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.
SIRT was once a subsidiary of the B&O.
The first electric cars came to SIRT in 1925 (90 motors) and 1926 (10 trailers) from Standard Steel Car. They were the same size as the BMT AB Standard subway cars, and resemble them but are not identical. Two cars survive, 366 at Seashore and 388 at Branford
The NYCTA R44 cars now being replaced came in 1973. They have long outlasted their counterparts in the other boroughs.
As to longevity, Philadelphia’s Broad St. cars are by Kawasaki and were delivered 1981-1983. So SIRT’s could be good for 50 years too.
These cars now become only the third type of electric cars on ths SIRT since it was electrified in the 1920’s. I will have to make a side trip back there to say I have ridden in all of them.
Any indication of how long it will take to completely replace the older cars? Wonder if the Kawasaki’s will now last till 2074?