In service 2000–present | Constructed 1999–2004 | |
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Manufacturer Kawasaki Rail Car Company Built at Yonkers, New York, United States
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan Family name NTT (new technology train) Replaced R26, R28, R29, R33, R33 WF, R36, R36 WF | ||
The R142A, along with the R142, are the first and second part of the fourth generation of somewhat similar new technology cars (NTTs) for the A Division of the New York City Subway. These cars were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan. Along with the R142s, they replaced the Redbird trains, including the R26, R28, R29, R33, R33 WF, R36, and R36 WF. The R142As were built as fleet numbers #7211–7810, but only the cars from #7591–7810 are currently R142As; cars #7211–7590 were converted into R188s. A total of 380 R142As were converted into R188s for the 7 and the remaining 220 cars remain unconverted.
Background
The R142A cars were built by Kawasaki at Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan with final assembly performed at Kawasaki Railcar Corp.'s American Facilities located at Lincoln, NE, USA & Yonkers, NY, USA from 1999 through 2004, and have many of the same features as the R142, built by Bombardier. The 400 R142A cars of the main order are numbered #7211–7610; the 120 option cars are numbered #7611–7730. Eighty cars, built under a supplemental contract as the R142S, were built by Kawasaki in 2003-04 to supplement the R142As. They are numbered as #7731–7810. They are mechanically and physically identical to all other R142As, and are considered part of the R142A fleet.
The first ten R142A cars, #7211–7220 were delivered on December 10, 1999. Regular service began on the 6 on July 10, 2000 after several months of testing and the ironing out of all bugs. The cars maintained at the Jerome Yard run on the 4 while the cars maintained at the Westchester Yard run on the 6.
Cars #7211–7590 (a total of 380 cars) have been retrofitted with CBTC for Flushing Line CBTC service and were converted to R188s. Cars #7591-7810 (the remaining 220 cars) are to remain unconverted.