R62 (New York City Subway Car) - Specifications

Specifications

In 1980, with the bus and train fleets in poor shape, the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) was looking into capital maintenance and bond acts to replace its aging fleet from the 1950s and early 1960s, and to rebuild or renovate older cars. The plan called for 325 IRT cars, under the R62 contract, ordered on April 12, 1982, and awarded to Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan. This was the first time a foreign company was chosen to build cars for the New York City Subway.

The R62 was the first stainless steel and air-conditioned subway car built for the "A" Division. They continued a controversial interior design by employing bucket seating. This reduced the number of seats per car when compared to standard bench seating, but had a higher capacity for standing. This design originated with the R44, and continued with the R62A, R68 and R68A cars. They also feature exterior speakers for the benefit of passengers on the platform. Several cars in the order (1588–90) have bench seating after complaints upon delivery. Bucket seating is no longer used on the newest New York City Subway cars.

The first set of R62s were delivered in October 1983. The cars were built as "single" units, and remained as singles until 1991, when they were linked into 5-car sets to save money and equipment. They entered a 30-day testing program on the 4 train on November 29. At that time, the new cars came as a great relief for IRT riders who were used to non-air conditioned and graffiti-filled trains. After several test runs in early 1984, the R62 cars entered regular service on the 4 service. All 325 cars were in service by August 1985, making the 4 the first entirely graffiti-free service in the system in many years. Kawasaki did not want to build the additional cars the MTA wanted as a separate part of the R62 order (under contract R62A for the same price). Bombardier, an Integrated Transportation rail car company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, won a contract to supply these additional 825 cars.

The R62s replaced the remaining R12, R14 and R15 subway car classes. Initial replacement of the R62s is scheduled for 2023 with additional replacements in 2026. The MTA is proposing mid-life technological upgrades for the R62s, including LED destination signs and automated announcements.