R143 (New York City Subway car)

{{Short description|Class of New York City Subway car}} {{redirect|R143|the roads|Route 143|the refrigerant R-143|1,1,2-Trifluoroethane}} {{distinguish|R142 (New York City Subway car)|R142A (New York City Subway car)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox train | name = R143 | image = R143 L Train Entering Broadway Junction.jpg | caption = An R143 train on the L route entering Broadway Junction station | interiorimage = NYC Subway R143 8283 Interior.jpg | interiorcaption = Interior of an R143 car | stocktype = | service = December 4, 2001 – present (24 years) | manufacturer = Kawasaki Rail Car Company | factory = {{plainlist| * Yonkers, New York, US * Lincoln, Nebraska, US * Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan }} | family = New Technology Train | refurbishment = | replaced = Displaced R40s and R42s on the L route | formation = 53 4-car sets (2 A cars and 2 B cars) | fleetnumbers = 8101–8312 | operator = New York City Subway | depots = {{NYCS const|depot}} | lines = {{NYCS const|car}} | yearconstruction = 2001–2003 | yearservice = December 4, 2001 (acceptance testing) February 12, 2002 (official service) | yearscrapped = | numberbuilt = 212 | numberservice = {{NYCS const|numcar}} | numberscrapped = | carbody = Stainless steel with fiberglass rear bonnets | trainlength = 4 car train: {{cvt|240|ft|10.08|in|m}} 8 car train: {{cvt|481|ft|8.16|in|m}} | carlength = {{cvt|60|ft|2.52|in|mm}}<ref name="Kawasaki">{{cite web |url=http://www.kawasakirailcar.com/R143 |title=New York City Transit Authority R143 |publisher=Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. |access-date=April 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113044006/http://www.kawasakirailcar.com/R143 |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | width = {{cvt|9|ft|9.28|in|mm|0}} | height = {{cvt|12|ft|0.29|in|mm|0}} | floorheight = {{cvt|3|ft|9.12|in|mm}} | platformheight = {{cvt|3|ft|9.12|in|mm}} | entrylevelorstep = Level | doors = 8 sets of 50 inch wide side doors per car | maxspeed = {{convert|55|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} | weight = A car: {{convert|83700|lb|kg|abbr=on}} B car: {{convert|81900|lb|kg|abbr=on}} | capacity = 240 (A car) 246 (B car) | acceleration = {{convert|2.5|mph/s|km/h/s|abbr=on}} | deceleration = {{convert|3.0|mph/s|km/h/s|abbr=on}} (full service) {{convert|3.2|mph/s|km/h/s|abbr=on}} (emergency) | traction = PWM 2-level IGBT–VVVF (Adtranz) | traction motors = 4 × Bombardier 1508C {{convert|150|hp|kW|1|abbr=on}} 3-phase AC induction motor | poweroutput = {{convert|2400|hp|kW|3|abbr=on}} (4-car set) | transmission = | aux = SAFT 250AH battery (B car) | powersupply = | light = Incandescent light bulb | gauge = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}} | electricsystem = {{625 V DC|conductor=third rail}} | collectionmethod = Contact shoe | uicclass = Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′ | aarwheels = B-B+B-B+B-B+B-B | brakes = Dynamic braking propulsion system; WABCO RT96 tread brake system; safety brakes | safety = CBTC, dead man's switch, tripcock }}

The '''R143''' is a class of New Technology Train subway cars built by Kawasaki Rail Car Company for the New York City Subway's B Division. Delivered between 2001 and 2003, the cars displaced R40s and R42s that operated on the {{NYCS trains|Canarsie|type=service}} in conjunction with the BMT Canarsie Line's signal system being automated.

The R143 was the first "B" Division order of the NTT series, and the first {{Convert|60|ft|4=2|adj=on}} B Division car built for the New York City Subway system since the R42s delivered in 1969. A total of 212 cars were built, all arranged as four-car sets. The first cars (8101–8104) were delivered to the 207th Street Yard on April 30, 2001. 8105–8108 were delivered sometime later in the summer of 2001. The first R143s entered a 30-day period of revenue service testing on December 4, 2001, and officially entered service on the Canarsie Line on February 12, 2002. All cars were delivered by March 2003 with all cars being in service by April 2003.

