TheM7is anelectric multiple unitrailroad car built byBombardierfor use on theMTA'sLong Island Rail Road(LIRR) andMetro-North Railroad.With delivery beginning in 2002, the M7 replaced theM1 railcarson both railroads as well as theACMUson Metro-North. The cars built for Metro-North were designated as the M7As, and contain minor differences from the M7s found on the LIRR. A total of 1,172 M7 cars were built for the two railroads.[7]
| M7 | |
|---|---|
 LIRR M7 #7824 arriving atPlandome | |
 Metro-North M7A stopped atDobbs Ferry station | |
| In service |
|
| Manufacturer | Bombardier Transportation |
| Built at | La Pocatière,Quebec,Canada +Plattsburgh, New York,US) |
| Replaced | All remainingM1s All remainingACMUs |
| Constructed | 1999–2006 |
| Number built |
|
| Number in service |
|
| Number scrapped |
|
| Formation | Married pairs |
| Fleet numbers | |
| Capacity |
|
| Operators | MTA(LIRRandMNCR) |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Stainless steel |
| Car length | 85 ft (25,908 mm) |
| Width | 10 ft 6 in (3,200 mm)[1] |
| Height | 13 ft 3 in (4,039 mm) |
| Floor height | 4 ft 3 in (1,295 mm) |
| Wheel diameter | 36 in (914 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 8 ft 6 in (2,591 mm) |
| Maximum speed |
|
| Weight |
|
| Traction system | Mitsubishi ElectricIGBT–VVVF[2][3] |
| Traction motors | |
| Power output | 2,120 hp (1,580 kW) per unit |
| Acceleration | 2 mph/s (3.2 km/(h⋅s)) |
| Deceleration |
|
| Electric system(s) | Third rail,750 V DC |
| Current collector(s) | Contact shoe |
| UIC classification | Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′[6] |
| AAR wheel arrangement | B-B+B-B |
| Braking system(s) | Regenerative/Pneumatic |
| Safety system(s) | ATCandPulse code cab signaling |
| Coupling system | Budd Pin and Cup coupler |
| Track gauge | 4 ft8+1⁄2in(1,435 mm)standard gauge |
Description
editCars are arranged asmarried pairs,where each car contains a complete set of controls for anengineer,conductor,orbrakeman.However, the 'B' Cars (denoted by odd-numbered car designations) contain ahandicapped accessiblerestroom,which is larger than the restroom provided on theM1 and M3 railcarsand designed to accommodate a wheelchair, as well as an attendant and/or service animal (such as aguide dog,hearing dogorservice dog) accompanying the passenger. The enlarged bathroom reduces the number of seats in the car.[7]
The M7 was built as two separate but similar models due to the different electrical and signaling systems on the LIRR and Metro-North. These two models, the M7 and M7A, share most of their attributes, but have a few notable differences. Most prominently, the styling of the end of the car is different; on the M7, it is mostly black with a single horizontal yellow stripe, while on the M7A it is mostly blue with several white stripes. This is the primary cosmetic difference, and the cars otherwise look nearly identical. Other, more minor, aesthetic differences include illuminated number boards, present on the M7 but absent on the M7A.[citation needed]Aside from differences in appearance, the cars are built for the differenttypes of third railused by the two railroads: the M7 is equipped for the LIRR's over-running third rail, while the M7A is equipped for Metro-North's under-running third rail.[7]For this reason, the two cars are not interchangeable between the two railroads.
History
editProcurement
editIn late 1999, a contract was awarded to Bombardier for 836 LIRR M7s. Delivery began in early 2002, and test trains for the LIRR M7 began on the Ronkonkoma Branch. After several successful tests, LIRR M7 revenue service began on the Long Beach Branch on October 30, 2002, and Metro-North's first M7A started scheduled service in April 2004. All M7s were delivered by early 2007.[citation needed]
Early troubleshooting
editThe 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 tearing 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 theM8 railcarsfor theNew Haven Line.
In the fall of 2006, the M7As 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 Metro-North fleet to be taken out of service, 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.
