| R68 | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Diligent_on_West_End.jpg) An R68 train on the D at 18th Avenue | |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:R68_G_Train_Interior.jpg) Interior of an R68 car | |
| In service | 1986–present |
| Manufacturer | Westinghouse-Amrail Company (aka Francorail): Westinghouse, ANF Industrie (all cars) Jeumont Schneider (2500–2724) Alstom (2725–2924) |
| Family name | SMEE |
| Replaced | |
| Constructed | 1986–1988 |
| Entered service |
|
| Number built | 425 |
| Number in service | 425 (356 in revenue service during rush hours) |
| Formation | 2500–2915 (416 cars) are linked into 4 car units 2916–2924 (9 cars) remain as single units with OPTO switches added |
| Fleet numbers | 2500–2924 |
| Capacity | 70 (seated) |
| Operators | New York City Subway |
| Depots | Concourse Yard (268 cars) Coney Island Yard (157 cars)[1][2] |
| Service(s) assigned |  –48 cars (6 trains)  –232 cars (29 trains)   – 72 cars (9 trains) – 8 cars (1 train, p.m. rush, used in B service in the a.m. rush) – 4 cars (2 trains)[3][4]Assignments as of June 30, 2024 |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Stainless steel with fiberglass end bonnets |
| Train length | 2 car train: 150 feet (46 m) 4 car train: 300 feet (91 m) 8 car train: 600 feet (180 m) |
| Car length | 74 ft 8.5 in (22.77 m) (over anticlimbers) |
| Width | 10 ft (3,048 mm) (over threshold) |
| Height | 12.08 ft (3,682 mm) |
| Platform height | 3.76 ft (1.15 m) |
| Doors | 8 sets of 50 inch wide side doors per car |
| Maximum speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
| Weight | 92,720 lb (42,057 kilograms) |
| Traction system | E-Cam control (Adtranz) |
| Traction motors | 115 hp (85.8 kW) 1447J DC motor (Westinghouse) |
| Acceleration | 2.5 mph/s (4.0 km/(h⋅s)) |
| Deceleration | 3.0 mph/s (4.8 km/(h⋅s)) (full service) 3.2 mph/s (5.1 km/(h⋅s)) (emergency) |
| Electric system(s) | Third rail, 600 V DC |
| Current collector(s) | Contact shoe |
| Braking system(s) | New York Air Braking (NYAB) GSX23 Newtran "SMEE" braking system, NYAB tread brake rigging model TBU190 |
| Safety system(s) | dead man's switch, tripcock |
| Coupling system | Westinghouse H2C |
| Headlight type | halogen light bulbs |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The R68 is a B Division New York City Subway car order consisting of 425 cars built by the Westinghouse-Amrail Company (aka Francorail), a joint venture of Westinghouse, ANF Industrie, Jeumont Schneider, and Alsthom. The cars were built in France from 1986 to 1988 and shipped through New York Harbor. Of the cars in the fleet, 416 are arranged in four-car sets while the other nine are single cars.
The R68 was the third R-type contract to be built with 75-foot (22.86 m) cars (the previous two being the R44 and R46). The first R68 train entered service on June 20, 1986. The R68's manufacturers suffered from significant system integration problems, and the fleet became known as a "lemon" in its early years, but its performance was improved following modifications by the New York City Transit Authority. In the 2010s, a small number of R68s received experimental upgrades.
- ^ https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2020s/2024/2024-07-bulletin.pdf
- ^
- 'Subdivision 'A' Car Assignment Effective December 19, 2021'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. December 17, 2021.
- 'Subdivision 'B' Car Assignment Effective December 19, 2021'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Car Assignments: Cars Required June 30, 2024" (PDF). The Bulletin. 67 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association. July 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ 'Subdivision B Car Assignment Effective June 30, 2024'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. June 30, 2024.