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R62 (New York City Subway car)
Encyclopedia
The R62 is a New York City Subway
car built between 1983 and 1985 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries
in Kobe, Japan, serving the A
Division (IRT
). The R62 fleet is numbered 1301 - 1625, totaling to a number of 325 cars. Each car was purchased at an average price of US$
918,293.
(NYCTA) was looking into capital maintenance and bond acts to replace its aging fleet from the 1950s and early 1960s, and to rebuild or renovate older cars. The plan called for 325 IRT cars, under the R62 contract, ordered on April 12, 1982, and awarded to Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan. This was the first time a foreign company was chosen to build cars for the New York City Subway.
The R62 was the first stainless steel
and air-conditioned
subway car built for the "A" Division. They continued a controversial interior design by employing bucket seat
ing. This reduced the number of seats per car when compared to standard bench seating, but had a higher capacity for standing. This design originated with the R44
, and continued with the R62A
, R68
and R68A
cars. They also feature exterior speakers for the benefit of passengers on the platform. Several cars in the order (1588–90) have bench seat
ing after complaints upon delivery. Bucket seating is no longer used on the newest New York City Subway cars.
The first set of R62s were delivered in October 1983. The cars were built as "single" units, and remained as singles until 1991, when they were linked into 5-car sets to save money and equipment. They entered a 30-day testing program on the line on November 29th. At that time, the new cars came as a great relief for IRT riders who were used to non-air conditioned and graffiti-filled trains. After several test runs in early 1984, the R62 cars entered regular service on the line. All 325 cars were in service by August 1985, making the the first entirely graffiti-free route in the system in many years. Kawasaki did not want to build the additional cars the MTA wanted as a separate part of the R62 order (under contract R62A
for the same price). Bombardier
, an Integrated Transportation rail car company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, won a contract to supply these additional 825 cars.
The R62s replaced the R14
and R15
subway car classes. Initial replacement of the R62s is scheduled for 2023 with additional replacements in 2026. The MTA is proposing mid-life technological upgrades for the R62s, including LED
destination signs and automated announcements.
On October 25, 2000, during the 2000 World Series
, a rear-end collision occurred at the Fordham Road
station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line
in the Bronx. Car 1369 was scrapped in 2005. Car 1366 and half of car 1370 are at the FDNY Randalls Island training center. Cars 1367 and 1368 were reefed in February 2008.
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
car built between 1983 and 1985 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company
is the rolling stock production division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Since beginning operations in 1906, the company has produced more than 90,000 railroad vehicles.- Products :...
in Kobe, Japan, serving the A
A Division (New York City Subway)
The A Division, also known as the IRT Division, is a division of the New York City Subway, consisting of the lines operated with services designated by numbers and the 42nd Street Shuttle. These lines and services were operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company before the 1940 city takeover...
Division (IRT
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company was the private operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904, as well as earlier elevated railways and additional rapid transit lines in New York City. The IRT was purchased by the City in June 1940...
). The R62 fleet is numbered 1301 - 1625, totaling to a number of 325 cars. Each car was purchased at an average price of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
918,293.
Specifications
In 1980, with the bus and train fleets in poor shape, the New York City Transit AuthorityNew York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
(NYCTA) was looking into capital maintenance and bond acts to replace its aging fleet from the 1950s and early 1960s, and to rebuild or renovate older cars. The plan called for 325 IRT cars, under the R62 contract, ordered on April 12, 1982, and awarded to Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan. This was the first time a foreign company was chosen to build cars for the New York City Subway.
The R62 was the first stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
and air-conditioned
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
subway car built for the "A" Division. They continued a controversial interior design by employing bucket seat
Bucket seat
A bucket seat is a seat contoured to hold one person, distinct from bench seats which are flat platforms designed to seat multiple people. Bucket seats are standard in fast cars to keep riders in place when making sharp or quick turns...
ing. This reduced the number of seats per car when compared to standard bench seating, but had a higher capacity for standing. This design originated with the R44
R44 (New York City Subway car)
The R44 is a New York City Transit car model that debuted in 1971 and currently operates on the Staten Island Railway.-History:The R44 was the first 75-foot car for the New York City Subway. It was introduced for the B Division under the idea from New York City Transit that a train of eight cars...
, and continued with the R62A
R62A (New York City Subway car)
R62A is a series of New York City Subway cars, built by Bombardier in Montreal, Quebec, with final assembly done in Barre, Vermont.-Description:...
