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New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority said the entire Staten Island Railway (SIR) fleet is made up of R211 subway cars, and all of them are in service.
The R211 subway cars are part of the MTA’s systemwide modernization effort, officials said.
“New rolling stock is a huge part of the MTA’s fully funded Capital Plan, and now Staten Island is the first borough to get a full fleet of R211S train cars” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. “The new models not only look great, but they’re key to running more reliable service for the borough’s thousands of daily riders.”
The new cars include pre-installed security cameras and a 58-inch-wide door opening (8 inches wider than a standard door opening on the existing fleet) designed to speed boarding and reduce idle times. The cars also include additional accessible seating, digital displays and brighter lighting and signage.
“This major milestone of successfully introducing all of the R211S cars into service on the Staten Island Railway means smoother commutes for Staten Islanders,” NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said. “The cars have features that make the customers’ journeys undeniably better, and I look forward to bringing more modern rolling stock to the transit system as part of the 2025 – 2029 Capital Plan.”
The new cars replaced the 52 R44s on the SIR which were installed in 1973. R44 cars will be available for a few years as the new fleet is introduced, officials said. The new R211S cars have an average distance between failure rate of approximately 125,000-250,000 miles, compared to the R44’s 50,000 miles.
Transit officials said SIR has seen improved customer satisfaction since the new cars were introduced, including shorter wait times, fewer delays, cleaner trains, clearer announcements on trains, better service reliability and more overall satisfaction.
“This investment in Staten Island transit brings modern, safer, and more comfortable cars to our community,” State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said. “The R44 cars have run on the Staten Island Railway since 1973, and our residents have long been overdue for an upgrade to match the advancements other boroughs have enjoyed for years. After 50 years, I’m absolutely thrilled that my constituents will be able to ride the new R211 subway cars during their daily commutes. The placement of these last few cars represents not just a long overdue technological upgrade, but also a renewed commitment to delivering reliable and efficient public transportation to Staten Islanders for years to come.”
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