==Description and features== thumb|left|An LED information screen on an R143 The R143s are numbered 8101–8312. The 212 cars were expected to provide enough service for years, but the fast growth of the Williamsburg neighborhood overloaded the L by mid-2006,<ref>{{cite news |work=New York Daily News |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/enuf-trains-ta-cars-surge-riders-article-1.580828 |title=Oh, L, not enuf trains! |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324161849/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/enuf-trains-ta-cars-surge-riders-article-1.580828 |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |date=July 7, 2006 |last=Donohue |first=Pete}}</ref> which resulted in some R160s being placed on the route.

The R143s are the first {{Convert|60|ft|4=2|adj=on}} B Division cars built for the New York City Subway system since the R42 from 1969, the first NTT model for the B Division, and the first automated fleet in the subway system. They are currently based at East New York Yard and assigned to the L, but also run on the J/Z. The R143s are very similar to the R160s and R179s, but while the R143s can run with the R160s, both types cannot run with the R179s due to electrical incompatibilities between them.<ref name="NYTimes-NYCSPromiseInfo-Nov2005">{{cite news |last=Chan |first=Sewell |author-link=Sewell Chan |title=New Subway Cars Promise All Kinds of Information |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 30, 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/30/nyregion/30car.html |access-date=October 27, 2007 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315015712/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/30/nyregion/new-subway-cars-promise-all-kinds-of-information.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.geniustransitchallenge.ny.gov/sites/default/files/resources/page-4/technical-specification-car-equipment.11.pdf|title=Specifications for Furnishing and Delivering Passenger Cars for the New York City Transit System|date=July 2017|website=geniustransitchallenge.ny.gov|page=R160 1–2|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809072754/http://www.geniustransitchallenge.ny.gov/sites/default/files/resources/page-4/technical-specification-car-equipment.11.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/160523_1030_Transit.pdf|title=Transit & Bus Committee Meeting May 2016|date=May 2016|website=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=September 10, 2016|archive-date=September 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915150058/http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/160523_1030_Transit.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Like the R142s, R142As, and R188s, the R143s feature electronic strip maps. Originally, they only depicted stops on the L, but since 2020, they were retrofitted to include the J/Z. These newer installations depict the L and J/Z routes using two separate maps side-by-side, using the same 63-light console.

Unlike the rest of the NTT fleet at the time, the R143s are equipped with interior LED screens, which take the place of the MTA Arts for Transit cards that are usually located there. These screens can display advertisements, public safety announcements, and other information.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3648|title=Showing Image 3648|website=www.nycsubway.org|access-date=2018-04-25|archive-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425114606/https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3648|url-status=live}}</ref> Several cars of the NTT fleet were similarly retrofitted with interior LCD screens (behind the electronic signs on the sides of the trains).{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}}

