The R46 is a New York City Subway car model that was built by the Pullman Standard Company from 1975 to 1978 for the IND/BMT B Division.

The fleet was initially slated to be delivered between 1973 and 1975, but a strike at Pullman's factory delayed final deliveries until 1978.

Several hundred cracks were found in the R46 trucks during their first few years of service, leading them to be referred to as "the most troubled cars ever purchased".

[7][8] Currently, the cars maintained at Pitkin Yard run on the A, C, and Rockaway Park Shuttle, while those maintained at Coney Island Yard run on the N, Q, and W.[9] On April 7, 1972, Pullman Standard bid on the contract for 900 subway cars, and it was the highest bidder.

Once the order was awarded to Pullman Standard, the cars were constructed at the company's shops on the South Side of Chicago.

[7] However, the first two trains of R46s were placed in service on the F and N on July 14, 1975, with a brief ceremony at 34th Street–Herald Square, attended by Mayor Abraham Beame and MTA Chairman David Yunich.

[12][13] Due to a strike at the Pullman Company on October 1, 1977, along with other problems, the final R46s entered service in December 1978, three years behind schedule.

[15] As a result of the R46 fleet's mechanical issues, the NYCTA sought to minimize their usage – limiting them to rush-hour service – until their defective parts could be replaced.

In late July 1979, inspections revealed that the steel where the car body was joined to the truck was wearing away, a severe safety issue.

At the end of 1979, many other flaws were discovered in the R46 fleet, and the Transit Authority filed another US$80 million charge against Pullman Standard and a number of other subcontractors.

[17] These lawsuits invalidated an agreement made with Pullman by executive director John G. DeRoos for US$1.5 million in spare parts to remedy the defects.

The accident occurred because the 54-year-old motorman, Alick Williams of Saint Albans, had a heart attack; he died at the scene.

[21][better source needed] From 1990 to 1992, Morrison–Knudsen of Hornell, New York, rebuilt the remaining 752 R46s through the NYCTA's General Overhaul Program (GOH).

[citation needed] Since the late 2000s, the R46s have undergone intermittent rounds of scheduled maintenance as their parts age over time to extend their usefulness until their retirement.

Car 6151 was briefly retained and fitted with strip maps, colored wraps, and had some seats removed to serve as a non-operational mockup for future retrofits, all as a part of the 2017 action plan.