MTA Announces First of New R211 Subway Cars Arrive for Testing

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) leaders on Friday, July 1 unveiled the first five subway cars of the R211 fleet. The Authority will begin qualification testing on the R211s in the next few weeks, with the cars expected to begin serving passengers on select lettered lines next summer.

The cars, which are a critical part of the MTA’s ongoing modernization efforts, feature 58-inch door spans that are eight inches wider than standard doors on existing cars. The expanded doors are designed to reduce delays and speed up train movement by speeding boarding and reducing the amount of time trains sit in stations. The cars also include digital displays that will provide real-time information about service and stations, and brighter lighting and signage, slicker bonnet design, among other features.

The R211s are part of a $6.1 billion investment in rolling stock that’s included in the current capital plan. The full base order of R211 consists of 535 cars, though the contract will include options for up to 1,500 cars that NYCT may exercise over time.

Eventually, 20 of the additional forthcoming R211 cars will feature an “open gangway” located at the ends of the cars as part of a pilot program. This open design features soft accordion-like walls and allows riders to move freely between cars to reduce crowding and distribute passenger loads more evenly throughout the train.

-via Press Release

This article was posted on: July 2, 2021