Breda A650
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.
| Breda A650 | |
|---|---|
 A B Line (Red) Breda A650 at Union Station in Los Angeles in 2008 | |
 The interior of a Breda A650 on the D Line (Purple) in 2012 | |
| In service | 1993–present |
| Manufacturer | Breda |
| Built at | Pistoia, Italy |
| Constructed | 1988–1997 |
| Entered service | 1993–1998 |
| Refurbished | Talgo (2020–2022; cancelled)[1][2] |
| Number built | 104 |
| Number in service | 88 |
| 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) |  |
| Depot(s) | Division 20 (Los Angeles River) |
| 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 |
|
| Traction motors |
|
| Acceleration | 3.0 mph/s (1.34 m/s2) |
| Deceleration |
|
| Electric system(s) | Third rail, 750 V DC |
| Current collector(s) | Contact shoe |
| UIC classification | Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′ |
| AAR wheel arrangement | B-B+B-B |
| Safety system(s) | ATC, ATP, ATO |
| Coupling system | Tomlinson |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Notes/references | |
| [3] | |
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.
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.[4]
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 D 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.
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.[5]
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
References
- "Talgo, LA Metro sue each other over subway-contract". Trains Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- "Judge pares down lawsuit against Metro". 2UrbanGirls. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- "Los Angeles HRV" (PDF). AnsaldoBreda. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
- "Los Angeles HRV" (PDF). AnsaldoBreda. 2007-10-06. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- "Incubus - Take me to your leader (video)".