The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City launched new R211S subway cars into service on the Staten Island Railway as part of a 535-car order. 440 R211S standard cars, 75 Staten Island Railway Cars, and 20 cars with the open gangway feature were supplied.

Following the announcement, attendees were able to ride the first train in service from St. George Terminal.

Modernizing New York's Rails

The R211S cars are a critical part of MTA’s ongoing modernization efforts, featuring 58-inch-wide door openings designed to speed up boarding and reduce the amount of time trains sit in stations.

The new cars are also six times more reliable than current cars in the fleet, able to travel an average of 240,00- miles between replacements and major repairs. 

“These beautiful new train cars are a major investment in transit on Staten Island,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Between the train and the 56 bus routes, we take great pride in the service the team delivers to help make Staten Island a great place to live.”

The cars include security cameras, additional accessible seating, digital route displays, and brighter lighting and signage among other features to improve customer experience.

“The new R211S train cars include more accessible seating and wider doorways, making getting on and off easier for all customers,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “I look forward to seeing SIR customers experience more reliable and accessible service on these top-of-the-line train cars.”

The Staten Island Railway currently runs R44s, which were implemented in 1973.

More Cars On the Way

In October 2022 MTA announced the MTA Board had approved to order an additional 640 R211S subway cars, bringing the total number of new cars to 1,080 within the next two years.

“These new Staten Island railway cars have been long overdue,” said Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella. “Staten Island has long been behind the rest of the city in rail transportation, and replacing 50-year-old cars with brand new ones is a welcome development. We support further efforts to improve the commuter experience for the Staten Islanders who rely on the train for their day-to-day lives.”