Hochul says MTA is planning 'largest subway car order ever,' seeks companies to build 2,390 cars

The plan includes the potential for an additional 1,250 cars to replace the R142 and R142A cars on the 2, 4 and 5 lines, Hochul said
The plan includes the potential for an additional 1,250 cars to replace the R142 and R142A cars on the 2, 4 and 5 lines, Hochul said. Photo credit iStock/Getty Images Plus

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that the MTA is seeking companies to build as many as 2,390 new subway cars as part of a historic order.

The governor called it the “largest subway car order ever” and said it was possible thanks to about $68 billion in funding for the MTA’s 2025–2029 Capital Plan, as well as the 2020-2024 Capital Plan, supported in part by congestion pricing revenues.

The contract includes a base order of 1,140 subway cars to replace the R62 and R62A fleets operating on the 1, 3 and 6 lines with the R262 model, Hochul said.

Hochul touted her administration’s investments in mass transit, saying, “We are in the midst of a public transit renaissance in New York,” while MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “New Yorkers are seeing a Golden Age of transit investment”
Hochul touted her administration’s investments in mass transit, saying, “We are in the midst of a public transit renaissance in New York,” while MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “New Yorkers are seeing a Golden Age of transit investment.” Photo credit Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

There’s also the possibility that an additional 1,250 cars will be purchased to replace the R142 and R142A cars on the 2, 4 and 5 lines, she said.

The base contract alone would replace 17.3% of the subway’s entire fleet of 6,574 cars, while the full contract would replace 36.4%, according to the governor.

Hochul touted her administration’s investments in mass transit, saying, “We are in the midst of a public transit renaissance in New York,” while MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “New Yorkers are seeing a Golden Age of transit investment.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus