R188 | |
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![]() An R188 train on the 7 leaving 52nd Street | |
![]() Interior of an R188 car | |
In service | 2013–present |
Manufacturer | Kawasaki Rail Car Company |
Built at |
|
Family name | NTT (new technology train) |
Constructed | 2010–2016 [1] |
Entered service |
|
Number built | 506 (126 new cars, 380 conversions) |
Number in service | 506 (418 in revenue service during rush hours) |
Formation | 5-car sets (A-B-B-B-A) 6-car sets (A-C-B-B-B-A) |
Fleet numbers | R142A Conversion Sets: 7211–7590 New R188 Sets: 7811–7898 New R188 "C" Cars: 7899–7936 |
Capacity | 176 (A car) 188 (B & C cars) |
Operators | New York City Subway |
Depots | Corona Yard [2] [3] |
Service(s) assigned | ![]() Assignments as of June 30, 2024 |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Stainless steel with fiberglass end bonnets |
Train length | 11 car train: 564 ft 8 in (172.11 m) |
Car length | 51 ft 4 in (15.65 m) [6] |
Width | 8 ft 7+3⁄16 in (2,621 mm) |
Height | 11 ft 10+5⁄8 in (3,623 mm) |
Floor height | 3 ft 7+3⁄4 in (1.11 m) |
Platform height | 3 ft 7+3⁄4 in (1.11 m) |
Entry | Level |
Doors | 6 sets of 54 inch wide side doors per car |
Maximum speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) Service 66 mph (110 km/h) Design |
Weight | "A" car: 73,332 pounds (33,263 kg) "B" and "C" cars: 67,721 pounds (30,718 kg) |
Traction system | PWM 2-level IGBT–VVVF (Bombardier MITRAC) |
Traction motors | 2 or 4 [lower-alpha 1] × Bombardier 1508C 150 hp (111.855 kW) 3-phase AC induction motor |
Power output | 2,100 hp (1,565.970 kW) (5-car set) 2,400 hp (1,789.680 kW) (6-car set) |
Acceleration | 2.5 mph/s (1.1 m/s2) |
Deceleration | 3.0 mph/s (1.3 m/s2) (full service) 3.2 mph/s (1.4 m/s2) (emergency) |
Electric system(s) | Third rail, 625 V DC |
Current collector(s) | Contact shoe |
Braking system(s) | WABCO RT-96 tread brake system; Dynamic braking propulsion 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 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.
Of the 506 cars in the fleet, only 126 were built brand-new; the remaining 380 cars were originally part of the R142A fleet that entered service in 2000, before being upgraded to R188s with the installation of CBTC equipment. [7] The fleet first entered passenger service on November 9, 2013, and the final cars were delivered in June 2016.
The R188 fleet consists of 380 converted R142A cars that are numbered 7211–7590, as well as 126 brand-new cars numbered 7811–7936.
Cars 7211–7590 (380 cars) used to be R142As and were converted to R188s from 2010 to 2016, car numbers 7811–7898 (88 cars) are the new R188 cars built to supplement the increase in 7 service, and cars 7899–7936 (38 cars) are the new R188 "C" cars built to expand converted R142A sets from five cars to six cars (Most A-Division lines use 10-car trains, while the 7 and <7> use 11-car trains, necessitating the addition of one new car to convert the sets).
The R188 contract was divided into two sub-orders: 33 main order cars (7211–7220, 7811–7832, and 7899) and 473 option order cars (7221–7590, 7833–7898 and 7900–7936).
Currently, all R188s are maintained at the Corona Yard and assigned to the 7 and <7>.
The R188s are equipped with the latest control systems, HVAC, and public address systems to guarantee the utmost safety and passenger comfort. They are visually very similar to the R142s and nearly identical to the R142As, but due to electrical incompatibilities, in addition to being equipped with CBTC, the three types are not interoperable. Therefore, these cars are compatible only with the converted R142As that feature CBTC.
Like the R142s, R142As, and R143s, the R188s feature the electronic strip map with all stops on the 7 route. The maps come with an indicator that can be set to either a local or express train.
On June 10, 2016, [8] cars 7501–7928–7510 had their route signs modified with green circle/red diamond LED signs and a LED numbered-route display, similar to those on the R62A sets that were previously used on the 7 , which are now on the 6 . This modification was done to make it easier for passengers to differentiate between an express or a local train. In the following year, car 7501 had the LCD destination indicator parts of its destination signs replaced with LED panels to make it aesthetically similar to the aforementioned route display. [9] Cars 7505 and 7503 received the same modifications in mid-2019 and mid-2020, respectively. It is currently unknown if the remainder of the rolling stock will be retrofitted with these features.
In April 2017, car 7502 was equipped with a special test truck, replacing the original truck found on other cars. [lower-alpha 2] [ better source needed ]
In September 2018, cars 7847–7848 were fitted with new LCD advertisement screens, replacing the traditional paper advertisements that are usually located there. Various additional cars have since been fitted with these screens. [lower-alpha 3] [ better source needed ]
All planned orders | # of converted cars | # of new C cars | # of new A & B cars | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Total | Total | ||||
Main order | Option order | Main order | Option order | Main order | Option order | |
Original proposal [10] | 140 | 14 | 352 [lower-alpha 4] | |||
10 | 130 | 1 | 13 | 22 | 330 | |
2010–2014 Capital Program [11] | 360 | 36 | 110 | |||
10 | 350 | 1 | 35 | 22 | 88 | |
Final contract [12] | 380 | 38 | 88 | |||
10 | 370 | 1 | 37 | 22 | 66 |
At the time that the R188 order was placed, 40 eleven-car sets of R62As were assigned to the 7 service. The R188 order originally consisted of 186 new cars, as well as 131 converted R142A cars compatible with communication-based train control (CBTC) and an additional 189 R142A conversion kits for the MTA, totaling a possible 506 cars, or 46 eleven-car trains. Of these 506 cars, 230 are arranged in five-car sets while the remaining 276 are arranged in six-car sets. [10] Six extra R188 trainsets were ordered in conjunction with CBTC installation and 7 Subway Extension. The trains are configured so that the five-car consist on each train is located on the Manhattan-bound end and the six-car consist is located on the Main Street-bound end, due to the position of conductor's boards on platforms along the 7 route.
