I don't have a link or story (I'd appreciate if someone could find one), but the new cars were unveiled today. They have like 650. New electronic signage/route maps and schedule updates and such. They don't look a ton different from the L/456/2 trains, but there will be marked improvements. Anyone got any more info, much appreciated.

http://mta.info/nyct/service/newest_car.htm

goddammit. missed it. ends at 7. i dont even think I could get to Hoyt Schermerhorn from Court Sq in 30 minutes, much less from Harlem. Shit. oh well.

Photos from subtextnyc:

http://be.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/find00_1.jpg
http://be.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/find23.jpg
http://be.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/find01_1.jpg
http://be.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/digital19.jpg

What happened with the new ones, like in the 6 line? I thought those were going to replace the old ones.

Never mind, didn't read the first post well (duh!)

Photos from subtextnyc:

http://be.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/find00_1.jpg
http://be.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/find23.jpg
http://be.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/find01_1.jpg
http://be.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/digital19.jpg

wow.........NICE. Wait til they completely replace the old ones. :cheers:

^^^^ Neat-o!

this sucks

Niiiiiiiiiiice

i hate you all.

pretty awesome

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/30/nyregion/30car.html
New Subway Cars Promise All Kinds of Information

By SEWELL CHAN
Published: November 30, 2005

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2005/11/30/nyregion/car.583.1.jpg
Michael Nagle for The New York TimesShimeeka Foy of Brooklyn took a tour Tuesday of the next generation of New York City subway cars. A test train will go into service next summer to try out the new R160 cars and iron out any problems.

Nicholas Malave, a senior at Pacific High School in Brooklyn, entered a subway car yesterday and let out a cry of delight. This is not something he normally does during his regular trips on the A and J lines.

But those older cars lack what the new R160 subway car has: a Flexible Information and Notice Display, or FIND, with a liquid crystal display screen like the ones in television or computer monitors. The FIND panel will also have light-emitting diodes that will constantly update information about the train's progress.

After each stop, the display will change to show the next 10 stops, along with stops farther along the line. The video screen can be used to show the route symbol (like the letter "N" or "Q") or advertising.

Mr. Malave was one of dozens of curious riders who attended an "open house" sponsored yesterday afternoon by New York City Transit to show off and receive feedback on a five-car test train, a prototype of the R160, the newest generation of subway cars.

Next summer, the test train will be put in use so that engineers and mechanics can conduct technical tests, see how the cars hold up and iron out any problems before the rest of the order - a $952 million contract for 660 cars, awarded in October 2002 - is completed by a joint venture of Kawasaki Rail Car and Alstom Transport.

The cars will be delivered starting in 2007. Although the agency has not decided yet, the new cars may be used on the N or Q lines, which currently use some of the oldest cars in the system.

The test train yesterday was fully functioning, but it was not available to ordinary riders trying to get home. It was parked for five hours at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station in Downtown Brooklyn.

The R160 is 60 feet long and 85,200 pounds when empty. It comes in two versions: one with a train operator's cab at the end, which can seat 42, and one without the cab, which can seat 44. Except for the new display system, the R160 is almost identical to the R143, which has been in use since 2002 on the L line.

Riders yesterday, told to focus on the FIND panel, were asked questions like, "Do you feel reassured that the train is going to your station?" and "How easy or hard is it to read the words and letters on the sign?"

But riders seemed to be paying less attention to the sign than the rest of the car. Some of them said they did not regularly take the Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 6 lines (which use R142 cars, similar in design to the R143) or the L line and so were not familiar with the latest design.

Asked to compare the new car with the F train that she normally rides, María Romero, 72, a retired nurse's aide from Gravesend, Brooklyn, said, "This is three times more advanced!" Jared M. Skolnick, 34, an Internet marketer from the Upper West Side, said he admired the bright fluorescent lights, since he often took photographs in the subway.

James V. Sears, the agency's senior director of marketing research, said the results of the surveys - along with comments from focus groups convened in 2003 - could be incorporated into the final design of the FIND panel.

Among the transit specialists who crowded the test car yesterday was Masamichi Udagawa of Antenna Design New York. He was partly responsible for the bluish-gray color of the seats on the R142 and future generations. Asked whether he missed the red, orange and yellow seats used in many cars built in the 1970's, he said, "They were good for disco, but not for everyday commuting."

