New York City Subway rolling stock


The New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system and has a large fleet of rolling stock., the New York City Subway has cars on the roster.
The system maintains two separate fleets of passenger cars: one for the A Division routes, the other for the B Division routes. All A Division equipment is approximately wide and long. B Division cars, on the other hand, are about wide and either or long. The A Division and B Division trains operate only in their own division; operating in the other division is not allowed. All rolling stock, in both the A and B Divisions, run on the same standard gauge and use the same third-rail geometry and voltage. A typical revenue train consists of 8 to 10 cars, although in practice, range between 2 and 11 cars.
The subway's rolling stock have operated under the Interborough Rapid Transit, Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit, Independent Subway System, and their merge to the now-called New York City Transit Authority. Cars purchased by the City of New York since the inception of the IND and for the other divisions beginning in 1948 are identified by the letter "R" followed by a number. Various kinds of cars are also used for maintenance work, including flatcars and vacuum trains. Some retired fleet have also been preserved.

Total fleet

, the New York City Subway has cars on the roster. The system maintains two separate fleets of passenger cars: one for the A Division routes, the other for the B Division routes. All A Division equipment is approximately wide and long. B Division cars, on the other hand, are about wide and either or long. The 75-foot cars, such as R44s, R46s, R68s, and R68As, are not permitted on BMT Eastern Division – the J, L, M, and Z trains – because of sharper curves on those tracks.
The A Division and B Division trains operate only in their own division; operating in the other division is not allowed. The A Division sections have narrower tunnel segments, tighter curves, and tighter platform clearances than the B Division sections, so B Division trains cannot fit in the A Division tunnels and stations, while A Division trains would have an unacceptably large gap between the platform and train if they were allowed in the B Division lines. Also, the safety train stop mechanism is not compatible between divisions, being located on opposite sides of the track and train in each division. Service and maintenance trains are composed of A Division-sized cars, so they can operate with either division's clearances and have safety train stops installed on both sides of the trucks. All rolling stock, in both the A and B Divisions, run on the same standard gauge and use the same third-rail geometry and voltage.
A typical revenue train consists of 8 to 10 cars, although shuttles can be as short as two. The runs 4-car trains, and the runs 11-car trains.
When the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company entered into agreements to operate some of the new subway lines, they decided to design a new type of car, wide and long. The subject of several patents, the car's larger profile was similar to that of steam railroad coaches, permitting greater passenger capacity, more comfortable seating, and other advantages. The BRT unveiled its design, designated BMT Standard, to the public in 1913 and received such wide acceptance that all future subway lines, whether built for the BRT, the IRT, or eventually, the IND, were built to handle the wider cars.
When the R44s and R46s were rebuilt, the rollsigns on the side of the cars were replaced with electronic LCD signs while the front service sign remained as a rollsign. In sharp contrast, the rebuilt R32s and R38s retained rollsigns on the sides, but a flip-dot display was placed in the front. The MTA has been incorporating newer subway cars into its stock in the past two decades. Since 1999, the R142s, R142As, R143s, R160s, R179s, and R188s have been added into service. All cars built since 1992, are equipped with digital signs on the front, sides, and interior.
Old cars, some from the original companies, are preserved at the New York Transit Museum, while others have been sold to private individuals and/or other railway/trolley museums.
Between 1984 and 1989, some of the IRT trains were painted red, giving them the name Redbirds. By July 2020, various older B Division cars, such as the entire fleets of R38s, R40s, R40As, R42s, and NYCTA-built R44s, were retired and replaced by newer models, including the R160s and R179s.

General Overhaul Program

The General Overhaul Program was a mid-life overhaul program for neglected subway cars, which involved a thorough rebuilding of the fleet. Since the completion of the GOH program, the new Scheduled Maintenance System program has replaced the GOH program by ensuring that trains do not reach a state in which they would need such an overhaul. The car types, which were part of the MTA NYCT GOH program, are the IRT Redbirds, as well as IND/BMT cars. These cars were rebuilt between 1985 and 1992. Some cars in various classes from R10 to R46 were also given lighter overhauls during this period.

