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M7 (railcar)
Encyclopedia
The M7 is an electric multiple unit
railroad car built by Bombardier
, with delivery beginning in 2002.
The cars were ordered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
for the Long Island Rail Road
(M7) and Metro-North Railroad
(M7A). The M7 replaced the M1 railcars
, which had previously provided electric service on these lines. The M7 are powered from an electric third rail
.
There are two different versions, owing to the different electrical and signaling systems on the LIRR and Metro-North. The M7 has AC traction motors and can accelerate more quickly from a standing stop than previous MU sets. The two different cars also contain different door-closing lights; the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) has small red button-sized closing-lights, while Metro-North has white light strips. Unlike the M7s, the M7As have pads behind each headrest. On the M7, the seats face towards the center, but away from the center on the M7As.
The cars are operated in married pair
s, with each car containing a complete set of controls for an engineer
, conductor
, or brakeman
. However, the B Cars contain a handicapped accessible restroom, which is larger than the restroom provided on the M1 and M3 railcars
and designed to accommodate a wheelchair, as well as an attendant and/or service animal (such as a guide dog
, hearing dog
or service dog
) accompanying the passenger. The enlarged bathroom reduces the number of seats in the car. B cars are assigned odd-number designations.
- which were built by Kawasaki Rail Car and used on the New Haven Line.
LIRR M7 service began October 30, 2002 and Metro-North's first M7 started scheduled service in April 2004. A new eight-car set of M7s cost $18 million.
In the fall of 2006, the M7s started to experience serious braking problems due to foliage on the right of way, a condition known as "Slip-Slide." This caused nearly 2/3 of the fleet to be removed from service on Metro-North, due to flat spots on wheels. While the LIRR fleet performed significantly better, stripped M1s from both railroads were reactivated, and diminished schedules were instituted until the M7 fleet was able to resume full operation.
Today, the fleet has the highest mean distance between failures
out of the entire LIRR fleet.
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
railroad car built by Bombardier
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
, with delivery beginning in 2002.
The cars were ordered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
for the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
(M7) and Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
(M7A). The M7 replaced the M1 railcars
M1/M3 (railcar)
The M1 and M3 are two similar series of electric multiple unit rail cars made by the Budd Company for the Long Island Rail Road, the Metro North Railroad and Metro North's predecessors, Penn Central and Conrail...
, which had previously provided electric service on these lines. The M7 are powered from an electric third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
.
There are two different versions, owing to the different electrical and signaling systems on the LIRR and Metro-North. The M7 has AC traction motors and can accelerate more quickly from a standing stop than previous MU sets. The two different cars also contain different door-closing lights; the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) has small red button-sized closing-lights, while Metro-North has white light strips. Unlike the M7s, the M7As have pads behind each headrest. On the M7, the seats face towards the center, but away from the center on the M7As.
The cars are operated in married pair
Married pair
A twinset or twin unit is a set of two railroad cars or locomotives which are permanently coupled and treated as if they were a single unit. A twinset of cars or coaches can also be called a twin car.-USA:...
s, with each car containing a complete set of controls for an engineer
Railroad engineer
A railroad engineer, locomotive engineer, train operator, train driver or engine driver is a person who drives a train on a railroad...
, conductor
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
, or brakeman
Brakeman
A brakeman is a rail transport worker whose original job it was to assist the braking of a train by applying brakes on individual wagons. The advent of through brakes on trains made this role redundant, although the name lives on in the United States where brakemen carry out a variety of functions...
. However, the B Cars contain a handicapped accessible restroom, which is larger than the restroom provided on the M1 and M3 railcars
M1/M3 (railcar)
The M1 and M3 are two similar series of electric multiple unit rail cars made by the Budd Company for the Long Island Rail Road, the Metro North Railroad and Metro North's predecessors, Penn Central and Conrail...
and designed to accommodate a wheelchair, as well as an attendant and/or service animal (such as a guide dog
Guide dog
Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles.Although the dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are partially color blind and are not capable of interpreting street signs...
, hearing dog
Hearing dog
A hearing dog is a specific type of assistance dog specifically selected and trained to assist people who are deaf or hearing impaired by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as doorbells, smoke alarms, ringing telephones, or alarm clocks...
or service dog
Service dog
A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression...
) accompanying the passenger. The enlarged bathroom reduces the number of seats in the car. B cars are assigned odd-number designations.
Early trouble-shooting
The M7 cars swayed from side to side more than intended when introduced to service, and required modifications to reduce the sway. In late 2006 the MTA began a replacement of all M7 armrests after paying out over $100,000 to customers who filed complaints. The factory installed armrests were notorious for slipping into trouser pockets and then destroying them when sitting. The new design is of a different profile and is coated in a more fabric-friendly rubber. Some passengers complained about having fewer seats per B car, a consequence of the larger ADA-compliant restrooms, and about the width of the seats. Metro-North's management received feedback about the M7, which influenced the development of the M8 railcarsM8 (railcar)
The M8 is an electric multiple unit railroad car built by Kawasaki for use on the New Haven Line of the Metro-North Railroad. It will replace the current fleet of 240 M2's which are nearing 40 years old and the 54 M4's which entered service in 1987.-Design:...
- which were built by Kawasaki Rail Car and used on the New Haven Line.
LIRR M7 service began October 30, 2002 and Metro-North's first M7 started scheduled service in April 2004. A new eight-car set of M7s cost $18 million.
In the fall of 2006, the M7s started to experience serious braking problems due to foliage on the right of way, a condition known as "Slip-Slide." This caused nearly 2/3 of the fleet to be removed from service on Metro-North, due to flat spots on wheels. While the LIRR fleet performed significantly better, stripped M1s from both railroads were reactivated, and diminished schedules were instituted until the M7 fleet was able to resume full operation.
Today, the fleet has the highest mean distance between failures
Failure rate
Failure rate is the frequency with which an engineered system or component fails, expressed for example in failures per hour. It is often denoted by the Greek letter λ and is important in reliability engineering....
out of the entire LIRR fleet.
Technical Data
- M7 Electric Multiple Unit – New York, USA
- Builder: Bombardier Transportation
- Operators: Long Island Rail RoadLong Island Rail RoadThe Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
(836 cars - 7001-7836) and Metro-North RailroadMetro-North RailroadThe Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
(336 cars - 4000-4335) - Length 25,908 mm - 85' 0
- Width 3,200 mm - 10' 6"
- Mitsubishi Electric AC Traction Motors and IGBT inverters
- Power output - 265 horsepower (200 kW) per motor, 4 motors per car, two inverters per car
- Max. Speed 160 km/h - 100 mph
- Seated Passengers: 110 (A car); 101 (B car)
See also
- M1/M3 (railcar)M1/M3 (railcar)The M1 and M3 are two similar series of electric multiple unit rail cars made by the Budd Company for the Long Island Rail Road, the Metro North Railroad and Metro North's predecessors, Penn Central and Conrail...
- M8 (railcar)M8 (railcar)The M8 is an electric multiple unit railroad car built by Kawasaki for use on the New Haven Line of the Metro-North Railroad. It will replace the current fleet of 240 M2's which are nearing 40 years old and the 54 M4's which entered service in 1987.-Design:...
- M9 (railcar)
- Long Island Rail RoadLong Island Rail RoadThe Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
- Metro-North RailroadMetro-North RailroadThe Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...