The MTA originally reported that the new R211 subway cars would be delivered to NYC Transit in 2020 though not being used by the public until 2021.
While the first five subway cars of the R211 fleet were unveiled in July of last year, the MTA then announced they weren’t expected to begin serving passengers until the summer of 2022.
Now, in a statement given by the New York City Transit this past October, an order for 640 more of these new cars was approved, though passenger service isn’t expected until the spring.
The new trains are part of the “Fast Forward” plans announced in early 2018 that will allow 50 years worth of subway updates to take place in only a decade. There will be nearly 5,000 new subway cars introduced to the tracks within that time.
These R211 cars, initially planned for the A and C lines and the Staten Island Railway, feature 58-inch-wide door openings which are eight inches wider than door openings on existing cars. The wider doorways are designed to speed up boarding and reduce the amount of time trains sit in stations.
The cars are also equipped with security cameras, digital displays with information about service and stations, and brighter lighting and signage, among other features.
“We are thrilled to see customers coming back to the system with increased frequency and our main objective is to provide safe, fast reliable service,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “These modern trains feature wider doorways that will help speed up boarding time, run more reliably and give our riders a more modern passenger experience.”
The news comes alongside other changes being made to NYC’s subway service, including increased speeds on certain lines, new subway safety plans, and the proposal to increase fares by 5.5%, among other announcements.