MTA to start retiring subway trains with retro orange-and-yellow seats in 2025
Photo by David Goehring on Flickr
The New York City subway system’s classic orange-and-yellow seat cars are entering their twilight years, set to begin gradually disappearing from the tracks in 2025. Starting next year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) plans to slowly retire the R46, R62, and R68 subway cars—part of the MTA’s “B Division” fleet—known for their colorful L-shaped, back-to-back seating, according to PIX11. The outdated cars will be replaced with the new R211 cars, as outlined in an NYC Transit order form.
First rolled out in the 1980s, the cars have continued to serve the 1, 3, 6, B, D, F, N, and Q lines. Currently, there are more than 600 of the R68/68A cars still in use and over 1,100 of the R62/62A cars. The MTA’s five-year capital budget plan includes replacing all subway cars that are 40 years or older, including those with retro-colored seats.
The older cars are six times more likely to break down than newer train models, and require frequent costly maintenance to keep in service, an MTA spokesperson told PIX 11.
Replacing the outdated cars are the new R211/R211S cars, currently in service on the A and C lines. A key component of the MTA’s modernization efforts for the subway system, the cars feature 58-inch-wide door openings—eight inches wider than standard door openings on existing cars—speeding up boarding and reducing the amount of time trains idle in stations.
The R211/R211S cars are six times more reliable than those in the current fleet, capable of traveling an average of 240,000 miles between replacements and major repairs.
The new cars also include security cameras, digital displays, and are compatible with modernized CBTC signaling, allowing the MTA to run trains faster and more reliably.
In October, the Staten Island Railway began using the R211S cars, marking the first new cars introduced on the railway in over half a century.
Editor’s Note 12/18/24: This article has been updated to address inaccuracies in the original reporting. The R46, R62, and R68 subway cars will begin a gradual phase-out starting in 2025, rather than being retired all at once.
RELATED:
Get Insider Updates with Our Newsletter!
Leave a reply
Your email address will not be published.
I would like to report two key inaccuracies with your story:
1. The R62/R62A trains are slated to be replaced by the proposed R262 order which has even yet to awarded. Additionally, the R211s are sized for the wider B division lines and would not even fit on the A division lines where the R62/R62A trains run. Therefore, the yellow and orange bucket seats characteristic to these trains will stay.
2. Only the R46 and some R68 trains will be replaced by the R211 order. Some R68 and the R68A fleet will not be replaced by the R211 order. This will not come until the following B division order outlined in the 2025-2029 Capital Plan.
If it’s not going to be replaced with similar type seating, with the new seating pattern which is I call it whatare you looking at seats. The seats on the new subway cars, are designed for less seating space with more passengers standing. Look at the seating designed in DC. The train is long enough & are comfortable, with the seats designed for comfort & comfortable ride.