for the modern passenger fleet of the New York City Subway that has entered service since the turn of the 21st century. This includes the current R142, R142A, R143, R160, R179, R188 and R211 models, along with the planned R262 and R268 models. Two prototypes, the R110A and R110B, were used to test the features that would be found on all NTT trains today.
Sometimes referred to as New Millennium Trains, [4] they are known for improvements in technology, energy efficiency, reliability, and comfort along with advanced passenger information systems. All of these trains are capable of operating with communications-based train control (CBTC)—which can allow for automatic train controls and compatibility with updated signal systems—and either already have CBTC or are scheduled to be retrofitted with the system. [5] [6] Much of the engineering and construction efforts for the fleet have been done by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Bombardier Transportation, with Alstom also participating in the construction of the R160 fleet.
This is a list of all NTT trains operated by the New York City Subway, as well as future trains and retired trains of the MTA.
The New Technology program emerged from modernization efforts by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) beginning in 1982, when the subway "was on the verge of collapse". [26] [31] [32] The New Technology program officially began in 1988, the first effort at a technologically advanced subway car since the R44 in the early 1970s. [33] In 1989, the MTA awarded contracts for two prototype test trains: the R110A (contract R130) for the A Division built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and the R110B (contract R131) for the B Division built by Bombardier Transportation. [1] [26] The two New Technology test trains (NTTTs) [8] [26] began service in June 1993, testing features that would be implemented on future mass-production orders. [26] [33] [34] Both trains were taken out of service by 2000, due to multiple issues with the trains. [27]
In 1997, the first mass order of New Technology trains was placed for the R142 and R142A trains of the A Division (awarded to Bombardier and Kawasaki respectively), in order to replace the final 1,410 Redbird cars in operation. [34] [35] In 1998, a smaller contract of 212 cars, consisting of 100 in the base order and 112 in the optional order, was awarded to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, to build the R143 model for the B Division's BMT Eastern Division (primarily the BMT Canarsie Line's L train). [36] The first R142s and R142As entered service beginning in July 2000. [2] [7] [37] The R143s began operation in February 2002. [12] [38]
In July 2002, the MTA awarded contracts to Kawasaki and Alstom for the R160 order for the B Division, with options for up to 1,700 cars to replace many 1960s- and 1970s-era cars. [39] [12] [8] [14] The first R160 train, built by Kawasaki under the contract R160B, began service on August 17, 2006, on the N. [16] The initial 660-car base order was filled by October 2008, with a total of 1,662 cars delivered by May 6, 2010. [2] [10]
On May 5, 2010, Kawasaki was awarded the contract for the R188 A Division order, to provide 46 CBTC-ready 11-car trains for the IRT Flushing Line ( 7 and <7> trains). Unlike the other orders, the R188 constructed only 126 new subway cars, with the remaining 380 cars consisting of converted R142As. [10] [11] [17] The first R188s entered service on November 9, 2013. [17]
On June 4, 2012, Bombardier was awarded the R179 contract for 300 new B Division cars, to replace the 50 R42s on the BMT Jamaica Line ( J and Z trains). [10] [11] [40] In December 2012, preliminary designs began on the R211 B Division contract, which entails 940 cars in order to expand the system fleet, and to replace the R46 fleet, and the R44 fleet of the Staten Island Railway; both models were built in the 1970s. [11] Both the R179 and R211 orders were supposed to replace the 222 remaining R32 cars, which were built in the 1960s and have run well past their expected lives, by the year 2022., [41] [42] [18] however, in January 2020, it was decided that the R179 fleet was to replace all remaining R32s. [43] The R179 order fell significantly behind schedule, [10] [11] with first test train delivered in September 2016. [44] [45] [18]
On January 19, 2018, the MTA Board suggested that Kawasaki Rail Car Corp., a subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, be awarded the $3.7 billion base order for the first 535 new R211 cars. The cars are anticipated to be delivered from 2020 to 2023, with the option orders to be delivered by 2025. The R211 base order includes 20 R211T cars with open gangways; 75 R211S cars for the Staten Island Railway, to be delivered near the end of the base order; and 440 cars similar to the R143/R160 series, operating in five-car units. [46] The cars will be assembled at Kawasaki's factories in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Yonkers, New York. [46] After multiple delays, the first R211A test train was delivered in July 2021, with the production cars being delivered between 2021 and 2023. [47] The first of the R211Ts were delivered on October 31, 2022. [48] [ better source needed ] On March 10, 2023, the R211As were placed into revenue service on the A for a 30-day in-service acceptance test. [49] [50]
In January 2019, the MTA announced that the R262s would be replacing the R62 and R62A fleets, a new fleet that would be ordered as part of a future capital program. [5] : 25