According to the 2010–2014 capital plan, 146 new cars were to be purchased. Of these new cars, 110 cars would go to make up 10 new eleven-car trains, while the remaining 36 cars were to be "C" cars that would go to expanding 36 CBTC upgraded R142A five-car sets (360 existing cars) to six-car lengths. The original planned total of 46 eleven-car trains (506 cars) would still result from this order. [11]
In the latest revision, however, only 88 new cars were to be purchased to form 8 new eleven-car trains, with 38 "C" cars, rather than 10 eleven-car trains. Likewise, the number of conversion cars was altered to 370. This change was made because only two sets of ten-car R62As were needed for fleet expansion of the mainline IRT, as opposed to the previously projected four sets, and thus the MTA and Kawasaki opted to convert two additional R142A train sets instead of manufacturing two new sets. The MTA also decided to have Kawasaki perform all of the conversions at the Yonkers plant instead of 207th Street Shop as part of that contract modification. [12]
The R188 contract was awarded in spring 2010 to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, who won by default since only two manufacturers qualified, and Bombardier Transportation opted not to bid on the contract, citing the small order and large requirement for engineering resources. The contract was specified at $87,094,272 for the base order, which consisted of 33 cars (23 new cars and 10 conversions), and $384,315,168 for the option order, which consisted of 473 cars (123 new cars, and 350 conversions) for a total price of $471,409,440.
According to a February 2012 update, the MTA had expected to have 8 conversion sets in service by the time that the 7 Subway Extension is opened for revenue service. In addition, the breakdown of the trainsets has been disclosed. Operationally, the R188s are coupled as such:
A-B-B-B-A+A-B-B-B-C-A
where dashes signify link bars, and the addition sign denotes couplers. Thirty-eight R142A B cars, therefore, were converted into R188 "C" cars, in addition to the 38 deliveries of new "C" cars (not including the "C" cars in the eight new 11-car sets). [13]
The 10 converted R142A cars from the base order (7211–7220) were completed in December 2011 at Kawasaki's Yonkers facility and were delivered for testing on the Flushing Line in 2012. The 23 new R188 cars from the base order (two eleven-car sets, 7811–7832, and one conversion set "C" car, 7899) were completed in mid-2012, delivered in November 2013, and entered service in December 2013. The 66 new option cars (7833–7898) were also completed in mid-2012 and have been delivered, while the remaining 37 new cars and the 370 conversions were set to be converted and delivered from February 2014 until the 4th quarter of 2015. [14] [15]
On November 9, 2013, the first R188 train, consisting of cars 7811–7821, was placed in service on the 7 train as part of its 30-day revenue acceptance test. [16] After successful completion, it entered revenue service by December 15, 2013. By July 2014, the delivery schedule had slipped by about 6–7 months. [17] However, delivery of the cars sped up; all remaining R188 cars were expected to be delivered by the end of July 2016, [7] but the last R188 cars were delivered on June 14, 2016. By July 22, 2016, all R188s were in service. [8]
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 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. [18] [19] [20] The agreement was the first time that the MTA has replaced train announcements as a form of advertising. [21]
In September 2022, New York Mets television broadcast announcers Ron Darling, Keith Hernandez, and Gary Cohen pre-recorded announcements along the 7 line.
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 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 R62 is a New York City Subway car model built between 1983 and 1985 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe, Japan, for the A Division. A total of 325 cars were built, originally as single units. When the reliability of the fleet improved, they were converted to five-car sets. The cars replaced the remaining R12s, R14s, and R15s, which were all retired by the end of 1984.
The R68A is a B Division New York City Subway car order consisting of 200 cars built between 1988 and 1989 by Kawasaki Railcar Company in Kobe, Japan, with final assembly done at the Kawasaki plant in Yonkers, New York. A total of 200 cars were built, arranged in four-car sets.
The R110A was a New York City Subway car model built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in 1992 as a prototype New Technology Train to test various technologies. There were ten cars arranged as five-car sets. They were designed to test features that would be implemented on future mass-production New Tech Train orders.
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.
The R21 was a New York City Subway car built by St. Louis Car Company from 1956 to 1957 for the IRT A Division. A total of 250 cars were built, arranged as single units. Two versions were manufactured: Westinghouse (WH)-powered cars and General Electric (GE)-powered cars.
The R28 was a New York City Subway car model built by American Car and Foundry (ACF) from 1960 to 1961. The cars were a "follow-up" or supplemental stock for the A Division's R26s and closely resemble them. The average car cost per R28 was $114,495. A total of 100 cars were built, arranged in married pairs.
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 R211 is a new technology train (NTT) New York City Subway car being built by Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing for the B Division and the Staten Island Railway (SIR). They will replace two aging subway car models: all R44 cars on the Staten Island Railway 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.
New Technology Train (NTT) 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.
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.