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Breda A650
B Line train at Union Station
Interior of a Breda A650
In service1993–present
ManufacturerBreda
Built atPistoia, Italy
Constructed1988–1997
Entered service1993–1998
RefurbishedTalgo (2020–2022; cancelled)[1][2]
Woojin Industrial Systems (2024–present)
Number built104
Number in service88[citation needed]
Formation2 cars per unit, 2-3 units per train
Fleet numbers501–604
Capacity301 crush load, 238 standing, 122 seated per 2-car set
Operators
DepotsDivision 20 (Los Angeles River)
Lines servedB Line D Line 
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Train length148 ft 9 in (45.35 m) (2-car set)
Car length74 ft 4.7 in (22,675 mm)
Width10 ft 0 in (3,048 mm)
Height12 ft 0.70 in (3,675.5 mm)
Floor height3 ft 8+3⁄4 in (1,136 mm)
Doors2 × 3 per car
Wheel diameter34+1⁄2 in (876.3 mm)
Wheelbase7 ft 6+9⁄16 in (2.3 m)
Maximum speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Weight80,000 lb (36 t)
Traction system
Traction motors
  • 501–530: Westinghouse 427.1 hp (318.5 kW) DC motor
  • 531-604: GE 5GEB 250.1 hp (186.5 kW) 3-phase AC induction motor
Acceleration3.0 mph/s (1.34 m/s2)
Deceleration
  • 2.2 mph/s (1 m/s2) (service)
  • 3.0 mph/s (1.35 m/s2) (emergency)
Electric system(s)Third rail, 750 V DC
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
AAR wheel arrangementB-B+B-B
Safety system(s)ATC, ATP, ATO
Coupling systemTomlinson
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Notes/references
[3]

The A650 is an electric multiple unit rapid transit (known locally as a subway) car built for use on the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. The cars were manufactured by the Italian company Breda at its Pistoia plant in Italy between 1988 and 1997 and are used on the Metro B and D Lines.

Details

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In June 1988, the Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD) awarded a contract to Italian company Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie to build 30 train cars for the Red Line at a cost of $54 million, with options for additional cars.[4] They were built to the same specification as the Budd Universal Transit Vehicle, built for Baltimore and Miami in the mid 1980s – with artists impressions of the Red Line showing these trains.[5]

The first batch of 30 cars was built in Pistoia, Italy between 1988 and 1993. They use chopper control and DC traction motors designed by Garrett AiResearch in Torrance California, later manufactured by ABB.[citation needed] They entered service in 1993 with the opening of the Red Line.[6]

To allow service on further phases of the Red Line, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) ordered an additional 42 cars in 1994, and a further 32 vehicles in 1996.[7][8] These cars were built in Pistoia between 1995 and 1997, with the first arriving in Los Angeles in September 1996.[8] Unlike the first batch, these trains use AC (3-phase AC 4-pole asynchronous) traction motors which are lighter and more efficient than DC traction motors. They also use VVVF inverter control using GTO thyristor technology, manufactured by General Electric.[8]

Costing $1.8 million each,[9] the trains usually run in four to six car consists, and feature automatic train control, air conditioning, emergency intercoms, wheelchair spaces and emergency braking.[10] Initially it was planned to upgrade the DC-motored cars with AC motors, and it was claimed vehicles of either type could run with each other.[8] However, this never occured and the original batch cars retain their DC motors, and the two types rarely operate in the same train.

The fleet is maintained at the Division 20 yard, located south of Union Station on Santa Fe Drive near 4th Street on the west bank of the Los Angeles River in Downtown Los Angeles.[11]

Refurbishment

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In 2016, Metro awarded a contract to Talgo to overhaul and refurbish the newer 74 trains at a cost of $73 million, as they were more heavily used.[12] This contract was cancelled in 2022 for "non-performance" after work had started on 14 trains.[13] Talgo and Metro subsequently sued each other for breach of contract.[14]

In 2024, Metro awarded a contract to Woojin Industrial Systems to overhaul and refurbish the 74 newer trains at a cost of $213 million,[15] with the older trains to be replaced by the CRRC HR4000 when they enter service.[16] Work is to be completed before the 2028 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.[15]

Replacement

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In 2014, Metro decided to order a new subway fleet rather than overhauling the older Breda A650 trains.[17] In 2017, 64 CRRC HR4000 cars were ordered – which will replace the first batch of A650 trains when they enter service in 2024.[16] It was initially planned to replace the second batch of A650 trains with further orders of HR4000s, but instead they will be replaced by the Hyundai Rotem HR5000 trains, which were ordered in 2024.[18]

Named trains

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Two trains have been named:

  • #501 – Richard Gallagher – named after Richard Gallagher, SCRTD Director of Rapid Transit Planning in the 1980s
  • #502 – Thomas G. Neusom – named after Thomas G. Neusom, President of SCRTD Board of Directors between 1980 and 1982
[edit]

Because Los Angeles is the home of many television and production agencies, A650 subway cars are featured in countless commercials, TV shows and movies.

