R110A (New York City Subway car)

The R110A was a prototype New York City Subway car built in 1992 by Kawasaki Railcar. Five cars were manufactured and tested on various subway lines, primarily the A and C lines, but also occasionally on other lines throughout the system. They were part of a program to evaluate new subway car technologies and designs for possible future orders.

The R110A cars featured several innovations not then found in the existing New York City Subway fleet. These included an updated exterior design, improved air conditioning systems, and a more modern interior layout. Notably, the cars had wider doors than previous models, designed to improve passenger flow and reduce dwell times at stations. They also featured an electronic information system providing real-time passenger information.

Following testing and evaluation, the R110A cars were ultimately not selected for a large-scale production order. While many of their features were considered successful, other factors, such as cost and maintenance concerns, likely contributed to this decision. The five R110A cars were eventually retired from service and scrapped. Despite not leading to a follow-up order, the R110A's design elements and technological advancements influenced the development of subsequent subway car models in the New York City Subway system.