MR-63
Encyclopedia
The MR-63 is the first and oldest EMU
rapid transit
train type operated on the Montreal Metro
in the city of Montréal
, Québec
.
Based on the Paris Métro
's MP 59
rolling stock, the MR-63 were constructed by Canadian Vickers from 1965–1967 and was introduced on October 14, 1966 on the opening of the Montreal Metro, and have continued to provide 45 years of good and loyal service due to it having undergone numerous technological and reliability upgrades, starting with the introduction of Automatic Train Control
in 1976 (with subsequent revisions of hardware and software), major refurbishments of all 336 coaches by GEC Alsthom at Pointe St. Charles workshops in 1993, solid-state door interlocks in 2003, modern ergonomic driver cabs with new digital dashboards, and automatic station announcements in 2005.
The MR-63 is identified with grey interiors, four ventilation hoods protruding over the roof of each car, two 113 kW (154 hp
) 360-V series traction motors that make a whining noise, and round cab headlights. Montreal's rolling stock is among the oldest still in use on any metro system in the world.
Maintenance of Montreal's subway cars is rigorous, as reliability levels (Mean Distance Between Failures/MDBF ratings) are more than double that of typical North American subway cars by North American standards (at 200,000 km/124,300 mi in 2004). However, they suffer elevated levels of vandalism, they retain many obsolete components, parts availability is diminishing, and ride quality has deteriorated over the years as their suspension systems and rubber spring packs harden with old age. Poor ride quality has not been attributed to the tires or tracks.
The MR-63 model uses a series-to-parallel servo camshaft rheostat to control and regulate power to its traction motors; this control system can be heard tapping under the floor of a motor car as the train undergoes rapid acceleration at an initial rate of 1.33 m/s² (3.0 mph or 4.8 km/h per second). This control system also features a dynamic rheostatic braking mode that uses the motors to slow the train, turning the motors into generators and dissipating the resulting energy as heat in the rheostat grid.
The MR-63 trains are expected to be retired starting from 2014 with the introduction of the MPM-10
trains, and the last MR-63 trains are to be retired by 2017.
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
train type operated on the Montreal Metro
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
in the city of Montréal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
Based on the Paris Métro
Paris Métro
The Paris Métro or Métropolitain is the rapid transit metro system in Paris, France. It has become a symbol of the city, noted for its density within the city limits and its uniform architecture influenced by Art Nouveau. The network's sixteen lines are mostly underground and run to 214 km ...
's MP 59
MP 59
The MP 59 is a rubber tired variant of electric multiple units used on Paris's Métro system, and is the oldest type still in regular passenger service. Manufactured by GEC Alsthom, they were first introduced in 1963 when the busiest routes of Lines 1 and 4 were converted to rubber tired pneumatic...
rolling stock, the MR-63 were constructed by Canadian Vickers from 1965–1967 and was introduced on October 14, 1966 on the opening of the Montreal Metro, and have continued to provide 45 years of good and loyal service due to it having undergone numerous technological and reliability upgrades, starting with the introduction of Automatic Train Control
Automatic Train Control
Automatic Train Control is a train protection system for railways, ensuring the safe and smooth operation of trains on ATC-enabled lines. Its main advantages include making possible the use of cab signalling instead of track-side signals and the use of smooth deceleration patterns in lieu of the...
in 1976 (with subsequent revisions of hardware and software), major refurbishments of all 336 coaches by GEC Alsthom at Pointe St. Charles workshops in 1993, solid-state door interlocks in 2003, modern ergonomic driver cabs with new digital dashboards, and automatic station announcements in 2005.
The MR-63 is identified with grey interiors, four ventilation hoods protruding over the roof of each car, two 113 kW (154 hp
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
) 360-V series traction motors that make a whining noise, and round cab headlights. Montreal's rolling stock is among the oldest still in use on any metro system in the world.
Maintenance of Montreal's subway cars is rigorous, as reliability levels (Mean Distance Between Failures/MDBF ratings) are more than double that of typical North American subway cars by North American standards (at 200,000 km/124,300 mi in 2004). However, they suffer elevated levels of vandalism, they retain many obsolete components, parts availability is diminishing, and ride quality has deteriorated over the years as their suspension systems and rubber spring packs harden with old age. Poor ride quality has not been attributed to the tires or tracks.
The MR-63 model uses a series-to-parallel servo camshaft rheostat to control and regulate power to its traction motors; this control system can be heard tapping under the floor of a motor car as the train undergoes rapid acceleration at an initial rate of 1.33 m/s² (3.0 mph or 4.8 km/h per second). This control system also features a dynamic rheostatic braking mode that uses the motors to slow the train, turning the motors into generators and dissipating the resulting energy as heat in the rheostat grid.
The MR-63 trains are expected to be retired starting from 2014 with the introduction of the MPM-10
MPM-10
The MPM-10 are the future Montreal Metro subway trains set to be put in service in 2014. A test train will first be delivered in 2013. They will replace the aging MR-63 trains starting from 2014...
trains, and the last MR-63 trains are to be retired by 2017.