The Breda A650 was depicted as being burned in the tunnel between MacArthur Park and Metro Center in the 1997 film Volcano, when a lava flow through the tunnel causes all passengers and conductor to pass out on board. The A650 was featured in Speed when the emergency brake feature stops and the train derails.

Incubus filmed part of the video for their 1996 song Take Me to Your Leader with a segment featuring lead singer Brandon Boyd portraying a humorous caveman riding the subway.[19]

It is also featured in S.W.A.T. and it is seen taking a nosedive plummet from a mountain as the cataclysmic events of December 21, 2012, unfold in 2012.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Talgo, LA Metro sue each other over subway-contract". Trains Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Judge pares down lawsuit against Metro". 2UrbanGirls. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Los Angeles HRV" (PDF). AnsaldoBreda. Retrieved December 3, 2013. [dead link]
  4. ^ Davy, Greg (June 1988). "Contract for first rail cars awarded" (PDF). Headway. Vol. 6, no. 16. Southern California Rapid Transit District. p. 2. Retrieved 10 Feb 2024.
  5. ^ Metro Library and Archive (1983-04-01), Center Mezzanine, SCRTD Metro Rail, retrieved 2024-02-10
  6. ^ Katches, Mark (January 31, 1993). "Red Line Rolls to Raves – It's Smooth Railing As L.A. Subway Opens". Los Angeles Daily News.
  7. ^ "Hollywood Corridor and Eastside Extension Contract No. A650, Passenger vehicle Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie S.p.A. Authorize exercise of option to procure additional passenger vehicles and increase authorization for Expenditure (AFE)" (PDF). boardarchives.metro.net. 4 March 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 Aug 2021. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  8. ^ a b c d "New AC-powered cars join the Red Line Fleet" (PDF). library.archives.metro.net. October 1996. p. 12. Archived from the original on 2020-03-15. Retrieved 2024-02-10. The first two Metro Red Line cars of a new shipment of 74 arrived at the Division 20 shops in early September. Shipped from Italy, the Breda cars will be powered by lighter, more efficient AC motors. The two prototypes will be tested for five months, beginning this month. The new cars are equipped with inverters that change the subway systems 750 volts of DC power to AC. In the meantime, rail officials say the two types of cars are compatible and can operate together.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ McGreevey, Patrick (18 June 2000). "SUBWAY: A New Era in Rapid Transit". Los Angeles Times. p. JS1. Costing $1.8 million
  10. ^ "Los Angeles HRV" (PDF). AnsaldoBreda. 2007-10-06. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  11. ^ "Taking History: Keeping the Future on Track While Preserving the Past". Railway Age. 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2024-02-10. The existing yard, known as Metro's Division 20, currently services the existing rail vehicle fleet for Metro Red ("B" Line) and Purple ("D" Line) Lines.
  12. ^ Barrow, Keith (27 September 2016). "Talgo to refurbish Los Angeles metro trains". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 11 Feb 2024.
  13. ^ "2023-0495 - A650 HEAVY RAIL VEHICLE (HRV) REFURBISHMENT - Metro Board". boardagendas.metro.net. February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-11. In the Spring 2022 this contract was terminated for non performance after work was initiated on 14 HRVs
  14. ^ "Talgo, LA Metro sue each other over subway-car contract". Trains. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  15. ^ a b "2023-0495 - A650 HEAVY RAIL VEHICLE (HRV) REFURBISHMENT - Metro Board". boardagendas.metro.net. February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  16. ^ a b "2016-0646 - HR4000 HEAVY RAIL VEHICLE (HRV) ACQUISITION, RAIL VEHICLE CONTRACTOR - Metro Board Presentation" (PDF). boardagendas.metro.net. 17 November 2016. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  17. ^ "Authorize Request For Proposal Solicitation Of New Heavy Rail Vehicles (HRV)" (PDF). LA Metro. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 10 Feb 2024.
  18. ^ "Metro - File #: 2023-0496 Attachment D Presentation HR5000 New Heavy Rail Vehicle Procurement". metro.legistar.com. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 2024-02-09. Base Order 182 HRVs - Replace Existing Fleet (74 Cars), Support Purple Line Extensions – Section 2 & 3, Add Capacity for 4 Minutes Headway as committed to FTA
  19. ^ "Incubus - Take me to your leader (video)".
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