MTA to Buy 378 Subway Cars for $1.5B
From Yonkers-based Kawasaki Rail Car
NEW YORK—The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors approved on Oct. 31 the $1.5-billion purchase of 378 new R268 subway cars from Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. of Yonkers as part of the authority’s efforts to modernize its rail fleet.
The R268 cars will be delivered by Kawasaki Rail Car, beginning in the fall of 2028. All cars will be delivered by 2030, allowing the MTA to retire the last of its R68 and R68A cars and transition the “B” division to an all modern-technology fleet, with all cars capable of delivering communications-based train control (CBTC) service.
The R268 cars are needed to replace New York City Transit’s aging R68 and R68A cars that currently service the B, D, N, Q, W and Franklin Ave. Shuttle and are nearing the end of their service life. The new cars will feature modern passenger amenities, including pre-installed security cameras in every car, more accessible seating, brighter lights and clearer signage. In addition, these cars will provide dramatic upgrades in reliability and performance compared to the aging cars they are replacing. The cost of the contract is $1.507 billion.
These new R268 subway cars will run on the system’s “B” division and will be designed to similar specs as the R211. The cars will be funded by the MTA’s historic $68 billion 2025-2029 Capital Plan, which was fully funded by state lawmakers in the FY26 Enacted Budget.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “This purchase allows us to replace cars at the end of their useful life before they start breaking down. And by building on the successful procurement of R211 train cars, we were able to save money on nearly 400 modern subway cars.”
Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc., President Yusuke Hirose said the R268 contract will secure employment for hundreds of workers in its Yonkers facility and deliver state-of-the-art, high-quality subway cars to NYC riders. “With this milestone, we will surpass over 4,000 cars produced for New York City Transit—and we’re excited to continue building for the city’s future,” he said.
The new cars will also support the ongoing conversion of lines to modern Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signaling. These signal enhancements will allow the MTA to run more trains more frequently and more reliably, resulting in improved service and less crowded stations and trains. Additionally, CBTC will allow for more accurate real-time train arrival information.
Signal modernization projects are currently underway on the A, C, E, F and G lines. Funding from congestion pricing will support the modernization of signals on the Fulton St and Liberty Av Lines of the A and C trains in Brooklyn and Queens and the 6th Av Line of the B, D, F and M trains in Manhattan. Funding secured in the 2025-2029 Capital Plan will support further signal modernization efforts on the A and Rockway Shuttle, the J and Z trains from the Williamsburg Bridge to Broad St, and the N, Q, R, and W trains in Manhattan and Astoria.
Published: November 5, 2025.