Riding New York City's Brand New R211T Open Gangway Subway Cars!

I know there will be a lot of questions about how this video was produced. As a result, I will try to answer some of the questions I anticipate here in the description box.
First and foremost, I was very fortunate to be allowed to attend this event by the MTA Press Office and MTA Senior Leadership. I am grateful for the hospitality they showed me that day.
As with all other content on this channel, I only film either from a public location or I have obtained permission prior to filming non-public areas/special events as was seen here.
As for questions about the R211, I will refer everyone to the official MTA Press Release which can be found here: new.mta.info/p...
I hope everyone enjoys the video! I worked very hard to cover as many angles as I could and show as much of the open gangway in action. I will update this description as needed.

[@TechandTransit]

Hi everyone! Enjoy today's special video. I know there will be a lot of questions, so I tried to answer some I anticipate being asked in the description box. Please read the description!

[@kingofthelight8260]

Hold up. YOU WERE ON THAT TRAIN!!?? What are you?

[@liveeric2631]

That train car should be on the B N D Lines 💯💯💯💯 so we can hear the announcements more clearly 💯💯💯💯 like the R179 A n C J L Trains

[@davidng2336]

Weren't the trains supposed to have USB ports?

[@chulamartinez139]

​@@liveeric2631 the r179 do not run on the N or L

[@empirestate8791]

This car is almost perfect in terms of design. Tons of standing space, open gangways, wide doors, tons of screens, and plenty of space for wheelchairs and bikes. Now, people bringing bigger items onto the subway (like suitcases, carts, strollers, etc.) won't have any problem. Looks like they've completely gotten rid of the horizontal seating to save space.

[@jeremiahtaylor1817]

It’s been gone since the R143. Only the old tech trains had transverse seating

[@blainecountysherrif4542]

@luvlanadelrey the windows are due to the wider doors, but i do agree with the designated wheelchair areas.

[@m--a]

The only things I think they could have done better using exterior sliding doors and more comfortable seats.

[@trainzandplanes522]

I think they should order open gangway cars for the R220s. The 1, 3, and 6 get way too busy

[@blainecountysherrif4542]

@@trainzandplanes522 the R262s will cover that

[@OliverHarrington]

For some reason that shot at 2:45 made me so happy. Finally the USA is embracing open-gangway rolling stock in our subway systems!

[@CatBot007]

You can also see really how tight some of the turns are

[@FanRailer]

It’s really trippy watching the train bending through the curves in the yard. Very nicely done; can’t wait for these to go into service. Shame that the majority of this order isn’t going to be open gangway.

[@ComRad69]

@breadandcircuses8127 isnt it obvious dimwitt? Its the first ever gangway train car they're testing ever and as a result, they're unsure what the end result for the R211T would be so they're playing it safe and ordering more R211As in the meantime, but they're no more R211A deliveries to South Brooklyn Yard because well... I think you might've heard that MOST R211As are OOS due to gearboxes leaking etc etc

[@ElJibaro718]

​@breadandcircuses8127what do you mean why? Because it'd be nice to have them and they're much better I terms of capacity. That's why.

[@davidng2336]

There’s still one more option order remaining; hopefully that last option order takes the open gangway design.

[@areyouserious2800]

BRO I remember seeing this in 2016 and thinking, "Boy, can't wait till 2020!" We all know how that went...... Still happy their working on it!

[@one_step_sideways]

It's a reference to how MTA never makes anything on time, with how trains regularly run 30-60 minutes late. Not a bug, but a feature. Kind of genius of them

[@missSandz25]

Congratulations on having the opportunity to ride on the R211T! I approve then overall capacity and the open gangway portion of this train, it reminds me of the D60HF buses and the jet bridge when boarding your flight, thanks for sharing this and I cannot wait to get my rides on the R211A and R211T

[@kyronliu5190]

congrats!! must’ve been such an honor to be able to be a part of the event 😍

[@TheTransitProductions]

Congrats on being able to attend! This video inspires me a lot more as anyone can get special things such as this as long as you follow the rules and don’t get into trouble, anything can be possible. Great work on the clips as well

[@mrnoah53]

The open gangways make it feel more open and I feel like it gives more safety too, because if something happens, everyone can see and hear what’s happening. I just really like the look of them. I really am excited that New York is finally getting open-gangway metro’s and catching up to the rest of the world. 😍😍

[@brett8706]

But it isn’t a true open gangway in the sense each set is cut off from the other. Not like Toronto’s Rockets.