Those look pretty cool

The train still looks as a metal coffin on wheels, display isn't everything. I still wait for the time when a train with more aerodynamic design starts carrying passengers. How about an interactive subway map? Why didn't they think about that.

interactive in what fashion?

The train still looks as a metal coffin on wheels, display isn't everything. I still wait for the time when a train with more aerodynamic design starts carrying passengers. How about an interactive subway map? Why didn't they think about that.
cuz 50 people in the middle of a coffin can't interact with one map...

WOW, those look awesome.

Haha, you guys should come to LA, the subways here are kind of clean and most of the time they're 75 percent empty. Is there still cars like the ones from Saturday Night Fever with the broken windows and graffity on them? If there is please post a pic.

Haha, you guys should come to LA, the subways here are kind of clean and most of the time they're 75 percent empty. Is there still cars like the ones from Saturday Night Fever with the broken windows and graffity on them? If there is please post a pic.
Is the subway ridership in LA that low? I know everyone drives, but I figured a solid number of people downtown rode the trains.

Well it is low but in the cbd at rush hour you do get a little action going on, but most of the time it's not that good. But you should see the buses! It's like living in a sardine can.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/30/nyregion/30car.html
New Subway Cars Promise All Kinds of Information

By SEWELL CHAN
Published: November 30, 2005

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2005/11/30/nyregion/car.583.1.jpg
Michael Nagle for The New York TimesShimeeka Foy of Brooklyn took a tour Tuesday of the next generation of New York City subway cars. A test train will go into service next summer to try out the new R160 cars and iron out any problems.
"

oh shit shameeka got in the paper! yooooo it is a small small world I worked with this girl not to long ago

Hehe... look at the expression on her face. You can almost hear her say "ooooooooh that flexible information and notice display is some hot ish!"

I might have seen similar features like that when taking the No 2 train.

Want to see pics of the LA subways? Go here...
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=171614&page1&pp=20

The train still looks as a metal coffin on wheels, display isn't everything. I still wait for the time when a train with more aerodynamic design starts carrying passengers.
Aerodynamic? These are modern subway cars, not campy automobles from the 1960s. Form follows function, and subways don't go fast enough to benefit from extensive streamlining.

If you want aerodynamics, take the Acela.

Aerodynamic? These are modern subway cars, not campy automobles from the 1960s. Form follows function, and subways don't go fast enough to benefit from extensive streamlining.

If you want aerodynamics, take the Acela.

Hint.
This is a modern subway train.
http://images.nycsubway.org//i37000/img_37004.jpg
München Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) (Germany)

Hint.
This is a modern subway train.
http://images.nycsubway.org//i37000/img_37004.jpg
München Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) (Germany)
I'll take gritty(ish) NYC type cars over that shit... looks like it should be circling disneyland.

The LA subway is VERY nice!! its also because its pratically brand new too!!

one of the things that pisses me off with the LA line is that there are no "indicators" like a sign on the NY subway that shows a bar moving along a screen that shows the progress of the train on the track and the next stop the train is approaching..

the LA line, has the operator stating the next stop over the loudspeaker...
Most of the time you cant even hear the guys voice, because its soo distorted!!

As Im coming into a station, I desperately look around through the windows of the train to see if there is a sign up in the station within my view that shows the name of the station, or at the least, the streets above.. Most of the time you cant even see that, so you never know if its your stop coming up, unless u ride it everyday and are very used to it.. Ive missed stops before (very SUPER frustrating when u have to be somewhere) otherwise, its not that rider-friendly for the average person who will just use it once in a while.. I wish they would expand our small subway system so it extends out to the beach.. Rider count would rocket if that would be the case!!

I happened to work in Hollywood, and saw a physical therapist in downtown LA, and the subway here was very helpful for that.. I got from Hollywood and Vine station to korea town's Vermont and Wilshire station in 7 minutes!! with the stops included too.. if they just dug more tunnels and got the ball rolling so future generations living here wont have to depend on a car sooo much.. And its not because its earthquake country here either... its been proven that the shaking underground is nowhere near as intense as it would be at the surface. Thats why Japan is able to do that and they have a REALLY BIG system there, maybe even a good deal bigger than NY's.

