Transit Authority

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The New York Sun

What is the fastest a subway car has ever traveled?


The fastest subway car ever recorded was on January 31, 1972, when an R44 subway car set an official world speed record for subway trains at 87.75 miles an hour. The speed trial was held on the Long Island Rail Road tracks between Woodside and Jamaica in Queens. Reports at the time stated that the train was still accelerating as it neared the end of the 5.9-mile test track, indicating that it could reach greater levels of speed. During a second test trial, transit workers disabled two of the trains’ four motors to simulate the effect of having a rush-hour crowd on board. The train managed to travel at a top speed of 77 miles an hour.


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