The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has issued a request for proposals for up to 2,390 new subway cars, marking the largest rolling stock procurement in its history. The base order includes 1,140 R262 subway cars to replace aging fleets on the 1, 3, and 6 lines. The MTA may exercise an option for an additional 1,250 cars to replace fleets on the 2, 4, and 5 lines.
The procurement will replace trains that have operated since the 1980s and improve system reliability. The new cars will achieve a mean distance between failures of 200,000 miles, compared to approximately 89,000 miles for the existing fleet.
The project is funded through the MTA’s $68 billion 2025–2029 Capital Plan, which includes the largest investment in rolling stock in the agency’s history. Additional funding support comes from prior capital plans and congestion pricing revenues.
The new cars will include upgraded passenger systems, assistive listening technology, onboard cameras, and improved braking systems. The design may also incorporate open gangway configurations to improve passenger flow.
The MTA has structured the procurement to encourage innovation and reduce lifecycle costs. The agency will require bidders to submit total cost of ownership estimates and meet performance-based specifications.
Proposals are due by September 8, 2026. The MTA expects to award the contract in early 2028. The new fleet will replace up to 36% of the subway system’s total cars and improve service reliability for millions of daily riders.