In service 2000–present Constructed 1999–2003 | Built at Plattsburgh, New York | |
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Manufacturer Bombardier Transportation Family name NTT (new technology train) Replaced R26, R28, R29, R33, R33 WF, R36, R36 WF | ||
The R142 is the first model class of the newest generation or new technology (NTT) IRT cars for the New York City Subway. It was built by Bombardier in La Pocatiere, Quebec and Barre, Vermont with final assembly performed at Plattsburgh, New York, from 1999 to 2003. There are 880 cars numbered #6301–7180, with another 150 cars numbered #1101–1250, for a total of 1,030 cars. Along with the R142As, they replaced all of the existing Redbird trains, including the R26, R28, R29, R33, R33 WF, R36, and R36 WF.
Contents
History
On April 30, 1997, the Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved the purchase of 680 cars from Bombardier (the R142s) and 400 cars from Kawasaki (the R142As). The original purchase order was for 740 cars, but because of the intense competition between the firms, the MTA was able to purchase 340 cars at the same price. The entire cost of the purchase was $1.45 billion. The new subway cars were based on the results of the tests from the R110A and R110B test trains. The historic deal came after round-the-clock negotiations and the contract was the largest subway car purchase in the history of the New York City Subway up to this point.
The first 10 R142s numbered #6301–6310 were delivered on November 16, 1999. Regular service began on the 2 train on July 10, 2000, after several months of testing and troubleshooting of all bugs. The R142s and R142As replaced all of the Redbirds—the R26, R28, R29, R33, R33 WF, R36 and R36 WF IRT cars by late 2003.
Description
The 1,030 R142 cars have Alstom ONIX AC propulsion, electronic braking, automatic climate control, electronic strip maps, and an on-board intercom system. The R142 and the R142A was partly designed by Antenna Design.
There are two types of cars: "A" (cab at one end) and "B" (no cabs). "A" cars are powered with four traction motors each, with the passenger doors opposite each other. The "B" cars are powered by two traction motors at the number-two end, and the passenger doors are staggered (car ends are numbered on the lower body just above the truck). The trains are linked up in 5-car, A-B-B-B-A sets, but also can be linked in sets of 4 cars (A-B-B-A), 6 cars (A-B-B-B-B-A), 9 cars (one 5-car set and one 4-car set), or 11 cars (one 5-car set and one 6-car set).
The R142/A cars are similar to the R110A cars, with 54-inch side doors (about 9 inches narrower than the R110A doors, which were 63 inches, and 4 inches wider than the doors on the R62/As, which were 50 inches). All car ends have windows, allowing passengers to see through to the next car, except unit ends, where the cab walls prevent such visibility. R142 car bodies are stainless steel.
Recorded announcements
The R142 and R142As are the first fleets to feature recorded announcements. All later NTT's will later have this feature.
The recorded announcements are by:
These people were news anchors with Bloomberg Radio at the time the announcements were recorded. Since then, Ettinger and Pellett are now at 1010 WINS-AM and Sirius Satellite Radio working with Howard Stern and his Howard 100 news team.