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NYC just went shopping. No, not for more Shake Shack kiosks or Taylor Swift pop-ups. The city just approved the purchase of 378 brand-new subway cars, the next generation of shiny(-ish) trains that will whisk us across boroughs while we scroll, nap and quietly judge our fellow riders.
The new R268 models, greenlit by the MTA board this week, will enter service starting in fall 2028, with the full order arriving by 2030. Think of them as glow-ups of the R211s already hitting tracks: brighter interiors, better signage, more accessible seating and security cameras in every car. They’ll replace the aging R68 and R68A trains currently clattering along the B, D, N, Q and W lines (plus the very charming Franklin Avenue Shuttle), some of which date back to the Reagan era. This means fewer mystery screeches, fewer “why are we stopped here” moments and hopefully fewer vibes reminiscent of a forgotten high-school locker room.
“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,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in an official statement. MTA chair Janno Lieber added, “This purchase allows us to replace cars at the end of their useful life before they start breaking down.”
The price tag is a cool $1.507 billion, funded through the MTA’s massive $68 billion Capital Plan. That plan also fuels the overhaul of Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC), the fancy signaling system quietly promising more trains, fewer delays and real-time info that actually aligns with reality. If you’ve noticed signal work popping up on the A, C, E, F and G lines, that’s part of the push. Eventually, the system will expand across even more lines, from Astoria to the Rockaways.
Transit brass are already hyping the upgrades. “These new train cars will make a world of difference for transit riders,” NYC Transit president Demetrius Crichlow said in an official statement. Kawasaki Rail Car president Yusuke Hirose added that the contract “will not only secure employment for hundreds of workers in our Yonkers facility, but also delivers state-of-the-art, high-quality subway cars to NYC riders.”
Sure, 2030 feels far away. But patience is a New York subway virtue. Until then, we’ll keep loving our rattly veterans, clutching the pole as they screech through tunnels and dreaming of brighter lights, clearer announcements and maybe even a little less eau de mystery subway smell. The future is on track… even if it’s a few stops away.