{{Multiple image | direction = horizontal | total_width = 525 | align = center | image1 = R143 Strip Map.jpg | caption1 = The original electronic strip map on an R143 | image2 = R143_sidedestdisplay2.jpg | caption2 = The LED side destination sign of an R143 }} === Communications-based train control === The Transit Authority had projected that 212 Kawasaki-made R143 subway cars would be enough to accommodate ridership demands for years to come, but ridership has risen higher than expected. Therefore, sixty-four new R160A cars manufactured by Alstom were equipped with CBTC so they could run on the L along with the R143s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/budget/nov2008/nov2008_vol2part3.pdf|title=Volume 2, Part 3 - November 2008 MTA Financial Plan: Section IV-3 and section IV-12|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=July 19, 2016|archive-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510115953/http://web.mta.info/mta/budget/nov2008/nov2008_vol2part3.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/110627_1345_CPOC.pdf|title=Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting June 2011|date=June 27, 2011|website=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817040152/http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/110627_1345_CPOC.pdf|archive-date=August 17, 2014|access-date=September 11, 2016}}</ref> The CBTC equipment used in the Canarsie Line cars was manufactured by Siemens Transportation Systems.<ref>{{cite web | title=Canarsie CBTC goes live | website=Railway Gazette | date=March 12, 2009 | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/canarsie-cbtc-goes-live.html | access-date=January 18, 2017 | archive-date=January 7, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107005458/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/canarsie-cbtc-goes-live.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History== ===Timeline of contract=== thumb|left|Builders plate of the R143s The contract for the R143 was put out to tender in January 1998. The initial contract called for 100 {{Convert|60|ft|4=2|adj=on}} cars that would come in five-car sets. The new cars would be expected to have automatic PA announcements, high efficiency lighting, emergency intercom and customer alarms, AC propulsion motors, speedometers and event recorders, electronic information display signs, artwork, a central diagnostics monitoring system, microprocessor-controlled air compressor, brake and communication systems, roof-mounted microprocessor-controlled HVAC, and to be compliant with ADA requirements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/html/eye-nyct.htm|title=R34143 PURCHASE 100 CARS DIVISION 'B' OVER $10M|date=January 27, 1998|website=www.mta.nyc.ny.us|publisher=New York City Transit|access-date=September 18, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980127005906/http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/html/eye-nyct.htm|archive-date=January 27, 1998|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Kawasaki Rail Car Company was awarded a $190 million contract for 100 new B Division cars in late December 1998, with an option for 112 more cars.<ref>{{cite news|title=Metro Business; Subway Job to Kawasaki|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/30/nyregion/metro-business-subway-job-to-kawasaki.html|work=The New York Times|date=December 30, 1998|access-date=February 18, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305174803/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/30/nyregion/metro-business-subway-job-to-kawasaki.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Kawasaki wins new NYCT car order ''The Railway Age'' February 1999 page 23</ref> The new design was based on the A Division's R142A, which Kawasaki also built,<ref name="Kawasaki" /> and incorporated many features from the R110A and R110B prototypes. The cars were built with an average cost of about $1.5 million per car.

===Delivery=== Delivery of the cars began in the spring of 2001. A 30-day revenue acceptance testing with one train of eight cars (8101–8108) began on December 4, 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycsubway.org/cars/r143.html|title=www.nycsubway.org|access-date=August 18, 2006|archive-date=June 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614235957/http://nycsubway.org/cars/r143.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| last=Erlitz | first=Jeffrey |title=New Car News|journal=The Bulletin |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association, Incorporated |volume=45 |issue=1 |page=6 |date=January 2002 |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2000s/2002/2002-01-bulletin.pdf |access-date=March 13, 2025}}</ref> According to Kawasaki, the test was "extremely successful".<ref name="Kawasaki" /> The cars began running on the Canarsie Line ({{NYCS trains|Canarsie}}) on February 12, 2002, where they have been assigned to.<ref name=NYTimes-R160-1700-July2002>{{cite news|last1=Kennedy|first1=Randy|title=1,700 Subway Cars to Be Built Under Largest Such Contract in New York History|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/31/nyregion/1700-subway-cars-to-be-built-under-largest-such-contract-in-new-york-history.html|work=The New York Times|date=July 31, 2002|page=B3|access-date=February 18, 2017|archive-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510083809/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/31/nyregion/1700-subway-cars-to-be-built-under-largest-such-contract-in-new-york-history.html|url-status=live}}</ref> All 212 cars were delivered by March 2003.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Kawasaki completes NYCT R143 order. (Market).(New York City Transit)(subway cars contract)|journal=Railway Age|date=March 1, 2003|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-99553181.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220180307/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-99553181.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2016|publisher=HighBeam Research}}</ref>