[@ElJibaro718]

​@@brett8706 t's still an open gangway. Let's not nit-pick.

[@brett8706]

@@ElJibaro718 Still, not in the traditional sense, like Toronto. But, I guess if the MTA did that, there wouldn’t be room for a conductor.

[@TheREALTHAAANG]

​@@brett8706Open gangways can be designed in any configuration

[@brett8706]

@@TheREALTHAAANG Good point. I’m just used to the Rockets. I hope MTA procures the R211Ts

[@traintravel710]

You are one lucky person to get that opportunity and ride along on that trip!! Awesome job!!

[@dfwrailvideos]

I would assume that the A-division R262 cars will also have a "soft shell" open gangway version like the R211Ts. Great video!

[@graffmixer]

Congrats on being part of the event. This is going to be a game changer for the MTA system. I hope everything goes well with the testing phase of the R211T. Hopefully the next R262 will incorporate this feature.

[@jaydenphilbertmunipals9089]

That's not the reaction I saw on Facebook sadly

[@leecornwell5632]

What do you mean sadly about on Facebook that you don't know who is making the R262/AS?.

[@jaydenphilbertmunipals9089]

@@leecornwell5632 No, what I meant was the people on Facebook are not liking these new trains as they are saying it's a new roomier space for the homeless to pee in and they're complaining about less seats

[@tuckthepuppy2517]

@@jaydenphilbertmunipals9089 I doubt that they’ll want to happen

[@TheRailLeaguer]

@@jaydenphilbertmunipals9089 It’s Facebook with their concern trolling (with only some small glimpses of validity). What did you all expect from social media platforms that only show most people’s true colors?

[@liveeric2631]

Just like some metro north n long island Railroad trains I'm amazed by these train cars I can't wait to be a part of the MTA team working as a train conductor watching the Episodes of Thomas n Friends it's that dream.....being a people Person it's the dream being on the Team I was so grateful when they told me I pass taking the exam on may 22 2015 💯💯💯💯💯 first applied on September 15 2015

[@97nelsn]

Somewhere in the city, GoGoSuprtoe is wishing he was riding this train and doing an empty car dance, well on open gangways it would be 5 empty car dances at once.

[@Tausi]

Thanks for actually showing the train instead of putting random clips like the news networks

[@maxster_8989]

I'm an ex New Yorker who now lives in a city where open gangway trains are as common as New York City rats. So I'm surprised how open gangway technology is treated with such novelty.

[@JamaicaZ160R1793010A]

You know the city. Behind on times.

[@mstrmren]

It's normal pretty much everywhere in the world.

[@ElJibaro718]

Ummm, it's treated with such novelty because we haven't had open gangway cars since the 1930's when the IND began operations. Just because you live where it's common doesn't mean that we can't impressed by them. It's different

[@ElJibaro718]

​@@mstrmrenSo what? It's not normal in NY. And yeah you'll respond with the usual "NYC is being the times." We're aware of that.

[@jonathanpusar5931]

Well apparently this experiment is not going to last too long, since the gangway design violates a safety rule for the conductor to inspect the tracks if someone pulls the emergency brake. Thus then can only be run on fully 100% local routes. Which means only the R, C, G, W, and L trains. Kind of a bummer, but it’s amazing the MTA didn’t realize such a fundamental flaw in the onset. Maybe they’ll just use these trains on those routes only.

[@tommynunez1495]

Nice shot of the "Money Train" 👍

[@YaboyMX595]

Y’know what’s crazy? This was back in February 2023. Yet somehow mta put it in service in February in 2024. Coincidentally cool to know.

[@DaShawnOnDemand]

Thank you so much for this! Excellent documentation and I still can't believe we finally have them! WOW!

