The R142 is the first mass-produced model class of the newest generation or new technology (NTT) A Division cars for the New York City Subway.

It was built by Bombardier Transportation in La Pocatière, Quebec, Canada and Barre, Vermont, U.S. with final assembly performed at Plattsburgh, New York, from 1999 to 2003.

The R142s and R142As are the first New York City Subway cars to feature recorded announcements.

The first R142s were delivered on November 16, 1999, though they initially experienced minor issues that were reported while undergoing testing.

The R142s feature Alstom ONIX AC propulsion systems, electronic braking, automatic climate control, electronic strip maps, and an on-board intercom system; the traction motors of the R142s were later used on the majority of the R160 subway cars when they were first delivered.

Minor issues were reported to be found and were corrected during troubleshooting during the testing phase.

[16] Between 2016 and 2018, the MTA replaced the individual strip maps for cars assigned to the 2 and 5 with combined strip maps showing both services, due to the two services having large amounts of route overlap on the IRT White Plains Road, Eastern Parkway, and Nostrand Avenue lines, and because the R142s assigned to the East 180th Street and 239th Street yards are shared between the two routes.

[17] In January 2019, the MTA proposed mid-life upgrades to several train subsystems in the R142 and R142A fleets.

These included changes to the HVAC, propulsion, and door systems; the addition of Ethernet on the R142 fleet; and conversion of the fleet to be compatible with communications-based train control (CBTC), in conjunction with subway signal upgrades along the IRT Lexington Avenue Line and IRT Seventh Avenue Line.

[24][25] A man accused of setting the fire was arrested and charged with murder in December 2020.