The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has entered the brand new R211A subway train cars into service on the A line. The new trains are being manufactured by Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. in Yonkers New York. The order comprises of 440 cars, 15 Staten Island Railway cars and 20 cars with an open gangway feature. The R211A subway cars feature 58 inch wide door openings, 8 inches wider then the current trainsets. The R211A’s feature security cameras, accusable seating and digital displays that provide detailed station information. Back in October 2022, the MTA approved an order for an additional 640 R211 subway cars bringing the total number of new subway cars to 1,175 within the next couple of years. If the testing proves successful, an additional set of cars may be ordered featuring the open gangway concept. The open gangway has been implemented in other transit systems such as the London Underground and Paris Metro. The Washington Metro has also considered this concept for their upcoming 8,000 series train cars. The open gangways allow for additional capacity on each trainsets. The new R211 subway train cars will initially operate on the A line but will see operation on other New York City Subway lines in the near future.
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