NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning the largest order of subway cars in its history, announcing a request for proposals from manufacturers today for 1,140 cars, with an option for another 1,250.
If the option is exercised, the total of 2,390 cars would be more than the combined subway fleets of the Chicago Transit Authority and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and would represent a replacement of more than 36% of the MTA subway fleet. The new cars, designed as model R262, will be funded as part of the $68 billion capital plan for 2025-29 approved in the state’s fiscal 2026 budget.
“So much of our capital investment goes unseen,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber said in a press release, “but this next subway car order – our largest ever — is a major step to visibly delivering the modern transit system New Yorkers deserve.”
Proposals are due by Sept. 8, with a contract expected to be awarded by early 2028. The contract will be awarded under new terms and conditions that give manufacturers greater flexibility to propose new ideas, with more than 60% of the technical specifications based on performance goals rather than a set design.
Jessie Lazarus, chief of the MTA Rolling Stock Program, said the MTA is modernizing its approach “to attract as many qualified firms as possible. We’re asking the industry to come up with their best ideas, technical and commercial, to meet our performance standards and help the MTA deliver the world-class transit experience our customers deserve.”
The base order will replace R62 cars built by Kawasaki between 1983 and 1985, and R62A cars built by Bombardier between 1984 and 1987. Those cars are used on the 1, 3, and 6 lines. The option, if exercised, would be for cars to replace R142 cars built by Bombardier and R142A cars made by Kawasaki between 1999 and 2005.
MTA officials announced the RFP at the Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility in Brooklyn, which opened last November [see “New York MTA opens facility …,” Trains.com, Nov. 22, 2025].
Said New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow, “Even though we’ve managed to achieve historic on-time performance while adding service with this fleet, it’s time to enter the modern era. And our first of its kind Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility serves as a symbol to New Yorkers that we’re serious about delivering on the promise of this historic procurement.”
— To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
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Two years just to award a contract???????????????????? At that rate, it might be the mid 2030s before there is delivery.