"R"-prefixed orders

Cars purchased by the City of New York since the inception of the IND and for the other divisions beginning in 1948 are identified by the letter "R" followed by a number; e.g.: R46. This number is the contract number under which the cars were purchased. Cars with nearby contract numbers may be virtually identical, simply being purchased under different contracts.
The New York City Board of Transportation settled on a system of documentation that is still in place under MTA New York City Transit. This included a prefix letter or letters that indicated the Department that the specific documentation, followed by a series of numbers of a length defined by the specific department concerned. For example, the Surface Department used the letter "S", while the Rapid Transit Department used the letter "R". A new R- number is assigned for any vehicle purchase involving a bidding process. Since the 1970s, the system has suffered from "R- inflation" going through only 46 R- numbers in its first 40 years, but over 114 in its subsequent 30. Possible reasons include an increased number of specialized maintenance vehicles that were previously made in house or a lower floor for requiring a formal bidding process to reduce waste and abuse.

Disposal at sea

In 2001, the New York City Transit Authority started disposing of retired subway cars by dumping them at sea to create artificial reefs, with the intention of promoting marine life. This option was chosen because it was less expensive than removing asbestos from the cars; the asbestos was determined to not be a hazard in the ocean. Further, the artificial reefs would provide environmental and economic benefits, such as providing shelter for marine animals and creating new fishing opportunities. The first reef constructed was Redbird Reef in Delaware. Eventually, multiple states received retired subway cars for reefs. The program was discontinued in 2010, after more than 2,500 cars were reefed, because newer cars contained more plastic, which was too expensive to economically remove before reefing.

Current fleet

Contract #DivisionYear BuiltBuilderCar
Length		Car
Width		PhotoFleet numbers
Amount in serviceCBTCAssigned Services
Yard
assignment		Notes
B1964–1965Budd Company
  • 3350–3949
110
  • Married pairs; even numbered cars have motor generator and battery, odd numbered cars have air compressor.
  • Mismatched pairs common due to losses from accidents.
  • First production cars made out of stainless steel.
    • B1971–1973St. Louis CarCompany
    • 388–435
    • 436–466
    		61
    SIR only
  • Single cars; even numbered cars have single full-width cabs, odd numbered cars have blind ends.
  • New York City Subway car numbers were originally 100–387 and renumbered 5202–5479.
    • B1975–1978Pullman Company
  • 5482–6207

    • 6208–6258

    		750
  • 5482–6207 are in A-B-B-A configuration as 4-car sets.
  • * Even numbered cars have single full-width cabs, and are known as "A" cars
  • * Odd numbered cars have blind ends, and are known as "B" cars.
  • 6208–6258 are in A-A configuration.
  • Car numbers were originally 500–1227 and 1228–1278.
  • Two cars wrecked and scrapped prior to General Overhaul.
  • Two cars wrecked after General Overhaul.
    • A1983–1985Kawasaki HeavyIndustries1301–1625
    		315
  • Originally single cars, now 5-car sets.
  • 10 cars wrecked and scrapped.
  • * 1366–1370 were wrecked in 2000 due to an accident. Car 1369 was scrapped in 2005. Car 1366 and half of car 1370 are at the FDNY Randall's Island training center. Cars 1367 and 1368 were reefed in 2008.
  • * 1435–1437 and 1439–1440 were wrecked in 1991 due to a derailment. 1437 and 1439–1440 were scrapped in 2001. Car 1436 was reefed in 2008. 1438 is now part of a 5-car set with 1431–1434.
    • A1984–1987Bombardier Transportation1651–2475822
  • Originally single cars, most cars linked in 3, 4, or 5-car sets.
  • * 1651–1905, 1961–2475, and select other 1900s have full-width cabs at ends of sets.
  • 1909 was wrecked and scrapped.
    • B1986–1988Westinghouse-Amrail Company2500–2924425
  • Originally single cars.
  • * 2500–2915 are now in 4-car sets.
  • * 2916–2924 are singles used for the Franklin Avenue Shuttle.
    • B1988–1989Kawasaki HeavyIndustries5001–5200
    		200
    • Coney Island
  • Originally single cars, now in 4-car sets.
    • R142A1999–2003BombardierTransportation1101–1250,
    6301–7180
    		1025
  • All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration as 5-car sets.
  • * Cars ending in 1, 5, 6 and 0 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars.
  • * Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars.
  • Cars 6346–6350 are out of service after suffering fire damage.
    • R142AA1999–2004Kawasaki HeavyIndustries7591–7810
    		220
    • Jerome
  • All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration as 5-car sets.
  • * Cars ending in 1, 5, 6 and 0 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars.
  • * Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars.
  • Original order was 7211–7810; cars 7211–7590 were converted to R188s between 2011 & 2016 for the IRT Flushing Line.
    • R143B2001–2003Kawasaki HeavyIndustries8101–8312
    		212
    • East New York
  • All cars are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration.
    • B2005–2010Alstom TransportationKawasaki Heavy
    Industries    		8313–9974
    		1662

