MP-68
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The MP-68 (French:Matériel roulant sur Pneumatiques 1968) is the first rubber-tyred train model of the Mexico City Metro. It was designed and built by Alstom in France. In total, 60 trains were built (with 9 units each), of which 26 (234 units) correspond to the restoration carried out in 1993. They run on lines 5 and B of the Mexico City Metro.
It is the fourth Rubber-tyred train model manufactured in series in France. Its successive restorations, carried out between 1995 and 1998, have allowed it to remain in service for more than 50 years in the Mexico City Metro. Being a reliable model, the engineering has served as a basis for other rubber-tyred trains, both for Alstom and for other train manufacturers for Mexico.
History
With the growth of Mexico City, it became necessary to provide a mass transit system. After analyzing alternatives, the french company Alsthom was contracted to build these trains.
A system of rubber-tyred trains was chosen to be used, which provide a smooth ride with low noise levels. MP 59 trains were chosen as the base of the model to operate in Mexico City. The first group of these trains was manufactured in the workshops of Fontenay[disambiguation needed], while the second order was manufactured in the facilities of La Rochelle.
Initially they operated with 6 cars, but due to the increasing population density of Mexico City, it was feared that with these short trains, the system could become saturated in a short time, so 3 more cars were added, giving the current length of 150 m.
Two of these trains suffered an accident at the Viaducto station on Line 2, on 20 October 1975. After such an accident, an automatic piloting system was installed on all trains, which is located in the fifth car, and any new trains incorporated into the system were also equipped with this type of system.
They have been used for a long time on several parts of the current metro network, from Line 1, operating for a time on Line 6 and Line 9, as well as Line 7 after the reassignment of the rolling stock of Line 2 when it expanded to Cuatro Caminos, as well as those operating today on lines 5 and B. Even after 52 years of service, they have shown that they can still handle the passenger load that this transport receives every day.
Despite everything, the trains have an excellent reputation among mexican metro operators due to the quality manufacturing reinforced with the restorations, and still showing unparalleled reliability 52 years after they were put into operation.
Rehabilitation
In 1994, the trains of this model had travelled 5 million km in total, so at the beginning of 1995 it was decided to carry out a progressive restoration of the entire MP-68 series vehicle fleet. The renovation program ended in 2000.
The renovation was carried out by the company Bombardier-Concarril (Bombardier Transportation México today) to extend the useful life by at least 30 more years, so the rehabilitation improved some aspects of the MP-68 model, such as:
Improvements from 1996 to 1998 (first trains renovated)
- Addition of an airhorn with 2 "voices" to the sound warning mechanism.
- New door closing warning sound (matching that of french MP 89 trains)
- Installation of a ventilation system making use of motor fans
- New speaker panels provided by Eltec
- Renovation of the PA and SACEM systems
- Navy blue colored non-slip flooring
- Installation of electronic components of recent and current technology
Improvements from 1998 to 2000 (renovation of all trains)
- Addition of new white and red lanterns
- Addition of halogen headlights
- Addition of Nokia radiotelephones (only on Line B)
- Addition of digital numbers (with Arial font and micas fijas de dirección)
- Addition of station notices and ambient music
- Addition of intelligent speed controls via radio signal
- Non-slip linoleum floor with granulated surface
Present
The rehabilitated trains are in service, most of the refurbished MP-68s were supplied by Bombardier and distributed in two periods named R93 and R96, and a small number of the trains were rehabilitated by CAF following the scheme of the NE-92 model trains.
Currently the MP-68 trains in their rehabilitated variants are used throughout the fleet, serving lines 5 and B. A further upgrade of the tracking and braking systems, which date back to 1968, is planned, with the more recent systems similar to those of NM-02 trains. The company that won the bid for the second renovation was Alstom (2015).
Characteristics
- Track gauge of safety wheels: 1,435mm(4ft8+1⁄2in).
- Track gauge of drive wheels: 1,993 mm (approx. 6ft6+3⁄4in).
- Voltage: 750 VCC
- Traction system: Chopper IGBT. (before JH rheostatic system)
- Autopiloting system: SACEM special to line B. The system used for line 5 is PA135.
- Ventilation system: Air renovation, ventilation grilles and ceiling mounted cooling fans.
- Door Closing warning system: Vibrator with high-pitched tones and door pilot lights (with the rehabilitation, all models receive a monophonic tone similar to that of french MP89s and NS-93s at the Santiago metro).
- Next station announcement system: Automatic pre-recorded voice.
- Door Design:
- LED signs: White or orange signs.
- Manufacturer: Alstom. Rehabilitated by Bombardier Transportation México.
- Origin: France
- Motor Series: M-001 A M-120
- Interior: Navy blue seats and light blue interior finishes.
- Monocoup: Electric bell
- Bodywork paint: Orange
- Possible formations: 6 cars M-R-N-N-PR-M or 9 cars M-R-N-N-PR-N-N-R-M
Lines
- Líne Mexico City Metro Line 1 (1969-1982, CAF: 2000-2021)
- Líne Mexico City Metro Line 2 (1970-1998)
- Líne Mexico City Metro Line 3 (1970-1981, R93: 2016-2017)
- Líne Mexico City Metro Line 4 (1981-1994)
- Líne Mexico City Metro Line 5 (1981-1993, R93: 2008-present)
- Líne Mexico City Metro Line 6 (1983-1999, R93: 2015-2017)
- Líne Mexico City Metro Line 7 (1984-1999, R96B: 1997-2005, R93: 2007-2012)
- Líne Mexico City Metro Line 9 (1987-1996, R93: 1995-2008)
- Líne Mexico City Metro Line B (R96: Since 1999, R93: Since 2008)
Rolling stock
The rolling stock is composed as follows: