R160B (New York City Subway car)
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The R160B is a class of New York City Subway cars. The base order of 260 cars are under construction by Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc., with the remaining 400 cars on option. These cars will be built in five-car sets and are similar to the R143 car fleet.
One of the major changes and highlights of the new cars is the addition of the electronic "FIND" (Flexible INformation 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. This display updates the stations at every stop, also giving the number of stops to each station listed, and replaces a plastic card with a set route and stations printed on, which was used in the R-142 and 143 cars. This allows instant route or line changes with the correct information.
These cars are intended to replace all R38 and slant R40 cars, as well as the GE-rebuilt R32s and Coney Island-rebuilt R42s. They are officially numbered as 8713-8972.
[edit] Specifications
- Car builder: Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc., in Kobe, Japan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Yonkers, New York
- Car body: Pure stainless steel sides with fiberglass front and rear bonnet
- Unit numbers : Only five-car set: 8713-8972 (primary order)
- Fleet size: 260 cars
- Car dimensions:
-
- Length: 60 feet, 2 inches (18.34 m)
- Width: 10 feet (3.048 m)
- Height: 12 feet, 1⅝ inches (3.7 m)
- Car weight: 73,000 lb
- Track gauge: 4 feet, 8½ inches (1.435 m)
- Propulsion system: Siemens AC traction motor
- Braking system Dynamic braking and standard tread brakes
- Seating capacity: Cab car: 42, No cab: 44
- Total capacity (seating plus standing): Cab car: 144, No cab: 132
- Cost per new car: US$1,308,342
[edit] Latest news
- May 28, 2005: It was announced that the first test cars would be delivered in Summer 2005; production cars would begin to arrive in 2006.
- July 21, 2005: The first Kawasaki R160B cars arrives in New York.[1]
- August 27, 2005: R160B cars 8718-8722 arrives.
- August 31, 2005: Cars 8713-8722 are transferred to Coney Island Overhaul Shops for testing.
- September 12, 2005: Cars 8713-8722 are moved to Piktin Yard in Brooklyn. Cars were tested on Rockaways speed test track in Broad Channel, Queens.
- November 29, 2005: The MTA holds a public viewing of the R160B cars at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street station from 2pm to 7pm. The event was to gauge public opinion on the new displays.
- April 2006: Problems with wheel trucks delayed testing; new car delivery delayed for one year, and another test period of thirty days was initiated.
- August 17, 2006: Cars 8713-8722 are assigned to the N service. This marks the first day of a thirty day in-service testing period. Any problem, even as minor as a stuck door, will result in the train being taken out of service for repairs. This will reset the clock and another 30 day run must be performed. If the trial is successful, New York City Transit will begin accepting the rest of the initial order of 260 cars from Kawasaki.
- August 19, 2006: The test train is taken out of service due to problems with the propulsion. Once repairs have been made, the 30-day clock will be reset.[2]
- September 11, 2006: Revenue tests resumes on the A (to/from Far Rockaway).
- October 10, 2006: Revenue tests on the A line are concluded.
- November 15, 2006: R160B cars have passed the 30 day period and will be put into permanent revenue service, along with ongoing delivery of new cars. Line assignments of the R160B cars are pending. [3]
- November 17, 2006: R160B cars have been assigned to the N and Q Lines and will be running full-time on these lines. [4]
