Breda A650

Breda A650
In service	1993–present
Manufacturer	Breda
Built at	Pistoia, Italy
Constructed	1988–1997
Entered service	1993–1998
Number built	104
Formation	2 cars per unit, 2-3 units per train
Fleet numbers	501–604
Capacity	238 standing, 122 seated per 2-car set
Operator(s)
Line(s) served
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Train length	148 ft 9 in (45.35 m) (2-car set)
Car length	74 ft 4.7 in (22,675 mm)
Width	10 ft 0 in (3,048 mm)
Height	12 ft 0.70 in (3,675.5 mm)
Floor height	3 ft 8+3⁄4 in (1,136 mm)
Doors	2 × 3 per car
Wheel diameter	34+1⁄2 in (876.3 mm)
Wheelbase	7 ft 6+9⁄16 in (2.3 m)
Maximum speed	70 mph (110 km/h)
Weight	80,000 lb (36 t)
Traction system	501–530: Westinghouse chopper control 531-604: GE GTO–VVVF
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
Acceleration	3.0 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
AAR wheel arrangement	Bo-Bo+Bo-Bo
Safety system(s)	ATC, ATP, ATO
Coupling system	Tomlinson
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Notes/references

The A650 is an electric multiple unit subway car built for use on the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. The cars were manufactured by the Italian company Breda (later AnsaldoBreda, now Hitachi Rail Italy) at its Pistoia plant between 1988 and 1997 and are used on the Metro B and D Lines.

Details

The fleet of 104 vehicles was supplied in two orders. The first batch of vehicles (fleet numbers 501–530) were built between 1988 and 1993 and are propelled by chopper control and DC motors designed and manufactured by Garrett Air Research, later supported by ABB. The second batch of vehicles (fleet numbers 531–604), were built between 1995 and 1997 and include 3-phase AC 4-pole asynchronous traction motors and VVVF inverter control using GTO thyristor technology, manufactured by General Electric. Both types of vehicles use electronic sliding pocket doors, air conditioning and braking systems built by Wabtec. The first of these vehicles were delivered in the summer of 1991.

Costing $1.5 million each, the trains usually run in four to six car consists, and feature automatic train control, air conditioning, emergency intercoms, wheelchair spaces and emergency braking.

The fleet is maintained in a yard south of Union Station on Santa Fe Drive near 4th Street on the west bank of the Los Angeles River in Downtown Los Angeles.

Replacement

The A650 series are expected to be replaced in 2024, which is the same year that the first phase of the Purple Line Extension opens. LACMTA has signed a contract with CRRC Changchun to acquire new heavy rail vehicles, dubbed the HR4000 series.

In popular culture

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.

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

See also

• Los Angeles Metro Rail rolling stock
• Budd Universal Transit Vehicle - A similar model operated by the Baltimore Metro SubwayLink and (formerly) Metrorail