By the way, I have heard that the Vermont, Wilshire station is the deepest subway station in the country.. Im not sure how deep it is, but it looked reeeeaaallyy deep when going down the escalator.. at LEAST 8 floors?? probably 10 or so...

Ive heard that some subways in Moscow and Pyongyang are the deepest in the world (up to 100m deep). Do escalators service all those people, because thats 300 feet underground!

I'll take gritty(ish) NYC type cars over that shit... looks like it should be circling disneyland.

Sorry but NYC trains look medievial in comparison to some European trains, it should not be so sonsidering the size and possibilities of our economy.

Sorry but NYC trains look medievial in comparison to some European trains
Because of an exposed metal look? or because it doesn't have an unnecessary curve over the conductors cabin? Sorry, but most Euro subways look corny and wouldn't fit or even survive in the city if the graf weren't under control.

Sorry but NYC trains look medievial in comparison to some European trains, it should not be so sonsidering the size and possibilities of our economy.

Good thing we don't care what they look like! I ride the train to get quickly to and from work as easily and comfortably as possible. I don't give two shits if I'm in an R 32 or a fucking neon green spaceship.

Aerodynamic? These are modern subway cars, not campy automobles from the 1960s. Form follows function, and subways don't go fast enough to benefit from extensive streamlining.

If you want aerodynamics, take the Acela.

Exactly. What's not to get here? These things run on a powerful third rail at high speeds. What difference is a round front or a fucking spoiler going to make? Maybe we should throw some racing shocks and lower them a few inches too?

The LA subway is VERY nice!! its also because its pratically brand new too!!

one of the things that pisses me off with the LA line is that there are no "indicators" like a sign on the NY subway that shows a bar moving along a screen that shows the progress of the train on the track and the next stop the train is approaching..

the LA line, has the operator stating the next stop over the loudspeaker...
Most of the time you cant even hear the guys voice, because its soo distorted!!

As Im coming into a station, I desperately look around through the windows of the train to see if there is a sign up in the station within my view that shows the name of the station, or at the least, the streets above.. Most of the time you cant even see that, so you never know if its your stop coming up, unless u ride it everyday and are very used to it.. Ive missed stops before (very SUPER frustrating when u have to be somewhere) otherwise, its not that rider-friendly for the average person who will just use it once in a while.. I wish they would expand our small subway system so it extends out to the beach.. Rider count would rocket if that would be the case!!

I happened to work in Hollywood, and saw a physical therapist in downtown LA, and the subway here was very helpful for that.. I got from Hollywood and Vine station to korea town's Vermont and Wilshire station in 7 minutes!! with the stops included too.. if they just dug more tunnels and got the ball rolling so future generations living here wont have to depend on a car sooo much.. And its not because its earthquake country here either... its been proven that the shaking underground is nowhere near as intense as it would be at the surface. Thats why Japan is able to do that and they have a REALLY BIG system there, maybe even a good deal bigger than NY's.

By the way, I have heard that the Vermont, Wilshire station is the deepest subway station in the country.. Im not sure how deep it is, but it looked reeeeaaallyy deep when going down the escalator.. at LEAST 8 floors?? probably 10 or so...

Ive heard that some subways in Moscow and Pyongyang are the deepest in the world (up to 100m deep). Do escalators service all those people, because thats 300 feet underground!

http://dodos.kolsason.co.il/prodspics/Who%20Gives%20a%20Shit.300%203143.jpg

^^ mantle and one four o I agree with yall man m'fs want to make a huge deal about certain antiquated things in the system YET THEY LOOK PAST THE FACT IT GETS THE JOB DONE AND GETS US WHERE WE WANT TO GO, THIS IS BETTER THAN LIVING SOMEWHERE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A SYSTEM OR ONE THAT IS NOT EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO BE USED.

man i went wild on the caps there for a second

I don't give two shits if I'm in an R 32 or a fucking neon green spaceship.
:laugh:

Those new subway cars are off the hook! Though I liked the old ones especially those with graf on them!

Those new subway cars are off the hook! Though I liked the old ones especially those with graf on them!
The system's really come a long way over the last couple decades.

http://images.nycsubway.org//i4000/img_4797.jpg

^ those trains are probably artificial coral reefs off the coast of New Jersey right now.

As others have said, aerodynamics are not a big concern in this subway system because it runs off a third rail that is always powered. The cars look so New York. They look practical and are practical. Talk about form following function. The design of these trains are the way they are because of practicality.