Along with displacing older equipment from the Canarsie Line, the R143s also displaced the R42s on the now-extended weekend {{NYCS|M}} shuttle service on the BMT Myrtle Avenue Line, when that line became the first BMT Eastern Division line to be placed in a weekend One Person Train Operation (OPTO) service. The R143s on the M were later displaced by the R160As in February 2008. OPTO service was also tested on the L during mid-2005, but it ended due to safety issues following the London Transport Bombings.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/20/nyregion/20subway.html?_r=0 On L Train, Drivers Perform Solo, Without Conductors, June 20, 2005, page B3]</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/24/nyregion/24subway.html |title=Conductors Are Returning to the Subway's L Line |work=The New York Times |date=September 24, 2005 |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220222110/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/24/nyregion/24subway.html |url-status=live |last1=Lee |first1=Jennifer 8. |last2=Rahimi |first2=Shadi }}</ref>

===Post-delivery=== [[File:R143 strip map update.jpg|thumb|left|A retrofitted electronic strip map, with both the L and J/Z routes shown]] Cars 8205–8212 were originally delivered with experimental Siemens SITRAC traction systems, similar to, but not identical to, the ones that would be later found in R160B cars 8843–9102. These cars were eventually refitted with the Bombardier MITRAC traction systems found on all other R143s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Samsone |first=Gene |date=October 25, 2004 |title=New York Subways: An Illustrated History of New York City's Transit Cars |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6WFHNSXBpocC&q=R143+siemens+test&pg=PA282 |location=Baltimore, MD |publisher=JHU Press |page=282 |isbn=0801879221 |access-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315214421/https://books.google.com/books?id=6WFHNSXBpocC&q=R143+siemens+test&pg=PA282 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 18, 2004, an eight-car R143 train overshot the bumper at Eighth Avenue after the operator suffered a possible seizure. The lead car, 8196, presumably suffered damage while the rest of the consist did not.<ref name="nycsCanarsie">{{Cite web|title=L train hits 8th Av bumper block, 2004|url=https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?40646|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024091651/https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?40646|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2007, it had been repaired and returned to service.

On June 21, 2006, another eight-car R143 train overshot the bumper, this time at the end of the tracks in the Canarsie Yard after the operator suffered a seizure. The first car, 8277, suffered significant damage and was stripped of damaged parts before being sent to the Kawasaki plant in Yonkers to receive repairs. The other cars in the set (8278–8280) suffered minor body damage and were moved to the 207th Street Yard and repaired. Eventually, 8277 was sent back to New York City Transit property and repaired. By 2016, car 8277 was finally recoupled with 8278–8280, but the consist needed component upgrades to become operational.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=April 2016|title=New York City Subway Car Update|url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2016/2016-04-bulletin.pdf|magazine=The Bulletin|publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association|access-date=March 30, 2016|page=19|archive-date=June 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615190104/https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2016/2016-04-bulletin.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The set returned to service on December 11, 2017.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=February 2018|title=New York City Subway Car Update|url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2018/2018-02-bulletin.pdf|magazine=The Bulletin|publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association|access-date=January 28, 2022|page=7|archive-date=June 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614211833/https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2018/2018-02-bulletin.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, a set of R143s was equipped with measuring gauges to test out the curve radius and gangway flex in the existing {{Convert|60|ft|m|2|abbr=|adj=on}}-long cars in order to collect data for evaluating the R211T order,<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=May 2017|title=New York City Subway Car Update|url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2017/2017-05-bulletin.pdf|magazine=The Bulletin|publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association|access-date=January 28, 2022|page=20|archive-date=June 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615190057/https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2017/2017-05-bulletin.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> which began running in revenue service on February 1, 2024.<ref>{{cite web | last=Brachfeld | first=Ben | title=New 'open gangway' R211 subway cars enter service on the C line between Brooklyn & Manhattan | website=amNewYork | date=February 1, 2024 | url=https://www.amny.com/transit/open-gangway-r211-subway-cars-c-line/ | access-date=February 2, 2024 | archive-date=February 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201212333/https://www.amny.com/transit/open-gangway-r211-subway-cars-c-line/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2020, the interior strip maps for these cars, which originally only depicted stops on the L route, were replaced with combined strip maps that includes stops on both the J/Z and L services.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.nycsubway.org/cars/r143.html nycsubway.org - R143]

R143 Category:Train-related introductions in 2001 Category:Kawasaki multiple units Category:2001 in rail transport