NEW YORK — The first new railcars for the Staten Island Railway in more than 50 years entered service on Tuesday, Oct. 8, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority organizing a “first run” event to note the occasion.
The cars entering service Tuesday are among 75 R211S cars specifically for Staten Island, part of a larger 535-car order for R211 cars for the New York subway system built by Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing. Features include doors that are eight inches wider than those on current cars — designed to speed up boarding — as well as security cameras, more accessible seating, and digital route displays with more detailed station information. They will begin replacing R44 cars that were introduced in 1973. The first of the cars had been delivered to the Staten Island Railway’s Clifton Maintenance Shop a year ago [see “Staten Island Railway receives first of new railcars,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 18, 2023].
“These beautiful new train cars are a major investment in transit on Staten Island,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber said in a press release. “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.” New York City Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow said the cars are “state of the art, featuring the latest security and digital communications technology, all to ensure customers have the most customer and convenient ride.”
The 14-mile, 21-station Staten Island Railway dates to 1860. Once a Baltimore & Ohio property, it was purchased by New York City in 1971, with operations turned over to the MTA.
