The Board of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) voted to approve the acquisition of 535 metro cars (R211 model) from Kawasaki, with an option for 1,077 additional cars. Delivery of new cars for testing will begin in 2020.
The initial base contract has a value of USD 1.4 billion and if the options are exercised, the total purchase would go up to 1,612 cars, at a cost of USD 3.7 billion.
“The R211s will be a welcome addition to New York City Transit’s next-generation fleet. As both the R160 and R188 metro cars produced by Kawasaki have proven to be some of the most reliable in their class, we look forward to working with Kawasaki on the production of these cars,” MTA Managing Director Ronnie Hakim said.
The base contract includes 440 new closed-end cars for the B Division, 75 closed-end cars for Staten Island Railway, and 20 open gangway cars. The open gangway cars, which allow customers to move freely between cars, will be part of a pilot program for MTA New York City Transit. The open ends let customers move from car to car if one car is crowded, therefore distributing passenger loads more evenly throughout the train. 
The R211s feature 147-cm wide door openings, which are 20 cm wider than standard doors on existing cars. The expanded doors are designed to reduce delays and speed up train movement by speeding up boarding and reducing the amount of time trains sit in stations.
Cars delivered to the lettered metro routes will be compatible with the CBTS system, enabling New York City Transit to deliver more frequent and reliable service by operating trains more closely together. All cars will also have digital displays to provide real-time, location-specific information about service and stations, new grab rails including double-poles, and brighter and clearer lighting, signage, and safety graphics.
In December 2017, New York City Transit presented prototypes of the new R211 designs to seek customer feedback, as well as introduce the future of the New York City metro to the public.
The cars will be built and tested in Kawasaki facilities in Yonkers, N.Y. and Lincoln, Neb. Kawasaki, along with its subcontractors.
Currently, MTA New York City Transit operates R160 and R188 cars also designed and built by Kawasaki.
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