Art Vandelay

But the whole fleet WAS bad. There were no good cars. The SIR Cars which were in the best shape got an extensive amount of work done and are still in not particularly good shape. The best of the R44s were in worse shape than the worst of the R32/R38/R40/R42s.

The R44s were in horrendous condition prior to retirement and had major structural problems classwide (yes, 60 were substantially worse than the others). The stupid political decision made was to keep the R44s around when these structural problems were known to exist as far back as 2004. They should have been the first fleet pulled with the R160 order.

R32s and R46s while at the bottom of the pile MDBF wise, are still very reliable cars. It is just a reflection of the high standards NYCT has. Most other systems wouldn't even dream of such reliable cars. Especially WMATA. Heh. p.s. R42s are still on the A.

Nope, the last three are CGI R179s. The base photo is of R142s(which explains why you're seeing Alstom parts...)

Most R32s have yet to go through the program. Assignments are: C: 18 trains of R46 A 14 trains of R32, 2 trains of R42, 22 trains of R46

The ALSKAW claim, which is true and public, was that one of the MTA executives heavily involved in the awarding of the contract was offered, and accepted a job at Bombardier during the process of awarding the order.

Not that I like protests, but this is not baseless in any way...

Don't expect to see R32s on the C on a regular basis when said switch happens. Such was not the case last summer when the switch happened.

Actually, at the time the R143s were ordered, the L required far fewer trains. As such, the R143s were anticipated to make up the entirety of the L fleet as well as a bit of the M fleet. The L has skyrocketed in ridership since then and needs more capacity every year!

Reality is not always logical unfortunately.

The R160s and R143s are not functionally compatible. R179s will not be backwards compatible either.

Small nitpick. They will build fully new 5 car sets as well.

30 TPH should work fine on 6th Local.

No Express at W4. Interesting Idea... A Suspended B/D Replaces M to Metropolitan Ave, B Via 6th Local/CPW local (480 Foot trains) Alternate rush hour trains express north of 59, Labeled D, Rush Hr B Locals turn at Bedford Park. 15 TPH Total. Alternate D's terminate at 2 AV C Extended to 207th, upped to 15 TPH (600 Foot trains), Alternate trains terminate at WTC. E Extended to Lefferts/Rockaways F Rerouted to 53rd M Suspended N Rerouted to Tunnel/4th Av Local W West End- Bridge 63rd St- QB Local- Forest Hills

I Expect the C's spare factor to be reduced a great deal. I highly doubt you'll even see close to 200 cars assigned, as no other line has nearly the spare factor that the C has. I'd expect to see the C's spare factor more balanced with ENY's spare factor. If you give ENY and the C an equivalent spare factor, it comes to roughly 27%, you get roughly 184 cars assigned to the C, including spares. (I just did the math, in case anyone is curious, the J, L, and M would get roughly 204, 224, and 232 cars assigned respectively, including spares. 76 R179 cars would be on the J or M.) This is all based on the assumption that a roughly even spare factor is desirable, but I don't see why such an assumption would be false. Also, I would expect all of the A and C's R179 cars to be assigned to the same shop. It makes no sense to assign the 4 A trains to a separate shop than the rest of the northern R179 fleet. So as I see it, 76 cars to ENY for the J/M , 224 to either Pitkin or 207 for the A/C.

Lhota does not say that the decision has not been made, he states that he is not sure a final decision has been made. While such may not have been formally decided, There are a limited number of lines you can run 200+ cars arranged in 8 car trains. That pretty much means they'll be on the C and in the Eastern Division. Considering how few 5 car sets there will be, I don't see how it would make any sense to assign them to their own yard, so I can't see them ending up anywhere but the A. (Unless they were to transfer the M to Jamaica, in which case I could see the R179 5 car sets ending up on the E/F/R, but I have no reason believe that is under consideration. )

250 in 5 and 40 in 4 became 40 in 5 and 260 in 4. Also there won't be enough cars to send R46s to SI from this order.

Yes, I cannot imagine that cost was not the primary reason here.

207th has no problem handling 75 foot cars. Until they decided to retire the R44s instead of the R32s and R42s, 207th was going to have entirely 75 foot cars. They cannot handle 600 foot trains without uncoupling them however. It isn't obvious at all that most of the R179s are going to be in 5 car sets because hardly any are going to be. 40/300 is not a majority.

I can't necessarily explain all the thought behind everything. All the arguing in the world won't change the fact that the C is remaining 480 feet for now.

260 in 5 car sets, 40 in 4 car sets was never a plan to my knowledge. I would assume the reason for the C not going to 600 feet is that they do not wish to purchase the additional cars which would be required for such.

It isn't possible, its damn near certain. the J doesn't need the entirety of an entire 200+ car order, so where else would they go? Also, the A doesn't need hand me down R46s, as it already has a full fleet of them!. Considering that the R179s will be on the C, I think it makes sense to stick the few 5 car sets on the A, to streamline parts in either 207 or Pitkin, wherever they end up assigned to.

I don't exactly know what the J would do with 200+ R179s arranged in 4 car sets.

The C will be getting R179s as the R179s will be the appropriate length for C train service(480 feet). I suppose it is theoretically possible that all R179s will go to East New York and a number of R160s will head over to 207/Pitkin for the C, but I would think that is rather unlikely. The R179 order is intended to replace ALL remaining 60 foot SMEEs. On another note, I do not believe that 4665-4460 are in any use at all right now, just being stored at CI.

You have it reversed. A few 5 car sets and lots of 4 car sets, for the eastern division and the C.