[@eduardososa843]

Come on MTA these trains should have entered service by now.

[@DLHDP]

I like how it manages to be open gangway but still look like a NYC subway train.

[@villavine10]

This is the one time I like newer rolling stock over the old, this is up there with my favorite, the r32

[@villavine10]

This is the one time I like newer rolling stock over the old. This is up there with my favorite, the r32

[@AlexanderTheSimmer]

3:09 Look at all these cars, it's like an articulated Trolley. awesome!

[@johnperry4572]

I see they need to do some cleanup at Coney Island Yard....the Money Train movie car which hasn't moved in 28 years......and some surplus R44 cars are still there

[@JitzyJT]

Must be a nice feeling standing on the gangway when the train is riding through a curve

[@СолнечныйПарус-р7щ]

It's so enjoyable, comfortable & beatific environ!!🤩🥰👍👍👍

[@nah_144]

Im so glad are exactly like the concept

[@judevientos4039]

Love the flashing train sign, very cyberpunk

[@zulimations]

i'm glad this got recommended to me, i live in brooklyn and i take the subway daily... very cool to see this in action, i only saw a few pictures before this

[@johnperry4572]

I'm a retired motorman....wish I still worked for TA...would love to operate the R211 cars....I'd love to see one thing...one of the R211 open gangway units split up in the CI yard shops...on the cranes...just to see how they do it

[@niyceuaserquyandenla8461]

espero este comentario lo traduzcas al inglés en Google pero eres un trabajador jubilado del a MTA? soy de México que decía si los R211T no un tren de tecnología cantante genial por lo que veo no si tiene fecha de entrada al servicio

[@johnperry4572]

@@niyceuaserquyandenla8461 please....translate to English if possible....thank you

[@user-df3ty8ei2u]

@@johnperry4572 this is what he said: I hope you translate this comment into English in Google but am I a retired worker from an MTA? I am from Mexico I was saying if the R211T is not a great singer technology train from what I see not if it has a date of entry into service

[@niccolastracksandtrails]

Thanks for this exclusive footage!

[@garcia6248]

Forget about the R211T. i can't believe the money train is still there. i really hope they fix or continue to keep it. love the movie.

[@johnchancellor2258]

My only concern with the open gangways are the amount of homeless people that are in almost every car. Major issue on the E train at Jamaica Center and WTC Cortlandt especially during overnight hours

[@jeremynaraine]

👍 Can't Wait For The R211 To Start Service.

[@javierbarrucz7755]

THE R211 OPEN GANGWAY LOOKS AWESOME.

[@smitpp]

Are you able to travel throughout the entire train or the first 5 cars of each pair?

[@Zabanks7670]

First 5.

[@videonut1988]

First 5. These cards aren't OPTO-exclusive like other open gangway cars.

[@Di_D3M0N]

This is revolutionary to the nyc subway

[@mood4eva98]

Awww congratulations that's awesome that they asked you to be part of it. Do you know why they decided to only let 4040-4044 to have the LED advertisements but 4045-4049 to have paper advertisements

[@dexterdugarjr.3217]

Test spec (no screens for ads) vs production spec (all screens)

[@CR2Creative]

Can’t wait to see R211’s on the B & D to displace the R68/R68A cars to the Coney Island it should be very straight forward no need for unnecessary fleet swaps and service disruptions.

[@shxftyprince]

Congratulations bro I wish u nothing but the best for u looking forward 2 seeing u on these bad boys

[@CARma193]

The R211T was vandalized 5 hours ago… OMG WHYYYY I AM SO MAD!

[@glamslamcam]

Congratulations on being able to take a trip on the R211T! It looks very roomy & spacious & I can’t wait to get a ride on these new beauties! I just want to know, how was the ride & what are your thought on the train now that you’ve gotten to ride it before the general public?

