The MTA has rolled out its first “open gangway” train, which will run between Washington Heights and East New York on the C line, officials said Thursday.
The R211T subway cars, which will be running as a trial, allow subway riders to walk freely between train cars without having to pass through any interior doors, Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a news briefing.
“Think about that. You’re not trapped. If you want to have a different experience, you can get up and move around. You don’t get claustrophobic. If you see someone who looks more interesting to talk to somewhere else, just get up and wander around,” Hochul said.
“It also closes the dangerous gap where young people have been harmed and others have fallen through this gap and some loss of life because of the subway surfing, which has become popular. So, we’re making sure that we’re smart about our technologies, but also improving the experience,” she added.
The subway cars are equipped with built-in security cameras, adding to the 1,000 subway cars in the system that already have “in-car camera installations,” a press release said.
The rest of the city’s transit fleet is expected to be equipped with security cameras by January 2025, the release said.
In addition, the MTA said it has approximately 15,000 cameras installed across all 472 stations.
“It gives people a sense of security,” Hochul said. “That’s a great deterrent, but it also gives people that sense of comfort. The police can actually see what’s going on and respond quicker.”
The open gangway train also has wider doors to make them more accessible for New Yorkers in wheelchairs, and features amenities like illuminated door opening signals and modern train signals, the release said.