I'd rather ride THIS:

http://images.nycsubway.org//i5000/img_5286.jpg

home at 3am while I'm drunk off my ass than have to sit and wait for a bus in 20 degree weather thinking about how MUCH I'd like to ride this,

http://images.nycsubway.org//i37000/img_37004.jpg

if only it hadn't stopped running at Midnight

I've slept on one before, L train. Lucky, I woke up with all my shit on me. :runaway:

http://images.nycsubway.org//i5000/img_5286.jpg

http://dodos.kolsason.co.il/prodspics/Who%20Gives%20a%20Shit.300%203143.jpg

That really reflects your emotional and iq level which must be low I guess. I suggest asking your parents for a lecture on proper means of communications.

The overall fit and finish and ride quality of the German train posted is superior to one from NYC which looks crude a bit, although the newer ones are better than the old fleet. The whole point of the public transit system (among others) is to provide incentives for people who might otherwise take a car to use it, if subway cars are dirty, obsolete and unpleasant I will normally take a car to work or to get somewhere. It matters a lot how it rides, feels and looks. Perhaps when some people on this forum grow up and actually do some internatinal travelling it is likely that they will notice we have to catch up to the world in some aspects as well.

That really reflects your emotional and iq level which must be low I guess. I suggest asking your parents for a lecture on proper means of communications.

Nice try. I'm all about personal attacks, too, however I didn't feel it was warranted in this case.

I know you felt the need to come to the rescue of someone else with whom I quoted since you knew that my initial point towards you, however crude, was succinct and more supportive of how actual New Yorkers feel than this platform of "our trains doesn't looks new enuff!"; and that's fine. You're insecure, maybe. I don't know, that's just my best guess. Your response indicates little more to me than being upset over no one agreeing with you, so you decide to attack my proclamation of 'nobody giving a shit' about what (and here's the key phrase) someone else said. So, let's digress a minute...

That really reflects your emotional and iq level

"emotional level"... while I'm not sure exactly what that means - maybe it's something astral projection related, or maybe you've been reading too much Deepak Chopra - I can also assume with great assuredness that this 'level' must be rather low for you, considering the personal nature of your response to something not directed towards you.

You say if the trains aren't up to your visual standards that you'll take a car to work. Really? How do you assess that on a daily basis? Or even weekly, for that matter? Maybe you have an assistant that reports on such matters, or maybe you call Bloomie to ask him what he thought about it on his ride to City Hall that day. I'm not sure, but I would like to know.

Perhaps when some people on this forum grow up and actually do some internatinal travelling it is likely that they will notice we have to catch up to the world in some aspects as well.

Internatinal? I pray that's a typo. I assume so, since you insulted my intelligence (more on that later). Now, if your number one concern regarding how we 'have to catch up' so much in some aspects is what our TRAIN CARS look like, perhaps you should reassess your priorities. Maybe the rest of the world should catch up to US and offer 24 hour service. Or flat, affordable fares, regardless of destination or length of trip. Or cheap weekly and monthly access. Oh, but who am I to question your knowledge.

http://www.world66.com/community/mymaps/worldmap?visited=CAUSCUDOJMMXPRTTARBRCLSRVEEGMAZAADFRDEITPTRUESUKJOCNJPMN

Those are the countries I've visited. Does that validate my opinion now? Can I please, oh please, comment? I'm sure you've out traveled me, but I think my list is pretty impressive. Bonus points if you can name all of those countries (no cheating!).

Back to the topic at hand, though. Now, let's keep in mind the subject on which I said 'no one gave a shit' about was about four paragraphs on how nice the LA subway was, how long it took him to get to Korea Town, what might be the deepest station, Japan, and bad speakers. Wow. Oh, wait, I'm sure there was something in there about New York's new trains, or even New York in GENERAL, right? Yeah, there it is, sort of near the beginning. "LA should have moving lights on the map like [very few] of NY's... [rambling commences]'".

I may be wrong, but last time I checked, I'm still on the New York City forum. On a thread about new subway cars. Not a comparison thread. Not a discussion about Los Angeles. So I pose this question to you: Why do you feel anyone gives a shit about what he had to say? You may enjoy people coming over here trying to get attention for LA, but I don't. As well, I don't give a shit. I think I made that clear. If, however, you feel the need to further personally attack me though, just keep in mind that you said...