In June 2023, the MTA hinted towards the existence of the R268 subway car contract. More information is to be announced. [25]
The NTT models utilize a common car design; stainless-steel car bodies with a black (blue on the R211) front fascia on the "A" (cab) cars, open lexan-glass windows on non-cab ends allowing passengers to see through to the next car, and electronic outer route signs, as opposed to the rollsigns used by previous models. [1] [33] [34] Improvements to the conductors' interface include the addition of speedometers as well as electronic consoles that monitor mechanical problems that may occur on the train. [34] The cars feature a white fiberglass interior with blue-gray plastic bench seats both to combat vandalism, along with bright fluorescent lighting and LED interior passenger information signs. [1] [33] [34] The bench-style seats, designed with lumbar supports, also replaced the bucket-style seats used on rolling stock built in the 1970s and '80s, which were uncomfortable for some passengers and harder to clean. [1] The trains utilize an airbag suspension (replacing conventional springs) for a more comfortable ride, and employ regenerative braking which converts the energy from brake application into electricity that is fed back into the third rail. [1] [34] [4] [51]
All NTT trains are capable of being equipped with communications-based train control (CBTC) technology, which is installed in the "A" cars behind the train operator's cab. [13] [39] [12] Until the late 2010s, only the R143s and R188s, as well as sixty-eight R160As, had been upgraded for automated service on the L and 7 routes. [11] [8] [52] During the late 2010s and early 2020s, most of the remaining R160s were also retrofitted with CBTC. [6] All existing cars in the R142 and R142A fleets [5] : 23–25 and future cars in the R211 [53] and R262 fleets will also be equipped with CBTC in the future. [5] : 23–25
The NTTs are the first rolling stock in the system to utilize pre-recorded train announcements, as opposed to live announcements from conductors. The recorded announcements are used for station information, closing doors, and other general messages. Station announcements rely on a wheel-rotation counter to make accurate stop announcements. [54] The recordings began in the late 1990s and feature Bloomberg Radio on-air speakers, who volunteered at the request of their employer Michael Bloomberg, who would later become mayor of New York City. [8] [55] Voices include Dianne Thompson (for the 1, 2, and 3 (and the discontinued 9) trains), Melissa Kleiner (original voice of the 4 and 5 trains outside of Manhattan), Jessica Ettinger Gottesman (current voice for the 4, 5, and 6 trains), Annie Bergen (for the 7 train and 42nd Street Shuttle), Catherine Cowdery (for the B, D, E, G, J, L, M, N, Q, R, (V discontinued), W, and Z trains), Kathleen Campion (for the A, C, and F trains, as well as the Franklin Avenue Shuttle and Rockaway Park Shuttle), and Charlie Pellett (for other announcements). [55] [56] Since 2018, Velina Mitchell has also done some of the announcements formerly performed by Pellett, particularly informational messages and station accessibility information. [57]
Female voices are typically used for station, route, and transfer/connection announcements, although Pellett announces the majority of the transfers on the A Division instead of the female voices. Pellett's recordings are used for most of the remaining announcements, most notably "Stand clear of the closing doors, please" before train doors closing, but also for safety announcements such as "Please be careful of the gap between the platform and the train" before entering a station with curved platforms, and "If you see something, say something." [55] [56] [58] With regard to why certain messages are voiced by males and others by females, MTA spokesperson Gene Sansone said in 2006, "Most of the orders are given by a male voice, while informational messages come from females. Even though this happened by accident, it is a lucky thing because a lot of psychologists agree that people are more receptive to orders from men and information from women." [56] [59] Manual announcements can still be made over the public address system by train operators and conductors. [34] [54]
In January 2020, as part of an agreement between the MTA and Comedy Central to promote actress Awkwafina's TV show Nora From Queens , the default pre-recorded announcements for the 7 train on the R188s were replaced with those from Awkwafina for one week. The announcements from Awkwafina featured jokes in addition to the standard station announcements. [60] [61] [62] The agreement was the first time that the MTA has replaced train announcements as a form of advertising. [63] In April 2024, the MTA indicated that it would record public service announcements by celebrities, which would be played on New Technology Trains for one year as part of a pilot program. [64] [65]
The R142s, R142As, R143s, and R188s feature electronic "strip maps." These maps utilize a total of 63 amber LED lights, numbered 001–063, to display stops, with a plastic card on top showing the route, stations, and transfers. A light will flash when a stop is being approached, and while idle at that stop. Lights turned off to indicate a stop already reached, or a part of the route not serviced on that particular trip. [1] [26] [39] LED arrows at either end of the map indicate the direction of service. [66]
