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Posted by
Olog-hai
on Fri May 22 13:19:42 2026
Trains Magazine
MTA seeks proposals for 252 new Metro-North commuter coachesThe Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday asked passenger car manufacturers to submit proposals to build 252 single-level coaches for the Metro-North Railroad.
The request for proposal includes an option for an additional 377 cars to support potential expansions of the Metro-North service area.
The base order would replace coaches from the 1980s and 1990s that run on the Hudson and Harlem lines and represent 23% of Metro-North’s active passenger fleet. This is the first new Metro-North rolling stock coach purchase in decades.
“It’s time to upgrade the Metro-North passenger experience, with more modern, more reliable railcars,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “And this RFP is designed to get manufacturers and suppliers to think outside the box so they can deliver faster, better and cheaper than in the past.”
“Replacing the aging Shoreliner coaches from the 1980s will give Metro‑North’s riders the comfortable and convenient ride they deserve and operators the modern and flexible equipment they need to support reliable service for the next 40 years,” said MTA Chief of Rolling Stock Jessica Lazarus.
“Investing in new passenger coaches is a cornerstone of our commitment not only to the 250,000 customers who rely on Metro‑North each day, but also to the economic vitality of the region,” said Metro‑North Railroad President Justin Vonashek. “This competitive RFP invites railcar manufacturers to bring forward their best ideas and engineering solutions so we can deliver coaches that are more reliable, more accessible, and more comfortable for our riders.”
The new passenger coaches are being funded by the MTA’s 2025-29 capital plan, which received a historic $68 billion in the latest state budget. This capital plan features a $12 billion investment in new rolling stock across the MTA system and includes $6 billion specifically for Metro-North.
Three types of cabs in Metro-North order: cab cars with toilets, trailer cars with toilets, and trailer cars without toilets. Each seat approximately 100 riders.
The RFP technical specifications include two ADA-designated wheelchair areas per train car, ADA-compliant toilet access, higher quality announcement systems featuring an audio inductive loop for hearing impaired, high-resolution digital information screens, passenger wi-fi, device charging outlets, bike and luggage racks as well as onboard security cameras.
The new coaches will also improve reliability with a higher mean distance between failure — a measure of how long a car can operate without issues, repairs, or maintenance. Current cars have an average MDBF rate of 430,000 miles, compared to the new coaches, which will have an MDBF rate of 570,000 miles.
Proposals will be accepted through October 2026. The contract will be awarded in early 2027, with new passenger cars anticipated to be put in service in 2029.
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