That really reflects your emotional and iq level

and remember that I've addressed the first part, exposing you for the emotionally unstable grade-schoolesque girl that you are, looking to start unnecessary arguments on the internet. Oh, wait, strike that last remark; it'll only further reveal my "emotional level" for what it really is! Having said that, if we need to address the "iq level", I feel quite confident that I'll embarrass you on that front, as well. Any place you'd like to get together for a double tall mocha latte and compare IQ's (and not the one you got on www.howsmartami.com) or discuss our next Mensa meeting, then feel free to let me know. There's a weeklong event in Guadeloupe coming up in February, I believe.

... What difference is a round front or a fucking spoiler going to make? Maybe we should throw some racing shocks and lower them a few inches too?
Yeah. Also put blue neon under it while you're at it.

Nice try. I'm all about personal attacks, too, however I didn't feel it was warranted in this case.

I know you felt the need to come to the rescue of someone else with whom I quoted since you knew that my initial point towards you, however crude, was succinct and more supportive of how actual New Yorkers feel than this platform of "our trains doesn't looks new enuff!"; and that's fine. You're insecure, maybe. I don't know, that's just my best guess. Your response indicates little more to me than being upset over no one agreeing with you, so you decide to attack my proclamation of 'nobody giving a shit' about what (and here's the key phrase) someone else said. So, let's digress a minute...

"emotional level"... while I'm not sure exactly what that means - maybe it's something astral projection related, or maybe you've been reading too much Deepak Chopra - I can also assume with great assuredness that this 'level' must be rather low for you, considering the personal nature of your response to something not directed towards you.

You say if the trains aren't up to your visual standards that you'll take a car to work. Really? How do you assess that on a daily basis? Or even weekly, for that matter? Maybe you have an assistant that reports on such matters, or maybe you call Bloomie to ask him what he thought about it on his ride to City Hall that day. I'm not sure, but I would like to know.

Internatinal? I pray that's a typo. I assume so, since you insulted my intelligence (more on that later). Now, if your number one concern regarding how we 'have to catch up' so much in some aspects is what our TRAIN CARS look like, perhaps you should reassess your priorities. Maybe the rest of the world should catch up to US and offer 24 hour service. Or flat, affordable fares, regardless of destination or length of trip. Or cheap weekly and monthly access. Oh, but who am I to question your knowledge.

Those are the countries I've visited. Does that validate my opinion now? Can I please, oh please, comment? I'm sure you've out traveled me, but I think my list is pretty impressive. Bonus points if you can name all of those countries (no cheating!).

Back to the topic at hand, though. Now, let's keep in mind the subject on which I said 'no one gave a shit' about was about four paragraphs on how nice the LA subway was, how long it took him to get to Korea Town, what might be the deepest station, Japan, and bad speakers. Wow. Oh, wait, I'm sure there was something in there about New York's new trains, or even New York in GENERAL, right? Yeah, there it is, sort of near the beginning. "LA should have moving lights on the map like [very few] of NY's... [rambling commences]'".

I may be wrong, but last time I checked, I'm still on the New York City forum. On a thread about new subway cars. Not a comparison thread. Not a discussion about Los Angeles. So I pose this question to you: Why do you feel anyone gives a shit about what he had to say? You may enjoy people coming over here trying to get attention for LA, but I don't. As well, I don't give a shit. I think I made that clear. If, however, you feel the need to further personally attack me though, just keep in mind that you said...

and remember that I've addressed the first part, exposing you for the emotionally unstable grade-schoolesque girl that you are, looking to start unnecessary arguments on the internet. Oh, wait, strike that last remark; it'll only further reveal my "emotional level" for what it really is! Having said that, if we need to address the "iq level", I feel quite confident that I'll embarrass you on that front, as well. Any place you'd like to get together for a double tall mocha latte and compare IQ's (and not the one you got on www.howsmartami.com) or discuss our next Mensa meeting, then feel free to let me know. There's a weeklong event in Guadeloupe coming up in February, I believe.

