R188 (New York City Subway car)

R188
An R188 train on the 7 route leaving 52nd Street
Interior of a factory-built R188 car
In service2013present
ManufacturerKawasaki Rail Car Company
Built at
Family nameNTT (new technology train)
ReplacedDisplaced R62As on the 7 line
Constructed2010–2016
Entered service
  • November 9, 2013 (revenue service testing)
  • December 15, 2013 (official service)
Number built506 (126 new cars, 380 conversions)
Number in service506 (418 in revenue service during rush hours)
Formation5-car sets (A-B-B-B-A)
6-car sets (A-C-B-B-B-A)
Fleet numbersR142A Conversion Sets: 7211–7590
New R188 Sets: 7811–7898
New R188 "C" Cars: 7899–7936
Capacity176 (A car)
188 (B & C cars)
OperatorsNew York City Subway
DepotsCorona Yard
Service(s) assigned
(Updated June 30, 2024)
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel with fiberglass end bonnets
Train length11 car train: 564 ft 8 in (172.11 m)
Car length51 ft 4 in (15.65 m)
Width8 ft 7+316 in (2,621 mm)
Height11 ft 10+58 in (3,623 mm)
Floor height3 ft 7+34 in (1.11 m)
Platform height3 ft 7+34 in (1.11 m)
EntryLevel
Doors6 sets of 54 inch wide side doors per car
Maximum speed55 mph (89 km/h) Service
66 mph (110 km/h) Design
Weight"A" car: 73,332 pounds (33,263 kg)
"B" and "C" cars: 67,721 pounds (30,718 kg)
Traction systemPWM 2-level IGBTVVVF (Bombardier MITRAC)
Traction motors2 or 4 × Bombardier 1508C 150 hp (111.855 kW) 3-phase AC induction motor
Power output2,100 hp (1,565.970 kW) (5-car set)
2,400 hp (1,789.680 kW) (6-car set)
Acceleration2.5 mph/s (1.1 m/s2)
Deceleration3.0 mph/s (1.3 m/s2) (full service)
3.2 mph/s (1.4 m/s2) (emergency)
Electric system(s)Third rail, 625 V DC
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
Braking system(s)WABCO RT-96 tread brake system; Dynamic braking propulsion system.
Safety system(s)CBTC, dead man's switch, tripcock
Headlight typeHalogen light bulb
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The R188 is a class of new technology (NTT) New York City Subway cars built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries for the A Division. The fleet entered service in 2013, displacing the mid-1980s–era R62A cars that operated on the 7 and <7> services, in conjunction with the automation of the IRT Flushing Line's signal system with communications-based train control (CBTC). The R188 order also expanded the 7's fleet as part of the 7 Subway Extension, which opened in 2015.

Of the 506 cars in the fleet, only 126 were built brand-new; the remaining 380 cars were originally part of the R142A fleet that entered service in 2000, before being upgraded to R188s with the installation of CBTC equipment. The fleet first entered passenger service on November 9, 2013, and the final cars were delivered in June 2016.