, R68
R68 (New York City Subway car)
The R68 is a type of New York City Subway car for the "B" Division. The 425-car contract was a joint venture of Westinghouse AM-Rail Company, ANF Industrie of Paris, Jeumont Schneider, and Alstom. The cars were built in France from 1986 to 1988 and shipped to New York Harbor...
and R68A
R68A (New York City Subway car)
R68A is a class of New York City Subway cars that were built in Kobe, Japan by Kawasaki Rail Car Company.- History and Description:There were 200 R68A cars built from 1988–89. They first entered into service in April 1988 on the train...
cars. They also feature exterior speakers for the benefit of passengers on the platform. Several cars in the order (1588–90) have bench seat
Bench seat
The bench seat was the traditional seat installed in American automobiles. This seat featured a continuous pad running the full width of the cabin...
ing after complaints upon delivery. Bucket seating is no longer used on the newest New York City Subway cars.
The first set of R62s were delivered in October 1983. The cars were built as "single" units, and remained as singles until 1991, when they were linked into 5-car sets to save money and equipment. They entered a 30-day testing program on the line on November 29th. At that time, the new cars came as a great relief for IRT riders who were used to non-air conditioned and graffiti-filled trains. After several test runs in early 1984, the R62 cars entered regular service on the line. All 325 cars were in service by August 1985, making the the first entirely graffiti-free route in the system in many years. Kawasaki did not want to build the additional cars the MTA wanted as a separate part of the R62 order (under contract R62A
R62A (New York City Subway car)
R62A is a series of New York City Subway cars, built by Bombardier in Montreal, Quebec, with final assembly done in Barre, Vermont.-Description:...
for the same price). Bombardier
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
, an Integrated Transportation rail car company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, won a contract to supply these additional 825 cars.
The R62s replaced the R14
R14 (New York City Subway car)
The R14 was a New York City Subway car built in 1949 by the American Car and Foundry Company. They were a "follow-up" or supplemental stock for the "A" Division's R12s and look exactly same, except for a different floor pattern...
and R15
R15 (New York City Subway car)
The R15 was a New York City Subway car built in 1950. Built by American Car and Foundry Company, these cars were somewhat similar to the R12/14 cars. These cars were the first to feature round roofs, porthole door windows, and conductors door operating apparatus controls located inside the...
subway car classes. Initial replacement of the R62s is scheduled for 2023 with additional replacements in 2026. The MTA is proposing mid-life technological upgrades for the R62s, including LED
LED display
An LED display is a flat panel display, which uses light-emitting diodes as a video display. An LED panel is a small display, or a component of a larger display. They are typically used outdoors in store signs and billboards, and in recent years have also become commonly used in destination signs...
destination signs and automated announcements.
Accident history
On August 28th, 1991, a sleep-deprived and intoxicated motorman crashed a southbound train north of the 14th Street – Union Square station in Manhattan. The train was diverted from the express track to the local due to repairs, and the motorman sped through the switch at 40 m.p.h.; as a result, the first car made the switch while several other cars in the consist did not. Five riders were killed and several dozen were injured. Cars 1435, 1436, 1437, 1439 and 1440 were wrecked in this accident, and are now all scrapped and off MTA property. The remaining five cars of the consist (cars 1431, 1432, 1433, 1434 and 1438) are now unitized.On October 25, 2000, during the 2000 World Series
2000 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 2000 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe opener fell on two anniversaries. Twenty-five years prior, Boston Red Sox's catcher Carlton Fisk ended Game 6 of the 1975 World Series with his famous home run off the left field foul pole in Fenway Park in Boston to beat...
, a rear-end collision occurred at the Fordham Road
Fordham Road (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)
Fordham Road is a local station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Fordham Road and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times. It has old style signs painted over and covered up with new style signs, and features new...
station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line
IRT Jerome Avenue Line
The IRT Jerome Avenue Line, also unofficially known as IRT Woodlawn Line, is a New York City Subway Line along Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. It was opened on June 2, 1917 as a shuttle service between Kingsbridge Road and 149th Street. This was in advance of through service to the IRT Lexington Avenue...
in the Bronx. Car 1369 was scrapped in 2005. Car 1366 and half of car 1370 are at the FDNY Randalls Island training center. Cars 1367 and 1368 were reefed in February 2008.