    • East New York
    • Coney Island
    • Jamaica
  • 4 car sets are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration.
  • 5 car sets are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration.
  • * Cars with single full-width cabs are known as "A" cars.
  • * Cars with no cabs are known as "B" cars.
    • B2016–2019BombardierTransportation3010–3327
    		318

  • 4-car sets are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-A configuration.
  • 5-car sets are sequentially numbered in A-B-B-B-A configuration.
  • Cars will single full-width cabs are known as A cars.
  • Cars with no cab are known as B cars.
  • All units currently out of service due to cars separating from each other.
    • R188A2011–2016Kawasaki Heavy Industries7211–7590,7811–7936
    		506
  • All cars are in 5-car or 6-car sets to form 11-car trains for IRT Flushing Line service.
  • Order consists of a combination of 126 new cars & R142A conversions by the manufacturer, totaling 380 car conversions.
  • * Conversion sets numbered 7211–7590 are numbered as follows:
  • ** Cars ending in 0, 1, 5, and 6 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars.
  • ** Cars ending in all other digits have no cabs and are known as "B" cars.
  • * Cars 7811–7898 are eight new 11-car trains, with cars sequentially numbered.
  • ** Cars whose numbers give a remainder of 0, 1, 5, and 6 when divided by 11 have single full-width cabs and are known as "A" cars.
  • ** Cars whose numbers give other remainders when divided by 11 have no cabs and are known as "B" cars.
  • * Cars 7899–7936 are "C" cars that are linked with converted R142A sets expand the sets to six cars.

    • Maintenance vehicles

    Various kinds of cars are used for maintenance work, including flatcars and vacuum trains.

    Track geometry car

    There are four track geometry cars on the New York City Subway that measure the system's track geometry to ensure that safe train operation is maintained. The cars are numbered TGC1–TGC4. TGC1 was ordered under contract R59 in 1984 for $1.4 million, TGC2 was ordered under contract R63 and cost $2.5 million, and the other two were ordered under an unknown contract. The cars use sensors, measuring systems, and data management systems to get a profile of the tracks. The train crew consists of two-track equipment maintainers, one maintenance supervisor, and two to three engineers. The trains typically operate during off-peak weekday daytime hours so as to not interfere more frequent rush hour service. A single car weighs 45 tons. The cars measure:
    The track geometry car typically checks each stretch of track about 6 times a year; the car is manually operated, and there are no plans to automate inspection of the track geometry, which is done manually with the help of high-tech equipment aboard the car.

    Future fleet

    Originally, 168 additional cars were proposed to be built and provided for service on the,,, and services between 2015 and 2019; the contract number for these growth cars was unknown, but they were not delivered prior to 2019.

    Retired fleet

    IRT Pre-Unification listing

    BMT Pre-Unification listing

    R-type listing

    Preserved cars

    Many antique cars have been preserved, dating from 1878. These cars from their private companies: Interborough Rapid Transit, Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit, Independent Subway System, and their merge to the now-called New York City Transit Authority, are preserved in the New York Transit Museum, as well as other museums and private ownerships across the United States and Europe. Other retired cars serve as converted work cars or long-term storage. This list contains all fleets from the earliest IRT elevated gate cars, Manhattan El, to the latest non-New Technology Train, R68A, that have at least a unit surviving. There are also work trains that resemble passenger cars—R65 and R127/R134—and two prototype New Technology Trains—R110A and R110B.

    Retired fleets

    Active fleets

    Miscellaneous

    Car typeYear expected
    to retire    		Actual retire-
    ment year
    R2619942002
    R2819952002
    R2919972002
    R3319982003
    R3619992003

    Car typeYear expected
    to retire    		Actual retire-
    ment year
    R2719951990
    R3019971993
    R3220002007-2009, 2020
    R3820022009
    R4020032009
    R4220042007-2009, 2020
    R442007Various
    R462011