Governor Hochul Announces MTA to Purchase 378 Modern Subway Cars

R268 Cars Improve Service Reliability, Performance, Customer Experience

New Cars Will Support Continued Modernization of Signals to Communication-Based Train Control

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the MTA Board approved the purchase of 378 new R268 subway cars as part of the Authority’s efforts to modernize its rail fleet. These new R268 subway cars will run on the system’s ‘B’ division and will be designed to similar specs as the R211. The cars will be funded by the MTA’s historic $68 billion 2025-2029 Capital Plan, which was fully funded by Governor Hochul and the State Legislature in the FY26 Enacted Budget.

“I promised New Yorkers that we’d make generational investments in the transit system that is the lifeblood of our region, and we’re delivering by purchasing 378 state-of-the-art cars that will keep our city moving for decades to come,” Governor Hochul said. “These new subway cars will carry billions of riders over their lifetime, connecting the people and places we hold dear with the safety and reliability New Yorkers need and deserve.”

The new cars will also support the ongoing conversion of lines to modern Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signaling. These signal enhancements will allow the MTA to run more trains more frequently and more reliably, resulting in improved service and less crowded stations and trains. Additionally, CBTC will allow for more accurate real-time train arrival information.

Signal modernization projects are currently underway on the A, C, E, F and G lines. Funding from congestion pricing will support the modernization of signals on the Fulton St and Liberty Av Lines of the A and C trains in Brooklyn and Queens and the 6th Av Line of the B, D, F and M trains in Manhattan. Funding secured in the 2025-2029 Capital Plan will support further signal modernization efforts on the A and Rockway Shuttle, the J and Z trains from the Williamsburg Bridge to Broad St, and the N, Q, R, and W trains in Manhattan and Astoria.

The R268 cars will be delivered by Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. beginning in Fall 2028. All cars will be delivered by 2030, allowing the MTA to retire the last of its R68 and R68A cars and transition the ‘B’ division to an all modern-technology fleet, with all cars capable of delivering CBTC service. The R268 cars are needed to replace New York City Transit’s aging R68 and R68A cars that currently service the B, D, N, Q, W and Franklin Av Shuttle and are nearing the end of their service life. The new cars will feature modern passenger amenities including pre-installed security cameras in every car, more accessible seating, brighter lights and clearer signage. In addition, these cars will provide dramatic upgrades in reliability and performance compared to the aging cars they are replacing. The cost of the contract is $1.507 billion.