MTA kickstarts operation of R211S trains on Staten Island Railway line
New R211S Train Cars Enhance Staten Island Railway
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has made a significant stride in modernizing the Staten Island Railway (SIR) with the introduction of the new R211S train cars. Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO, has emphasized the importance of these new cars as a key component of the MTA's Capital Plan.
The R211S cars bring several improvements to the SIR, one of the most notable being the provision of additional accessible seating. Borough President Vito Fossella has welcomed this development, expressing his support for modernizing the SIR and prioritizing commuters' needs.
The R211S cars have been designed to run more reliable service for Staten Island's daily riders. They boast wider door openings, which are 8 inches wider than standard door openings, to speed up boarding and reduce the time trains sit in stations. This, in turn, should help to reduce delays and improve customer satisfaction.
The new fleet will replace 52 R44s on the SIR. The R44 cars, which have been in service since 1973, will be available for a few years as the new fleet is introduced. Borough President Fossella has stated that the SIR will finally be up-to-speed with the rest of the city after fifty years.
The R211S cars are pre-installed with security cameras in each car, providing increased safety for commuters. They also feature digital displays that provide more detailed station-specific information. The vehicles also have brighter lighting and signage, enhancing the customer experience.
Demetrius Crichlow, NYC Transit President, considers the successful introduction of all R211S cars into service on the SIR as a major milestone. The R211S cars have an average mean distance between failure (MDBF) rate of approximately 125,000-250,000 miles, compared to the R44's 50,000 miles. This indicates that the new cars are more durable and require less unscheduled maintenance.
Since the introduction of the new R211S cars, the SIR has seen improved customer satisfaction in various areas, including waiting times, frequency of delays, cleanliness on board trains, announcements on board trains, service reliability, and overall satisfaction on board.
Staten Island is the first borough to receive a full fleet of R211S train cars. This upgrade is expected to further enhance the commuting experience for Staten Island residents and visitors alike. Borough President Fossella has expressed his gratitude for these improvements, stating that the new R211S cars are a welcome development for safety, accessibility, and comfort when traveling.
The R211S vehicles for the MTA were manufactured by Kawasaki. This marks another successful collaboration between the MTA and Kawasaki, following the introduction of the R211 cars on the New York City Subway system. The MTA looks forward to continuing its efforts to modernize and improve the public transportation system in New York City.
