Comments on: Gear problem puts the brakes on R160 delivery http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/13/gear-problem-puts-the-brakes-on-r160-delivery/ A New York City Subway Blog Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:56:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Scott C http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/13/gear-problem-puts-the-brakes-on-r160-delivery/#comment-29852 Scott C Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:51:45 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/13/gear-problem-puts-the-brakes-on-r160-delivery/#comment-29852 This problem is not nearly as bad as it sounds. It only effects the R160B's (being built by Kawasaki) with Siemens propulsion. Half of the R160B's were built with Alstom propulsion - these have been delivered and are in service. The second half of the R160B's with Siemens propulsion are the ones with the gear problem (which is leaking oil from the gear box). Should be an easy fix. This is likely not the builder's problem but the supplier of the gearbox. Once it is resolved, the cars will be back in service. The R-160A's being built by Alstom are not effected. Remember, the entire R160 primary order was to have been delivered by now but is behind schedule because several kinks had to be worked out first. The wisdom of the delay to get things rights is evident as the R160s in service currently have a mean distance between failure of over 300,000 miles (I think it is actually at 420k). The reason the MTA doesn't harshly enforce contract penalties on the car builders is that there are only 3 left - Kawasaki, Bombardier, and Alstom. If you piss one of them off, they won't bid to build cars which will mean higher costs since there is less competition. This problem is not nearly as bad as it sounds. It only effects the R160B’s (being built by Kawasaki) with Siemens propulsion. Half of the R160B’s were built with Alstom propulsion - these have been delivered and are in service. The second half of the R160B’s with Siemens propulsion are the ones with the gear problem (which is leaking oil from the gear box). Should be an easy fix. This is likely not the builder’s problem but the supplier of the gearbox. Once it is resolved, the cars will be back in service. The R-160A’s being built by Alstom are not effected.

Remember, the entire R160 primary order was to have been delivered by now but is behind schedule because several kinks had to be worked out first. The wisdom of the delay to get things rights is evident as the R160s in service currently have a mean distance between failure of over 300,000 miles (I think it is actually at 420k).

The reason the MTA doesn’t harshly enforce contract penalties on the car builders is that there are only 3 left - Kawasaki, Bombardier, and Alstom. If you piss one of them off, they won’t bid to build cars which will mean higher costs since there is less competition.

]]> By: Todd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/13/gear-problem-puts-the-brakes-on-r160-delivery/#comment-29848 Todd Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:09:31 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/13/gear-problem-puts-the-brakes-on-r160-delivery/#comment-29848 This is ridiculous. I thought contracts were legally binding documents? Where is the responsibility? This is ridiculous. I thought contracts were legally binding documents? Where is the responsibility?

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