[@CR1Creative]

For Everyone replying Queens Boulevard has high ridership and CBTC is already installed there, the R211's have higher capacity than the R160's by removing the corner seats and reduced seats for more room/standing capacity we can fit more people into each train car plus the wider doors which reduce dwell times are people can load and offload faster and more safely with wider doors plus QBL is routinely crowded which the (E) and (F) have those two criterias, High ridership and CBTC once again Queens Blvd is a line with high ridership, behind the Canarsie Line and Flushing Line. Therefore it would make more sense for the R211's out of the option orders to go to Jamaica Yard. Fleet assignments are based on CBTC installations and Fleet Age to some extent, with CBTC taking priority. A line like the 8th Avenue (A) and (C) trains do have old cars, and are in the process of getting CBTC. Therefore, it would be beneficial to get R211 cars. In contrast, you have lines like the Broadway Line (N/W) and (Q) that are using old cars, but are NOT earmarked for CBTC installation. Therefore, it would be unwise to send R211's over to all these lines. Now you have the open gangway trains. A big increase in space compared to the R160, a third criteria has been added. high ridership. As mentioned before Queens Boulevard has high ridership and crowding on the (E) and (F) routes is prominent. Given that QBL already has CBTC and these two lines have high ridership, so it makes sense to have R211's go over there, with the R160 cars offloaded onto lower volume lines. It really makes zero sense for train cars of higher capacity (R211's) to be assigned with lower ridership volumes while high ridership lines get stuck with lower capacity cars (R160's). It doesn't really match. By doing the assignments in the way I mentioned with the R211's also considered for the (E) and (F) things become more efficient. having open gangway trains on QBL we can increase capacity and squeeze more people into each train car by 10% which equates to more standing capacity that's even more room for people to stand and by removing the corner seats and reduced seats combined with wider doors and is CBTC Equipped therefore it's beneficial to put open gangway trains only on lines that have high ridership and are routinely crowded like the (A), (E) and (F), you get the saying less furniture equals more room and if you knock out a wall that's even more room for people to stand that's why the R211T's have much higher capacity. Rember, just because the R211's are replacing the R46 cars DOES not mean that they only have to go to lines with these cars. It is definitely okay to assign these cars to lines that don't even have old cars like Jamaica and offload the cars from said yard to the yards with older cars.

[@GSU_Panther_Nation]

This is what a typical MRT train looks like in Singapore. The MTA Subway could finally match up with the MRT

[@jaydenphilbertmunipals9089]

How does the r211t have water marks already

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

1:43: When worlds collide... Hollywood, meet New York. New York, meet Hollywood. I'll be damned if that wasn't the subway car from MONEY TRAIN!

[@barrybshrekson864]

Looks so bright in there holy

[@th3thrilld3m0n]

So weird why the gangways are so lengthy. Most transit systems with open gangway have them a foot long or less.

[@AutomotiveTaurus]

This video makes me more patient to get on. Have you been to Montréal ladies and gentlemen ? The Bomardier Azurs are their only gangway trains in the STM company. These replaced the retiring 1966 MR-63s by 2018. And the first and last time riding the Azurs was back in July 2019. Those put me in the spotlight imagining the R211Ts, where I can see everything from end to end in the whole set. 2019 STM vlog: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5qpmnysmM-tfq8 . Also, thank you again @techandtransit for the passenger test vlog.

[@TheTransferPoint]

Sick video as always!

[@CubeAtlantic]

they legit unique & kind of distinctive then the other MTA Subway cars e.g. R160 or R179 they might be good-quality.

[@Stanf954]

More space to bring your couchs, beds and refrigerator when its time to skip out of your rental in the middle of the night.

[@michaelwalterselevatorsrob5009]

You'd think they were gonna remaster the Pre-Recorded station announcements...

[@josephortiz1990]

So This Means That This One 1 Is Going On The F Train Line Correct?!:-\

[@numberIII-hz1nt]

THIS is the type of train that North America deserves.

[@brett8706]

So, the R211T 8/10 car trains are not fully open gangway like Toronto's Rockets due to their being a conductor in the second consist or maintenance requirements?

[@janpablor]

Where and when can u visit this?

[@adrienamcbride]

How about the new R211 trains?

[@rockoutdave411]

sooooo...will these trains will have 2 conductors (1 on each side of the gangway) or can they be operated by an engineer alone? I hope the latter.

