Niagara Frontier Transit Authority
1984 Tokyu Car Company LRV #101-127
NFTA's LRT system consists of a single route using a single
order of cars. Built in 1984 for the opening in 1985 of the LRT line, the fleet
consists of 27 cars built by to The Tokyu Car Company. Around this time Tokyu
also supplied a heavy rail style car to the Cleveland RTA for their Red Line.
What is quite unique about these cars is that they are not articulated vehicles
unlike virtually all other LRT-type vehicles for new start LRT operations. The
cars are 66.8' long, seats 51, can accommodate 140 seated and standing
passengers comfortably, or 210 under crush conditions. As part of the purchasing
process, NFTA didn't specify standard 4 axle or articulated 6 axle cars but
proponents choose what they submitted in their bids. NFTA then determined fleet
size based upon the capacity of the cars proposed. As an example, a longer, 6
axle car would need a smaller fleet to carry the same number of passengers as a
shorter, 4 axle car.
Tokyu and UTDC both offered 4 axle cars and quoted prices for 33 cars. Siemens
offered a 6 axle car and quoted prices for 27 cars, and Bombardier and Hawker
Siddeley offered 6 axle cars and quoted prices for 25 cars.
Tokyu would end up with the lowest price and win the tender, beating out the
price of the smaller fleets of articulated cars although only 27 cars were
purchased vs. the 33 required for the proposals.
The cars feature high level doors for the underground sections, with fold out
steps for the surface stations in the transit mall. Each of the surface station
does have an elevated platform to allow step less entry to the front of the
first car in each train.
From 2006-2022 the entire fleet was refurbished, with a lot of delays.
AnsaldoBreda was awarded the contract for $1.5 million per car with the work
supposed to start in the Fall of 2006 with completion
by 2010. Gray Manufacturing became a subcontractor for AnsaldoBreda,
working on disassembly of the cars for rebuilding as well as asbestos and lead
abatement. During this extended timeline, AnsaldoBreada was purchase by Hitachi
in November 2015. Car #107 was the last to be
returned in June/ July 2020 but during it's 600 mile burn in seems to have had
propulsion issues. It wouldn't complete it's burn in testing and return to
service, allowing for project closeout until April/ May 2023.
The cars are equipped with 4x Westinghouse 1463D motors and Westinghouse DC
Chopper control.
| Preview: | Unit: | Description: | Date of Photo: |
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102 | #102 southbound on Main at Church. | June 1, 2007 |
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105 | #105 southbound at the Church St Station. | June 1, 2007 |
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108 | #108 southbound existing the portal on Main Street near Tupper. | June 2007 |
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121 | #121 at the former Theater Station, which was eliminated to allow better access for cars. | June 1, 2007 |
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122 | #122 | June 1, 2007 |
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122 | Interior of #122 in 2007. Compared to the interior of #123 taken in 1992, probably the most important difference is cameras had been added by 2007. | June 1, 2007 |
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122 | Interior of #122. | June 1, 2007 |
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123 | Interior of #123 in 1992. | |
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124 | #124 at the Church Street Station. | June 2007 |
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125 | #125 in Cleveland, OH prior to delivery to Buffalo. | 1984 |
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125 | #125 now seen in Buffalo, northbound on Main, immediately north of Erie Canal Harbor Station. | June 1988 |
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127 | #127 southbound on Main at Church. | June 1, 2007 |
Sources:
https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr221/221-030.pdf
https://www.progressiverailroading.com/rail_industry_trends/news/Ansaldobreda-to-rebuild-Niagara-Frontier-Transportation-Authoritys-light-rail-vehicles--12779
https://www.nfta.com/news/authority-announcements/first-rebuilt-metro-rail-car-arrives-buffalo-50
https://www.btpm.org/2010-04-02/nfta-recycles-metro-car-fleet
Assorted Surface Transportation Committee meeting agendas
https://www.nfta.com/about/corporate-governance/meetings
This page last updated on May 1, 2025