As of 2007[update],the fleet has the highestmean distance between failuresout of the entire LIRR fleet. This partly had to do with the fleet's newness, and so the fleet often needed to be tested for reliability.[8]
Later history
editThe Metro-North M7As were used in the 2016 filmThe Girl on the Train.[9]
On April 19, 2021, the LIRR proposed equipping two pairs of M7 railcars with batteries for travel in diesel territory, pending feasibility studies.[10]
Accidents and incidents
edit- OnFebruary 3, 2015,an M7A train on Metro-North'sHarlem Linewas involved in agrade crossingcollision with a car stopped on the tracks inValhalla, New York.The driver of the car and six passengers were killed and at least fifteen were injured. Car 4333 was destroyed in the subsequent fire.[11]
- On October 8, 2016, an M7 train on the Long Island Rail Road'sPort Jefferson Branchsideswiped a work train near theNew Hyde Park station.Multiple cars – 7033, 7034, and 7044 – were seriously damaged and eventually scrapped. Car 7043, which was 7044's mate, was initially stored but was later remated with car 7554 after that car lost its mate.
- OnJanuary 4, 2017,an M7 train on the Long Island Rail Road'sAtlantic Branchovershot a bumper atAtlantic Terminal's track 6. More than 100 people were injured. Car 7553 was seriously damaged in the collision – a broken rail pierced the underbody, creating a large hole – and was eventually scrapped. Its mate 7554 was mated with car 7043, which also lost its mate.
- On July 21, 2018, an M7 train stored in the Long Island Rail Road'sWest Side Yardderailed. Two cars, 7019 and 7364, were damaged and were eventually scrapped.[12]
- On February 26, 2019, an M7 train on the Long Island Rail Road'sRonkonkoma Branchstruck a truck, causing the lead car to derail and strike theWestbury stationplatform. Car 7425 was seriously damaged as a result and was eventually scrapped. Three people in the truck were killed, while there were no fatalities on the train. The individuals were fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle accident and went around lowered railroad crossing gates. Car 7426 was mated with car 7279 after the crash.[13]
- Car 7054 had its front burned in a fire and was scrapped in 2023.[citation needed]
Gallery
edit-
A Metro-North M7A enteringBronxville station -
An LIRR M7 arriving atFlushing–Main Street -
An 8 car M7A prepares for departure atArdsley-on-Hudson station,heading towardsCroton–Harmon stationjust 6 stations away. Car 4146 is seen trailing, with 4309 and 4308 leading the train -
Interior of an M7A car -
Seats in LIRR M7 cars -
LIRR M7 at Jamaica on Track 7 (May 2024)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"M-7 Electric Multiple Unit - New York, USA".Bombardier.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-01-21.Retrieved2023-02-04.
- ^Mitsubishi Electric 'Connect' Newsletter, Summer 2006
- ^25 kV AC ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT ASSESSMENT OF ELECTRIC MULTIPLE UNITS PASSENGER RAIL CARSPage 21-25
- ^APPENDIX 6: Design Data for Electric Multiple Units (EMU)Page 3
- ^ab"Overhaul of M7 and M8 Railcar Traction Motors".New York Bids.MTA - Metro-North Railroad. 12 August 2020.
- ^"Bombardier Transportation Seminar"(PDF).October 11, 2016.RetrievedAugust 29,2021.
- ^abcSolomon, B. (2016).Field Guide to Trains: Locomotives and Rolling Stock.Voyageur Press. p. 75.ISBN978-0-7603-5126-0.RetrievedDecember 16,2018.
- ^Outside Contractor's reportArchived2009-03-05 at theWayback Machine,October 2007.
- ^'The Girl On The Train'
- ^Castillo, Alfonso A. (April 19, 2021)."LIRR paying $860G for feasibility study on battery-operated commuter trains".Newsday.Retrieved2021-04-19.
- ^"Six killed as New York train hits vehicle".BBC News Online. 4 February 2015.Retrieved4 February2015.
- ^Marko, Tyler (23 July 2018)."Evening Long Island Rail Road trains canceled due to derailment".liherald.
- ^"Witness: Car in train collision was involved in previous crash".News 12 Long Island.February 26, 2019. Archived fromthe originalon February 27, 2019.
External links
edit- MTA Long Island Rail Road official website
- MTA Metro-North Railroad official website
- Bombardier information page for M7