[@goatiebaaproductions]

Can’t wait for the 211T to be in full effect sooner than later lol

[@cheryldthomas9415]

These are great trains but i hope they are added to the 1,2,3,4,5, a, b,c, and d lines.

[@leecornwell5632]

The R211s is not going on no 4 5 6 S 1 3 2 lines . The R211/A/TS are going to the B decisions iND and BMT lines. The R262/A will go to the A devisin iRT lines. Don't get it twisted brother man.

[@leecornwell5632]

A course we all know that the R211/As will be on the A C lines for CBTCS by the end of the year.

[@alexmunch6118]

I think that with the exception of the B line, those new cars are not going on the 1 3, or D lines..In other words, the R62s (On the 1 and 3 lines) and the D line (Still having the R68s) are going to remain with the fleet they have for at least several more years. Those cars are still in working order and will not retire probably until 2030. Still a long ways to go

[@leecornwell5632]

​@@alexmunch6118The B trains are definitely gonna remain the R68S R68AS also. The 4 5 6 S 2 lines is definitely gonna get the R262/AS. While the R142S goes on the 1 3 lines and the R142AS and the R262As goes on the Pelham 6 line for CBTCs.

[@leecornwell5632]

So far the R62AS R62S is holding up just like the R32S the strongest trains ever built.

[@TheSeaddy10473]

So where is the conductor

[@thevultrantransituniverse1487]

Beautiful train!!

[@RossiZockt]

The Train at 1:45 looks like the Money Train. :D

[@BowserHype27]

What date and time was this taken? I need to know because I was on the elevated Culver Line on February 6, between 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM.

[@TechandTransit]

This was February 3rd between 11:30 and 1:30.

[@raymoreno7010]

1:41 money train from the movie.

[@MasterTransit_MSDWolf8420]

That's [f]abulous video of R211T.

[@jaydenphilbertmunipals9089]

Huh, I wonder why they didn't do this with the R211A yet

[@snackwrap2011]

Cuz it’s the standard the open gangway is more special lol

[@jaydenphilbertmunipals9089]

@@snackwrap2011 oh I thought it was because of the ignorant New Yorkers who say it looks exactly the same as the current R160s

[@cubsfan5734]

And finally cameras

[@arielgonzalez5296]

Very cool catch

[@busfannerchris]

Intriguing.

[@morganlimes]

is the indoor propulsion loud? or is it non existent?

[@one_step_sideways]

It is audible as always, and the trains still sound like a bag full of tin cans due to the giant seams between the rails

[@morganlimes]

@miha1350 bag full of tin cans lol. Just wondered if it's like the r142a/r188 and the siemens 160s because for example the r179s and alstom r160 don't got an indoor propulsion

[@one_step_sideways]

@@morganlimes Well if you take a look at how every single NYC subway train (including this here R211) looks like, calling it a bag full of tin cans is exactly how you would describe it. They are themselves just tin cans, and during rush hours they have the people packed like fish in there

[@kingofthelight8260]

When can I ride this Galvatron?

[@PeteS_1994]

Why do the new trains seem to have smaller windows

[@tf51d]

Because the doors are wider to more easily accommodate the disabled.

[@ccxi_4300]

that early? i thought it starts in the spring

[@Dezlite]

It is not in service, they were invited to attend that event

[@JamaicaZ160R1793010A]

Good stuff.

[@alexanderglazman3209]

The N and W should get the R211.

[@ndudeYT]

Why does the R211 gangway seem sooo long and narrow? Trains on other metro systems seem to have gangways that are much more spacious.

[@AndrewTheRadarMan]

The curves are super sharp

[@one_step_sideways]

Because MTA can't do anything right

[@gxmball_7044]

Bc the tracks r small

[@mclarenspeedtail8988]

That's nice

[@KingofGamingAndTrains456]

So cool!

