NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transit Authority is preparing to launch a new version of its modern R211 subway cars: This version will come with what is known as an “open walkway” that will allow passengers to move freely from car to car. other.
The first versions of the R211 cars debuted on A line trains in early 2023. The latest version with an open gangway is similar to what passengers see on the London Underground, the Paris Metro or the Boston T system .
MTA Transit President Richard Davey said commuters will see the cars in service in “the coming weeks” here in New York.
Open gangway cars will debut on C trains, Davey said, which was a deliberate choice.
The new cars will only run on local lines, not express lines, Davey said.
“We thought it was more prudent for that train to stop more frequently,” he said.
The cars will also have wider doors. Advocates say cars help with overcrowding and also allow greater accessibility for passengers with wheelchairs or strollers.
“Wider doors and additional accessible seats will dramatically improve the experience for all passengers and, in particular, those with disabilities,” MTA accessibility director Quemuel Arroyo said in a statement in 2023. “Futures “Open gangway pilot cars will also allow customers with mobility devices or strollers the ability to move through a train like never before, and I’m excited to try out these new cars.”
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the nation’s capital, is also exploring cars with open walkways, it announced in early 2023.
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Updated: We’re exploring open gangways for the new 8K train design. Open gangways improve accessibility, are safer, & allow for more capacity on a crowded train car, as well as more convenience for customers with strollers, luggage, & bikes. #wmata #metroboardmeeting pic.twitter.com/MrNba8jDvP
— Metro Forward (@wmata) February 23, 2023
The MTA previously said that an additional 437 cars with the open walkway design could be delivered by early 2025.
2024-01-27 02:13:17
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