NEW York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the supply of 252 single-deck commuter coaches for its Metro-North Railroad operating subsidiary, which includes an option for 377 additional cars.
MTA says the base order will replace locomotive-hauled coaches dating from the 1980s and 1990s that operate on the Hudson and Harlem lines, representing 23% of the Metro-North fleet. The 377 additional cars would be reserved for extensions to existing Metro-North commuter lines.
The base order is for three types of coach: driving trailers equipped with a cab and toilets; trailer cars with toilets; and trailer cars without toilets. Each type will have seats for 100 passengers, and MTA says the RFP enables manufacturers to innovate while achieving best value for money.
Technical specifications include two designated wheelchair spaces per car, accessible toilets, an audio passenger information system incorporating an audio inductive loop for hearing-impaired passengers, and high-resolution digital information screens. The new fleet will also be equipped with passenger Wi-Fi, device charging outlets, bicycle and luggage racks, and onboard CCTV.
To improve reliability, the RFP specifies a mean distance between failures (MDBF) of 912,000km, compared with an average of 688,000km for the fleet that the new coaches will replace. “This translates to a faster, smoother ride for more than 250,000 daily Metro-North customers,” MTA says.
Proposals are due by the end of October. MTA says that the contract will be awarded in early 2027, with new passenger fleet expected to enter in service in 2029.
The new fleet is being funded under MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan, which was allocated $US 68bn in the New York State budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The plan includes $US 12bn for new rolling stock across MTA’s metro and commuter operations, and $US 6bn for investment in the passenger coach fleet and infrastructure at Metro-North.
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