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'Light, airy, open': Riders hail debut of MTA's open gangway subway trains
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Feb 1, 2024
Modified Feb 8, 2024
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Marc A. Hermann / MTA
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Feb 1, 2024
Modified Feb 8, 2024
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There’s a new train in town.
New Yorkers on Thursday took their first rides on the MTA’s new “open gangway” subway cars, which have no interior doors outside of those blocking a conductor cab in the train’s center. They allow riders to freely walk through each half of the train.
The MTA has just two of the new train sets and is testing them out on the C line. Open gangway trains have been used for decades in other subway systems, such as those of London, Paris and Tokyo.
“It’s light, it’s airy, it’s open. It’s kind of surreal to just be able to walk through like I’ve done in other cities, visiting other places,” said Jeremy Zorek, 21, who was among the first members of the public to ride the new cars. He filmed parts of his southbound ride from 168th Street in Washington Heights.
As the subway doors opened at each stop, boarding riders looked around in excitement and bewilderment, snapped photos of the doorless “accordion” space between the cars, or tried walking through the train themselves.
“You feel more comfortable and maybe safer,” said Shildrey Figueroa, who was on the way to a doctor's appointment, in Spanish. “The problem was that you couldn't see what was happening over there when you’re sitting here.”
The new trains are a long time coming. The MTA ordered them in 2018 as part of a larger purchase of 535 modern train cars. But after years of delays by Kawasaki, which builds the cars in Lincoln, Nebraska, they’re finally on the tracks.
The MTA ordered enough open gangway cars for just two trains because officials said they wanted to see how they worked in New York’s subways. They’ve already hit some speed bumps.
An internal MTA memo obtained by Gothamist last month shows transit officials banned the new trains from carrying passengers on the express A line tracks and have limited them to the local C line.
According to the memo, the open gangway cars “make it impossible” for train operators to safely inspect both sides of the track if the emergency brakes are tripped on the express A tracks.
“There are all kinds of safety benefits, but there are also other issues. It's one of the reasons we’re testing these,” said MTA Chair Janno Lieber, who greeted and thanked passengers for riding as he rode the C train south.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was also on the train for its inaugural ride, touted the cars’ built-in security cameras and wider doors, which would make boarding easier for people with disabilities.
“It’s different for New Yorkers, but New Yorkers are very adaptable,” she said as she stood in the train's accordion area, which flexed as the train went around a turn.
One passenger made sure he was one of the first to try out the MTA’s glitzy new ride on Thursday.
Justin Chevere, a 19-year-old self-proclaimed subway enthusiast and C train fan, said he had figured out where and when the train would be launched. He came wearing a C train hat he'd bought at the New York Transit Museum and said he was excited to have more breathing room on the usually crowded line.
“I’m overjoyed, honestly,” he said.
Is it everything he thought it would be?
“Yes,” he said. “Except for one thing: No Wi-Fi.”
Correction: This story was updated to reflect that riders can only walk through half of the length of the new open gangway trains without exiting.
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new york city
transportation
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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