Governor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) have opened New York’s first purpose-built Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility, creating a modern hub for commissioning new subway cars before they enter passenger service. Delivered on time and under budget, the new complex is designed to speed up testing, improve workflow efficiency and support the largest fleet modernisation programme the MTA has undertaken in decades.
Governor Hochul said: “Thanks to funding from congestion pricing and the MTA’s 2025-29 Capital Plan, we are making generational upgrades to our subway fleet. Thousands of new, modern cars are set to improve the riding experience for millions of New Yorkers. By streamlining the process needed to get these new cars on the rails and into service, this new facility will ensure that riders feel the benefits of a new and improved subway fleet faster than ever.”
First new standalone railcar facility since 1948
Located near the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park, the facility can receive new rolling stock delivered by truck, rail or boat. Once vehicles arrive, individual cars are assembled into train formations for inspection, testing and commissioning on the site’s dedicated tracks. After completing these initial procedures, the newly formed trains are connected directly into the subway network to undergo final testing before being cleared for revenue service.
The opening marks the MTA’s first brand-new full-scale railcar facility built on a new property since the Pitkin Yard in Brooklyn opened in 1948.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said: “Our historic USD 11 billion investment in rolling stock calls for a top-of-the-line new testing facility. Now we’re ready to start processing the 1,500+ rail cars included in the Capital Plan, no matter how they’re delivered — by land or by water.”
MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer added: “This facility consolidates work that was once spread amongst different yards and unites it all under one roof. It’s another example of the MTA delivering a critical project on time and under budget to improve subway reliability for decades to come.”
Streamlined commissioning to support new R211 and R268 fleets
The facility is being opened as the MTA moves ahead with major procurement of modern R211 and R268 subway cars. The MTA’s USD 68 billion 2025-29 Capital Plan includes 1,500 new subway cars — the largest rolling stock investment since the 1980s. Of the R211 fleet, 750 cars have already been delivered, with another 860 to follow.
First entering service in March 2023, the R211 features pre-installed security cameras, 58-inch-wide doors that are eight inches wider than existing fleet standards, additional accessible seating, improved lighting, digital station displays and updated signage. The R211 is currently operating on the Staten Island Railway and multiple subway lines, with further deployments planned on the and Rockaway Park lines over the next two years.
Alongside the R211, the MTA Board has approved the purchase of 378 new R268 subway cars, which share many features with the R211. These will serve B Division lines from 2028. The 2025-29 Capital Plan will also include new cars to replace the A Division’s ageing R62 fleet.
Supporting CBTC expansion and system modernisation
Both the R211 and R268 fleets are equipped for operation with Communications-based Train Control (CBTC), the international standard for modern train signalling. This compatibility will enable the MTA to accelerate upgrades across its network, improving service reliability, reducing delays and allowing more frequent trains.
CBTC installation work is under way on the and lines, with further projects funded through congestion pricing planned on the Fulton Street and Liberty Avenue corridors, and on the 6th Avenue Line serving the and trains. Upcoming CBTC modernisation between the Williamsburg Bridge and Broad Street, and on the and lines in Manhattan and Astoria, will be financed through the 2025-29 Capital Plan.
Delivered on time, under budget and recognised for engineering excellence
The Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility was delivered within its three-year timeline and came in USD 5.5 million under budget thanks to design-build project management and the use of prefabricated building components and precast concrete track pits. The American Council of Engineering Companies of New York awarded the facility its silver medal in the Transportation category at the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards, recognising its design, innovation and long-term benefits for riders.
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