[@CR1Creative]

I had an earlier response but I deleted it. Why? The math changes if All R179's are pushed out of the (A) and (C), though this would only be possible with the second option order. With the (A), (C), (E) and (F) being 100% R211's, the (A) and (C) get up to 6 more trains for frequency boosts, but the (E), (F), and (R) do not get any due to infrastructure constraints (primarily low-capacity terminals); therefore a ton of (5-car) R160's and R179's are pushed to Coney Island, enough to allow the (Q) to run R160's (and let the G return to Coney Island). I still don't like this though, because about half of all R68[A]'s would just sit unused. 33 [out of what would be 77 but currently 68] trains are used for the (N) and (W), so yeah, there won't be leftover R160's as BrianMercy is saying, but leftover R68[A]'s. And the 60th Street tubes seem unable to do better than 24 TPH, so I don't expect that 33 figure to increase at all unless MTA finally wants to go forward with deinterlining -- which I doubt because the MTA's new priorities indicate going in the opposite direction. In my calculations below, the only service boost I accounted for, besides the (A) and (C) (simply because there are R211's for it whereas the (E) and (F) cannot run additional trains), is the (G) train. Because the (G) is a shorter line that doesn't use that many cars to begin with and only interlines with one other train, I made it match (F) frequencies, where according to schedules, it consistently maxes out at 12 trains per hour, or every 5 minutes on average. The catch is that there are no more NTT's to make the (G) 10 cars, but capacity should still improve by 38%, and there should be fewer delays caused by merging (late trains would still cause problems but at least conflicts are no longer built into schedules). The result is that there are 17 extra NTT trains for spares and B/D/Q service boosts at Coney Island Yard. If the (Q) didn't use any NTT's, that number would be 39. -A/C and Rockaway Park Shuttle (Pitkin+207): 740 R211's (up from 680 in 5-car equivalents; only =630 needed to run the (C) every 5 minutes and both (A) branches and shuttle every 10) -E/F/R (Jamaica): 760 R211's, 355 R160's (1115 total with 40 spares each, down from 1290) -D (Concourse): 335 R160's -B/Q/G (Coney Island): 730 R160's/R179's, of which 560 would be in service (MTA may want to do something about Jamaica Yard being over capacity, which is why I have the (G) back here, and the reduction above) -N/W (Coney Island): 416 R68's + 200 R68A's, of which ... 264 would be in service. Yes, that's 352 spares, or 44 trains... -J/Z: 188 R179's, 40 Borrowed R160A-1's (23+4 trains; (J/Z) currently use 20 during AM rush hours) -L: 212 R143's, 64 R160A-1's (34 trains; (L) currently uses 24) -M: 268 R160A-1's, 32 R211's (33+4 trains; (M) currently uses 24)

[@Izon14n]

when will the r211's release?

[@priusbuffer]

This is spring

[@priusbuffer]

Or in June

[@peterdonal9694]

Hardly ENOUGH handles to grab on to when walking in the gangway even when the cars start making the turns.

[@BigPops757]

Is 5288 an R44 or r46?

[@4440bestbus]

R44

[@ibrahimabah3693]

How much cars does this train have?

[@priusbuffer]

It's probably going to have five cars or 10

[@SRLT-Garage]

i live in michigan i haven’t even been on a train

[@TransitIslandExtras]

I want to ride one so badly but i do not ride the a or c lines

[@vrysta4]

then go to the A/C-

[@TransitIslandExtras]

e

[@vrysta4]

ok

[@TransitIslandExtras]

*i will never ride the a or c lines-*

[@cwshawk]

1:43 MONEY TRAIN!

[@鉄道とおこぷれ大好きチャンネル]

I Enjoyed Video

[@mood4eva98]

NGL those sharp curves look wild 🥴

[@TheDylanJoyce]

I wanna sing to the train.

[@nolongerbmt]

They need to fix that rollsign

[@deshawndavid]

My line there

[@D1aNdOnLyNiCkx3]

Not a fan of the open gangway these cars are gonna be hot asf when the air starts leaking from the opening

[@caroperes4437]

1:43 the money train

[@legomta-munipalssubways2762]

Luckyyy

[@josejeremyortiz9635]

F train announcements at end

[@juandilone3905]

Nice :D

[@nycsubwayfan4062]

Lucky