You see, you had to write a whole paragraph to prove to everybody how smart you are. I don't need to write anything to appeal to the world. The person from LA did nothing rude, perhaps unintentionally writing too much off topic. Intelligence and courtesy go together, since you could not restrain yourself from posting an image with an insulting phrase, there is ample evidence to assume you are not emotionally grown up and no maps with countries you allegedly visited are going to help it. My only reservations about New York trains have been aesthetic in nature, I didn't say anything about the fares nor the length of daily operation but you keep bringing other things up. If you did travel to the countries you said, it would be easy to conclude that the public transit infrastructure and equipment is behind the times in the U.S. compared to other developed countries. It is changing, but that is unfortunately a fact. The R160 train is a far cry from what once rolled on NY tracks and it surely is a great improvement. But in my opinion there's still room for more.

But in my opinion there's still room for more...
...aesthetics that appeal to your taste.

The overall fit and finish and ride quality of the German train posted is superior to one from NYC
Unless the German trains have impractical rubber tires, the ride is the same. This is all about what color paint you want on the trains, not "providing incentives for people who might otherwise take a car to use it". - and people don't decide to drive over taking the subway because the cars aren't painted some fruity colors.

I'd rather ride THIS:

http://images.nycsubway.org//i5000/img_5286.jpg

home at 3am while I'm drunk off my ass than have to sit and wait for a bus in 20 degree weather thinking about how MUCH I'd like to ride this,

http://images.nycsubway.org//i37000/img_37004.jpg

if only it hadn't stopped running at Midnight

You're joking right?

I'll take gritty(ish) NYC type cars over that shit... looks like it should be circling disneyland.
:lol: word...


TRACY168
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4737/youthg5jh.jpg

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7741/santacls6dj.jpg

hahahahaha

i love people who try to correct other people with their arrogance. its a cycle. bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch is all you do

Man, those new cars look awsome.

The overall fit and finish and ride quality of the German train posted is superior to one from NYC which looks crude a bit, although the newer ones are better than the old fleet. The whole point of the public transit system (among others) is to provide incentives for people who might otherwise take a car to use it, if subway cars are dirty, obsolete and unpleasant

Huh? Have you ever even used the NYC Subway? Despite the fact that some trains are older, all trains are kept in very good condition and I've never really seen a train that is dirty by any standards. I have also never heard anyone complain about the aesthetics of the cars - I don't think people really care. Despite being old, I wouldn't call the older fleet "obsolete."

The new subway cars are, in my opinion, very good looking, and New Yorkers seem to agree. Personally, I find that German subway car a bit kitcshy - Its like a modern version of the "futuristic" designs of the 1960s.

Rest assured these new trains are state of the art. Some of the lines are already capable of doing operator-less travel. At least the L-line is ready to go operator-less. I wouldn't be surprised if these have that tech too. And guess why they haven't gone operator-less. Because the passenger associations don't want them to. Straphangers Campaign wants the conductor there to be a person of authority inside a moving train. Of course, MTA doesn't want the conductors because that's one more person to pay for and also conductors are prone to human error.

But if MTA decided to buy trains that look like that German one, they wouldn't look like they belonged in NY. I believe Kawasaki, who makes these new trains, build them to NY's specs, using the classic NY look.

But if MTA decided to buy trains that look like that German one, they wouldn't look like they belonged in NY. I believe Kawasaki, who makes these new trains, build them to NY's specs, using the classic NY look.
co-sign

It's not that I hated the old trains, but after seeing pics of them on NYC subway, I am glad that those models before the 90's no longer exist.

Here is a pic I took last year of an old subway car that was put back into service for the MTA anniversary:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/mr-fish/New%20York%20City/ClassicSubway.jpgThis was actually done during the holiday season.

By the way, the seats had real cushions. Very comfortable. Fans on the ceiling, no modern air conditioning.

Here is a pic I took last year of an old subway car that was put back into service for the MTA anniversary:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/mr-fish/New%20York%20City/ClassicSubway.jpgThis was actually done during the holiday season.

By the way, the seats had real cushions. Very comfortable. Fans on the ceiling, no modern air conditioning.
worlds fair trains =]

that vintage train is so cool!

^ That was a special train that ran on the 7 to the Worlds Fair.

New NYC subway is awesome, modern and high technology, that seems like similiar to subway in HK.

New NYC subway is awesome, modern and high technology, that seems like similiar to subway in HK.

It's hard to tell for now if NY's subway system will be as good or better than HK!

