MTA Still Won't Embrace Open Gangway Subway Cars - Streetsblog New York City

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"The MTA's latest order for hundreds of new subway cars shows that the agency is still shying away from wholly embracing the open gangway cars that have been testing in live service for almost two years on the C and G trains. In October, the MTA Board approved the purchase of 378 R268 subway cars, which will be delivered between 2028 and 2030. The new cars will be a welcome addition to the MTA's 6,700-odd railcar fleet, but they won't be adding to the handful of open gangway cars that the agency has been testing, even though those are the standard design for transit systems around the world."

""We're as confused as anyone as to the MTA's reticence to buy open-gangway cars," said Blair Lorenzo, the executive director of the Effective Transit Alliance. "Walk-through trains have long since become the standard around the world: they're safer, they're more comfortable for riders, and they increase train capacity by around 10 percent. They are an obvious win." Creating more train capacity is important because subway ridership has been rising since the pandemic, causing crowded trains even outside of rush hour."

Streetsblog requests annual tax-deductible donations to support reporters and editors, offers a special gift for major donors, and extends holiday greetings. The MTA approved 378 R268 subway cars to be delivered between 2028 and 2030, adding to roughly 6,700 railcars, but the order does not expand the open-gangway cars currently testing on the C and G lines. Open-gangway, walk-through trains are described as the international standard, offering greater safety, rider comfort, and roughly 10 percent more capacity. Subway ridership has increased post-pandemic, producing crowded trains and recent days exceeding 4.6 million rides.

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