The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is exercising Option 2 with Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. for 435 additional R211 rapid transit railcars—355 R211A/S (traditional closed-end) cars and 80 R211T open-gangway cars. The option, valued at $1.27 billion, brings the total number of R211s ordered to 1,610. There are currently 345 R211 cars in service throughout the New York City Transit (NYCT) system, on the B Division (letter-designated) A and C lines, and on the Staten Island Railway. Delivery is expected to begin in 2027.
Beginning in early 2025, NYCT plans to operate a minimum of two R211T trainsets on the G line, making it the second line with open-gangway rolling stock. R211Ts first operated on the C line earlier this year.
The R211S cars will eventually replace all R44s on the Staten Island Railway and the current fleet of R46 subway cars, which have been in service on the A and C lines as well as the N-R-Q-W line for decades. This option will also allow NYCT to begin replacement of R68s, which entered service in the mid-1980s and primarily operate on the B-D-N and W. The R211 is rated at average MDBF (mean distance between failure) of approximately 220,000 miles, compared to the R46’s 46,000 miles.
The R211 is CBTC (communications-based train control)-equipped, and features security cameras in every car, more accessible seating, brighter lights, clearer signage and 58-inch-wide door openings, which are eight inches wider than standard door openings on existing cars.
In January 2018, the MTA awarded a contract to Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. to design, build and deliver 535 cars, comprised of 440 R211As and 20 R211Ts for NYCT, and 75 R211S cars for Staten Island Railway. The contract included two options: Option 1 for 640 cars, and Option 2, for 333-437 cars. In October 2022, the agency exercised Option 1 for 640 R211 for $1.78 billion.
