The MTA's big plan to roll out its fancy new subway cars has hit a rough patch. This week, they announced they're taking six out of seven of the hyped-up R211 rail cars off the tracks because of equipment troubles. And this is just a few months after they showed off these high-tech trains.
These shiny new subway cars, with their wider doors, security cameras, and digital screens, are having problems like leaky gearboxes. It's serious stuff because it can make the train's wheels jam up and scrape along the rails. There's even a video online showing one of these new trains making a racket as it passes through the Nostrand Avenue station on Oct. 21.
The MTA spokesperson explained that during routine checks, crews found some of the R211 subway cars had faulty gearboxes. So, they've pulled them out of service for now until they figure out what's wrong.
Since March, the R211s have been gradually joining the subway fleet, starting with the A line. To keep things running smoothly, the MTA will bring back some older trains while they sort out the issues.
But here's a glimmer of hope: these new trains are still covered by warranty. MTA officials seem confident they can fix the problem in a few weeks.
Now, let's talk money. The MTA has big plans to splash out $6 billion on these new railcars as part of their massive $55 billion upgrade. When they unveiled the R211, MTA bigwig Janno Lieber promised riders a more modern experience.
The first batch, ordered in 2018 from Kawasaki, includes 535 of these state-of-the-art R211s. They've got all kinds of cool upgrades compared to the older models, like wider doors and better lighting.
Last October, the MTA board greenlit another 640 cars. The bill for the first two rounds? A whopping $3.2 billion. Bombardier, the Canadian company behind the problematic R179s, was shut out from bidding for the R211 project due to late deliveries and a bunch of safety snafus.
So far, the MTA has asked Kawasaki for nearly 1,200 railcars, spending about $3.2 billion. With Bombardier out of the picture and US laws demanding American-made trains, Kawasaki pretty much had this deal in the bag.
The MTA's got its work cut out fixing these glitches, but with billions on the line, they're sure to get it sorted soon.
Conclusion
The MTA's rollout of new subway cars has hit a snag with the R211s facing equipment issues. Despite the setback, officials are confident in resolving the problems and delivering a modern passenger experience. With substantial investments and careful oversight, the MTA aims to ensure the reliability and efficiency of its subway services.
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