Staten Island Railway Completes Full R211 Fleet Upgrade

The Staten Island Railway has completed a major upgrade by replacing its entire fleet of aging R44 subway cars, which dated back to 1973, with new Kawasaki-built R211S trains. This transition, part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's 2025-2029 Capital Plan, brings enhanced safety features, wider doors for quicker boarding, improved accessibility, digital informational displays, and security cameras to benefit thousands of daily commuters. The new trains offer a smoother, more reliable, and more comfortable travel experience, with modern interiors including wider seats and better designs. Officials from NYC Transit and the MTA hailed the upgrade as a significant milestone that aligns Staten Island's transit with the rest of New York City, emphasizing the commitment to improved service and passenger convenience. Though the R44 cars have been retired from regular service, they will remain available as backups for a limited time. This modernization reflects ongoing efforts to meet growing ridership demands and enhance the borough's public transportation infrastructure.