Looks like it’s time for a glow-up.
The MTA is chugging along with modernization efforts and plans to introduce 378 new R268 subway cars to ensure train traffic is moving smoothly throughout NYC. Considering the system sees roughly 3.6 million daily riders, fully-functioning cars are non-negotiable.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement, “These new subway cars will carry billions of riders over their lifetime, connecting the people and places we hold dear with the safety and reliability New Yorkers need and deserve.”
Hop aboard for more details.
All about the new R268 subway cars
The fancy, schmancy R268 cars will run on the system’s “B” division and will be designed similarly to the R211 cars, which first appeared on the subway scene in 2023.
Similar to their modern counterparts, the R268 subway cars will support the conversion of lines to modern Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signaling, which increases train cars’ reliability and frequency. They’re meant to replace the aging R68 and R68A trains — parts of which we’re likely to see at the next MTA pop-up shop, don’t you think?
This purchase allows us to replace cars at the end of their useful life before they start breaking down. And by building on the successful procurement of R211 train cars, we were able to save money on nearly 400 modern subway cars,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement.
Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. will deliver the trains starting in 2028, and the whole fleet will role out in NYC by 2030. Meanwhile, at the bus stop, the MTA plans to incorporate 9,000 benches at bus stops across the city over the next decade, an undertaking that will cost $40 million.
Ready for the ch-ch-ch changes, commuters?