The order will consist of:
*50 trains made up of 5 cars each.
*10 trains made up of 4 cars each.
Included in the contract are funds for training, spare parts, tools, diagnostic testing equipment, and other services that will be needed to support the fleet. The awards was originally scheduled for August of last year.
UPDATE: August 2012
"What do New York City straphangers share in common with the folks in Plattsburgh, New York?
Both got some welcome news when the MTA and Bombardier Transportation inked the contract to manufacture 300 new R179 subways cars at Bombardier’s Plattsburgh facility. The order specifies10 prototypes for testing and approval, followed by 50 five-car sets and 10 four-car sets, with revenue service expected around late 2016.
For upstate residents, the $599 million deal will mean some 500 jobs and related revenue stimulus. For riders on NYC Transit’s lettered B Division lines, it will mean a fleet of state-of-the-art subway cars to retire the aging R32s and R42s, some of which are approaching 50 years old, well past the expected service life of a subway car. The R179s are also slated for use on the Second Avenue Subway.
What will the new cars look like?
“The 60-foot shell won’t look too different from the R160s you see on the lettered lines today,” says Michael Wetherell, vice president and chief mechanical officer, Division of Car Equipment, Subways. “Those design specifications have proven very successful. But as we work on this new order, we look forward to introducing a number of improvements.”
Lighting, climate controls, and digital voice announcements will all be upgraded. For riders, the most visible change will be in communications, including the strip map displays.
As Wetherell explains, “Instead of a display map that counts down the stops, the new cars will have a route indicator with more flexible messaging capacity. The new cars’ audio and text message displays will also have greater flexibility, allowing NYC Transit to quickly update service modifications and scheduling information.
Other improvements will be less visible. While the cars are not being purchased with closed-circuit television fully loaded, they will include the necessary wiring and conduits for future security camera installations. The new cars will also be lighter. By removing propulsion motors, lightening the floors, and making other materials changes, the trimmer R179s will improve overall energy efficiency.
“We are constantly looking for ways to reduce unnecessary weight,” Wetherell says. “It makes a real difference. Every pound of weight you can cut adds up to a significant energy saving over the life of a subway fleet.”
Though work in Plattsburgh has begun, much remains to be done before straphangers can actually enjoy their new ride.
According to Wetherell, the design specifications will be drafted and reviewed over the next four to six months. After initial design, ten R179 prototypes will be delivered in about 33 months to undergo another nine to 12 months of track testing. Full scale production and revenue service is scheduled for late 2016 or early 2017.
“The design and review process never really stops,” Wetherell says. “We are very excited about working with the design engineers at Bombardier, and will be reviewing every detail very closely to make sure we get the best possible product.”
Source: http://us.bombardier...se_04062012.htm
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