CRRC HR4000

CRRC HR4000
HR4000 train after delivery to Los Angeles
ManufacturerCRRC
Built at Changchun, China (body shells)
Springfield, Massachusetts (final assembly)
ReplacedBreda A650 (first batch)
Constructed2021–present
Number under construction52
Number built12
Fleet numbers4001–4064
Operators
DepotsDivision 20 (Los Angeles River)
Lines servedB Line D Line 
Specifications
Train length150 ft (45.72 m)
Car length75 ft (22.86 m)
Width10 ft (3,048 mm)
Floor height44+3⁄4 in (1,136.7 mm)
DoorsSliding pocket, 3 per side
Maximum speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Traction motors8 × TSA TME 46-17-4 259 hp (193 kW)[1]
Electric system(s)Third rail, 750 V DC
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
AAR wheel arrangementB-B+B-B
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Notes/references
[2]

The HR4000 is an electric multiple unit rapid transit car being manufactured by CRRC and assembled in Springfield, Massachusetts for the Los Angeles Metro Rail's B and D lines.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) ordered 64 cars from CRRC in 2017, with options for a further 218 cars. Construction of the trains began in 2021, with the first train planned to enter service in 2024.

History

[edit]

As of 2024, the Metro Rail subway fleet is at least 26 years old, with the Breda A650 trains built in two batches between 1988 and 1997.[3] New trains will allow for future replacement of all Breda A650 trains, expanded train service including a four minute train frequency, and extensions of the D Line over three phases.[4][5]

Shortly after the groundbreaking of the D Line Extension in 2014, procurement started for new trains to run on the extension.[6] A request for proposals was issued by Metro in June 2016.[7] Two bids were received – CRRC and Hyundai Rotem.[7]

In December 2016, it was recommended that the contract be awarded to CRRC,[8] and the contract was signed in April 2017.[9] CRRC was awarded the contract as they had the lowest price, the "highest technically rated proposal" and a U.S. content of 65%.[10] The contract had a base order of 64 HR4000 cars – 34 cars for Section 1 of the D Line Extension and 30 cars to replace the older Breda A650 trains (cars 501-530) – at a cost of $178 million. The contract also contained options for 218 additional cars at a total cost of $647 million.[11]

To accommodate the order for additional subway cars, yard expansion work started in 2019.[12] As of August 2023, yard expansion is scheduled for completion in 2026.[13]

HR4000 trains were due to enter service in spring 2020, with contract completion by 2021.[11] However, construction began in 2021 at the CRRC Massachusetts plant in Springfield, Massachusetts, using bodyshells constructed in Changchun, China.[14][15] Construction was delayed due to supply chain issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.[16][17]

As of May 2023, the first cars were scheduled to be delivered in early August.[18] On July 29, 2023, the first pair of cars (4005 and 4006) were delivered to Division 20, with the cars expected to enter revenue service sometime in 2024.[16][19] Testing began in December 2023.[20]

Options

[edit]

There were 4 option orders totalling to 218 cars; 112 cars for general service expansion, 20 cars for Section 2 of the D Line Extension, 12 for Section 3 of the D Line Extension, and the remaining 74 to replace the second batch of Breda A650 trains (cars 531-604).[6] Following construction delays, and the passing of the Transit Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act by Congress in 2019 which prevents the use of further federal funding for CRRC,[21] Metro decided not to exercise the options in the CRRC HR4000 contract.[17][22] In January 2024, Metro ordered 182 HR5000 cars from Hyundai Rotem.[23]

Design

[edit]

A mockup was completed in 2019 to allow for feedback from Metro.[24] The final design was unveiled in July 2021.[25][26] The exterior design shows full-color LED destination signs, compared to the green monochrome dot-matrix flip-dot signs used with the A650s. Internally, it features more longitudinal seating than its predecessors to increase capacity[17] (although early renders depicted against such),[9] as well as open gangways between cars, which come in married pairs.[19][17]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "CRRC Metro HR4000 for Los Angeles". Traktionssysteme Austria. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "HR4000 reference sheet". Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Hymon, Steve (November 12, 2014). "Staff report on beginning process of acquiring new subway cars". The Source. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  4. ^ Chen, Anna (March 23, 2017). "More subway cars for Red/Purple Lines in the works". The Source. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "Metro - File #: 2023-0496 Attachment D Presentation HR5000 New Heavy Rail Vehicle Procurement". metro.legistar.com. November 16, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024. 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
  6. ^ a b Hymon, Steve (November 12, 2014). "Staff report on beginning process of acquiring new subway cars". The Source. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "2016-0646 - HR4000 HEAVY RAIL VEHICLE (HRV) ACQUISITION, RAIL VEHICLE CONTRACTOR - Metro Board Attachment A - Procurement Summary" (PDF). boardagendas.metro.net. November 17, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  8. ^ Hymon, Steve (December 1, 2016). "Actions taken today by the Metro Board of Directors". The Source. Retrieved February 9, 2024. The Board approved a $178.4-million contract with China Railways to manufacture 64 new subway vehicles for the Red/Purple Line by a vote of 12 to 0. There is an option to buy another 218 subway cars.
  9. ^ a b Sotero, Dave (April 12, 2017). "Metro, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation hold signing ceremony for $178-million subway car contract". The Source. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "2016-0646 - HR4000 HEAVY RAIL VEHICLE (HRV) ACQUISITION, RAIL VEHICLE CONTRACTOR - Metro Board Presentation" (PDF). boardagendas.metro.net. November 17, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Chen, Anna (March 23, 2017). "More subway cars for Red/Purple Lines in the works". The Source. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "Division 20 Portal Widening & Turnback Facility Project". LA Metro. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  13. ^ @numble (July 15, 2023). "July 2023 LA Metro construction summary (3 month period)" (Tweet). Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Los Angeles Is Ready For Springfield-Built Rail Cars, Despite Issues In Boston". New England Public Media. June 8, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "CRRC unveils Los Angeles metro cars". Railway Gazette International. July 28, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Los Angeles receives first CRRC-built metro train". International Railway Journal. August 16, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d "New LA Metro subway cars will feature New York-style bench seating". Daily News. August 18, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  18. ^ @numble (June 26, 2023). "May 2023 CPUC report says first pair of LA Metro's new subway cars from CRRC will be delivered by early August 2023 (prior report said May 2023)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ a b "These are first pair of 64 new subway cars on order. Arrived Sat night after road-tripping from assembly plant in Springfield, Mass. Look for 'em on B/D Lines next year. Watch the reveal 👇". Facebook. Metro. August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  20. ^ "COO Report Operations, Safety & Customer Experience Committee Meeting" (PDF). Metro. January 18, 2024. p. 7. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  21. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Section 7613 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020". Federal Transit Administration. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2024. Section 7613 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA 2020), Pub. L. No. 116-92 (Dec. 20, 2019), added new subsection 49 U.S.C. § 5323(u) to federal public transportation law. Section 5323(u) limits the use of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, and in some circumstances local funds, to procure rolling stock from certain transit vehicle manufacturers.
  22. ^ "2022-0677 - NEW HR5000 HEAVY RAIL VEHICLES PROCUREMENT - Metro Board". boardagendas.metro.net. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  23. ^ "Hyundai Rotem Wins $664MM LA Metro Order". Railway Age. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  24. ^ Chen, Anna (November 25, 2019). "First look at new HR4000 subway rail cars". The Source. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  25. ^ "Chinese HR4000 metro cars for Los Angeles unveiled". Railway PRO. August 4, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  26. ^ "CRRC unveils Los Angeles metro cars". Railway Gazette International. July 28, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2022.


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