Yes the new subway trains look really modern but to equal that of HK, NY needs to install platform screen doors, modern ticketing machine and a smart card system just like the Octopus card. Also have a good security system! Also improve it's stations as well!

I hate platform doors - they would look retarded in nyc

I will miss those old metrowagons, but the new ones are very cool especially on the inside.

Those trains look European for some reason, they kind of don't match NY.

When I was on holiday in New York back in October, I travelled on the subway a number of times. It is a system quite unlike anything I have ever seen in Europe with its huge four track stations and early 20c. architecture.

From what I saw of the trains (and I did travel on one of those new ones with the intelligent indicator boards - though not in use as it was not on its proper line), they seem standard underground railway cars, pretty spartan with their plastic seats but OK for short journeys.

The cars seemed quite clean, graffitti (but not scratchitti) free but some of the stations seemed like they had last been renovated before the Wall Street Crash.

One station that I found fascinating was Woodside, an above ground station in Queens. This is a form of station construction that I assume was used on the New York els. The noise from trains on the steel structure was incredible and made me feel a little less nostalgic about the old Liverpool Overhead Railway that closed in the 1950s.

http://www.liverpoolpictures.co.uk/up2date/uploaded_images/prints/0006a.jpg

I suppose that the truth is that there is so much demand for use of the subway system in New York that there is no real need to attract passengers whereas many European cities would need ultramodern design to project an image of a clean, safe and well-run system.

I agree that the 'aerodynamic' styling of the German train is probably just a design fad although there will naturally be more aerodynamic resistance to a train in a tunnel than on the surface.

Third rail current collection is nowadays seen as outmoded for safety and power transmission reasons (although it is used extensively on commuter routes in Britain). However, the New York side contact system is safer than the system we have here in Britain.

I like those new station indicators. They should help solve one of the problems that I found on the system - that it was difficult to see the station nameboards as a train arrived at a station. I think it would also help if there was an easy way of telling the difference between express and local trains - I'm sure there is but it is not obvious to someone unfamiliar with the system.

The only major complaint that I would have - and I am sure this is far more of a problem for New Yorkers - is that the subway system is very north south orientated and that there seems to be a whole chunk of Manhattan on the West side that is very remote from a subway station. I noted that this part of the city seemed very quiet and inactive compared to the area to the east of eighth avenue that is well served with subways. Have there been any plans for subway construction in these areas?

Best thing about the system is the $2 everywhere price.

^ Good observations! Glad you basically enjoyed it.

I hate platform doors - they would look retarded in nyc

It may look retarded but it's also a matter of safety especially for the commuters :)

Some classics :)

http://www.teako170.com/blade75.jpg

http://www.teako170.com/tmt78.jpg

http://www.teako170.com/burn.jpg

http://www.teako170.com/stopbomb.jpg

http://www.teako170.com/lee.jpg

It may look retarded but it's also a matter of safety especially for the commuters :)
Like 1 guy falls into the tracks every year, eh.

Like 1 guy falls into the tracks every year, eh.

Again, it's safety ;)

But I heard of incidents of people getting pushed into the tracks like the one I saw in the shockumentary, "Faces Of Death IV" :D

Platform doors have been introduced at certain stations on the new London Jubilee line. They have two functions, one is the safety one - important on crowded station platforms and the other is to protect the station ventilation system from the draught of air from moving trains.

One of the most original uses of platform doors I have seen is on the St Petersburg metro, where there are no platforms and passengers access trains from side tunnels from the main station concourse. Only problem with that, is that if you are with any other people you need to enter the train via the same tunnel or you could end up in separate cars.

By the way, once those new subways become operational, do you think there might be a chance that die-hard graffiti writers will be able to paint them?

By the way, once those new subways become operational, do you think there might be a chance that die-hard graffiti writers will be able to paint them?
no chance

I haven't seen a train done up in graff in more than a decade. They were a thing of the 70s and 80s.

That was a vibrant culture but it seems NYC Transit finally got their upperhand somehow.

Its very rare to see something like a burner up on a runningtrain nowadays...as a matter of fact I doubt we will ever see one again for a very very long time

the best places you actually have a chance of seeing burners are up in yards, its still very rare but i've seen it in the concourse yard time...but they clean up the trains so quickly you wouldn't even know someone hit it up...plus not everyone is looking to look down in yards alot