Transportation
New York City Launches More Spacious Subway Cars Used in Europe and Asia
- MTA needs to replace 3,900 subway cars in the next 20 years
- Open gangway design allows riders to walk between cars
Kathy Hochul takes an inaugural ride on the new R211T subway on Feb 1.
Photographer: Marc A. Hermann/MTANew York City’s transit system is launching a new type of subway train where riders can walk between cars and doors are wider, the first of its kind in modern US history.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Thursday ran the new R211T open gangway trains on the C line for the first time. The pilot program includes two such trains, with 10 cars each. While the more spacious trains are used on mass-transit systems in Europe and Asia, the MTA’s investment is the first for a US public transportation provider, according to the MTA.