Electronic strip maps were first tested on the R110A and R110B in the 1990s. [26] [34] While an upgrade from static route maps, most of the strip maps can only facilitate one service and must be turned off when a train is used on another route. [13] This problem is common on the 2 and 5 trains, which both use R142 cars based from the East 180th Street and 239th Street yards and have large amounts of route overlap on the IRT White Plains Road, Eastern Parkway, and Nostrand Avenue lines. [66] The problem is also seen occasionally on the J/Z and L trains, which use R143 cars from the East New York yard that is shared by all three services. To solve this problem, the MTA began replacing the individual strip maps for cars assigned to these routes in 2016, with combined strip maps showing both services; [66] the R143s would later be retrofitted with strip maps that also show all stops used by all three services beginning in late 2019. [67] [ better source needed ]
The R160s, R179s, and R211s employ digital display systems as an advanced alternative to strip maps. These systems update the stations at every stop, also giving the number of stops to each station listed. As the displays can be used by multiple routes instead of one, this allows for instant route or line changes with the correct information, which includes, but is not limited to, omitting certain stops (displayed as "Will not stop" in red). [33] [11] [13]
The R160s and R179s employ a system called the Flexible Information and Notice Display, or FIND. There are three of these in every car. This includes an LCD screen displaying the route, route information, and advertisements, as well as a dynamic red, yellow, and green LED strip map that displays the next ten stations, plus five consecutive "further stops" to riders. Although they function the same on both models, the FIND systems used on the R179s have slight differences. The LCD displays where the route's emblem is displayed are slightly larger than those on the R160s. If the FIND has gone blank, the R179 FIND displays "Route change: this map is not in use", as opposed to the R160 FIND, which displays "Listen to train crew for announcement." [33] [11] [68] [69]
The R211 introduces a new digital display system, known as the Flexible Ceiling Strip Display (FCSD). There are eight of these in each car, located above each set of doors. [70] : 338 An LCD strip map displays the next ten stations, plus consecutive "further stops". The screens of the R211s have the ability to display additional information when arriving at a station, such as specific bus transfers, elevator locations, and which car the customer is located in. [70] : 338 When the display is not being used for wayfinding purposes, the FCSD will show the text "Route Change: This Map is Not in Use", a media display, or an informational message. [70] : 341
New Technology Trains built between the 1990s and mid-2010s did not originally have digital advertising displays. In September 2017, the MTA announced plans to add 31,000 digital advertising screens in 5,134 cars, [71] which were installed by Outfront Media starting in 2019. [72] [73] In 2020, the MTA started displaying real-time service metrics on the screens, such as service changes and dynamic transfer information. [74] [75]
In the R211s, twelve digital advertising displays may be installed in each car, six on either side. [70] : 338 There are also provisions for eight Flexible Wall Displays, which are to be mounted next to the door leaves. [70] : 339–340
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system in New York City serving the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. It is owned by the government of New York City and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, an affiliate agency of the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Opened on October 27, 1904, the New York City Subway is one of the world's oldest public transit systems, one of the most-used, and the one with the most stations, with 472 stations in operation.
The C Eighth Avenue Local is a 19-mile-long (31 km) rapid transit service in the B Division of the New York City Subway. Its route emblem, or "bullet", is blue since it is a part of the IND Eighth Avenue Line in Manhattan.
The 7 Flushing Local and <7> Flushing Express are two rapid transit services in the A Division of the New York City Subway, providing local and express services along the full length of the IRT Flushing Line. Their route emblems, or "bullets", are colored purple, since they serve the Flushing Line.
The R32 was a New York City Subway car model built by the Budd Company from 1964 to 1965 for the IND/BMT B Division. A total of 600 R32s were built, numbered 3350–3949, though some cars were re-numbered. The R32 contract was divided into two subcontracts of 300 cars each: R32 and R32A ; the former was paid by the city's capital budget and the latter was paid through a revenue bond. All were arranged as married pairs.
The R142 is the first mass-produced model class of the newest generation or new technology (NTT) A Division cars for the New York City Subway. It was built by Bombardier Transportation in La Pocatière, Quebec, Canada and Barre, Vermont, U.S. with final assembly performed at Plattsburgh, New York, from 1999 to 2003. There are 880 cars numbered 6301–7180 and another 150 cars numbered 1101–1250, for a total of 1,030 cars, all arranged as five-car sets. Together with the R142As, they replaced the Redbird trains, including the R26, R28, R29, R33, R33S, and R36.
The R142A is the second order of new technology cars (NTTs) for the A Division of the New York City Subway. These cars were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in the U.S. at Yonkers, New York and Lincoln, Nebraska, and in Japan at Kobe, Hyōgo. They replaced the Redbird trains, including the R26, R28, R29, R33, R33S, and R36. The R142A fleet initially comprised 600 cars, arranged as five-car units.
The R42 was a New York City Subway car model built by the St. Louis Car Company between 1969 and 1970 for the IND/BMT B Division. There were 400 cars in the R42 fleet, numbered 4550–4949. It was the last 60-foot (18.29 m) B Division car built for the New York City Subway until the R143 in 2001, and the last car model class to be built in married pairs.
The New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system and has a large fleet of electric multiple unit rolling stock. As of September 2024, the New York City Subway has 6712 cars on the roster.
The R62A is a New York City Subway car model built between 1984 and 1987 by Bombardier Transportation for the A Division. The cars were built in La Pocatière, Quebec, with final assembly done in Auburn, New York and Barre, Vermont, under a license from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, manufacturer of the previous R62 order. A total of 825 cars were built, arranged as sets of three, four, or five cars per set. The cars replaced the remaining R17s, R21s, and R22s, which were all retired by early 1988.
The R68 is a B Division New York City Subway car order consisting of 425 cars built by the Westinghouse-Amrail Company, a joint venture of Westinghouse, ANF Industrie, Jeumont Schneider, and Alsthom. The cars were built in France from 1986 to 1988 and shipped through New York Harbor. Of the cars in the fleet, 416 are arranged in four-car sets while the other nine are single cars.
The R143 is a class of New Technology Train subway cars built by Kawasaki Rail Car Company for the New York City Subway's B Division. Delivered between 2001 and 2003, the cars displaced R40s and R42s that operated on the L service in conjunction with the BMT Canarsie Line's signal system being automated.
Most trains on the New York City Subway are manually operated. As of 2022, the system currently uses automatic block signaling, with fixed wayside signals and automatic train stops. Many portions of the signaling system were installed between the 1930s and 1960s. Because of the age of the subway system, many replacement parts are unavailable from signaling suppliers and must be custom-built for the New York City Transit Authority, which operates the subway. Additionally, some subway lines have reached their train capacity limits and cannot operate extra trains in the current system.
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.
The R179 is a class of 318 New Technology Train subway cars built by Bombardier Transportation for the New York City Subway's B Division. Entering service between 2017 and 2020, the cars replaced all remaining R32s and R42s.
The R188 is a class of new technology (NTT) New York City Subway cars built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries for the A Division. The fleet entered service in 2013, displacing the 1980s-era R62A cars that operated on the 7 and <7> services, in conjunction with the automation of the IRT Flushing Line's signal system with communications-based train control (CBTC). The R188 order also expanded the 7's fleet as part of the 7 Subway Extension, which opened in 2015.
The R211 is a class of New Technology Train (NTT) subway cars built for the New York City Transit Authority. Being built by Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing for the B Division of the New York City Subway and for the Staten Island Railway (SIR), they will replace two aging subway car models: all R44 cars on the SIR and all R46 subway cars. The order is split into three parts: R211A and R211T cars for the subway and R211S cars for the SIR. The R211Ts employ open gangways between cars, allowing passengers to see and walk through the entire length of the train – a feature not present on the subway's other rolling stock. The base order consists of 535 cars, with options for up to 1,077 additional cars.
The MPI MP8AC-3 is a lightweight diesel-electric locomotive built by the MotivePower division of Wabtec. It was designed from scratch as a work train engine for the New York City Subway system, where it is designated the R156.
Since the late 20th century, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has started several projects to maintain and improve the New York City Subway. Some of these projects, such as subway line automation, proposed platform screen doors, the FASTRACK maintenance program, and infrastructural improvements proposed in 2015–2019 Capital Program, contribute toward improving the system's efficiency. Others, such as train-arrival "countdown clocks", "Help Point" station intercoms, "On the Go! Travel Station" passenger kiosks, wireless and cellular network connections in stations, MetroCard fare payment alternatives, and digital ads, are meant to benefit individual passengers. Yet others, including the various methods of subway construction, do not directly impact the passenger interface, but are used to make subway operations efficient.
The R262 is a proposed New Technology Train-series subway car for the New York City Subway. It is expected to replace the current R62 and R62A rolling stock, which are used on the subway's A Division and were built in the mid-1980s.