Rahul Somvanshi
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is set to replace hundreds of aging trains with modern railcars. On June 23, the MTA Finance Committee approved a $2.3 billion contract to purchase 316 new M-9A passenger railcars from Alstom Transportation.
The order includes 160 cars for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and 156 cars for Metro-North Railroad. These new railcars will replace Metro-North’s outdated M-3 cars that have reached the end of their service life, as well as LIRR’s M-3 cars that have been kept running longer than planned.
“New Yorkers deserve a fast, reliable and comfortable transit system,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “The commuter rails are a lifeline for riders in one of the world’s largest and busiest transit systems — this is how we continue to achieve record on-time performance.”
The new M-9A cars will operate on LIRR electric territories and on Metro-North’s Hudson and Harlem lines. They feature several improvements over older models, including clear glass windows, USB charging ports at seats, and better accessibility features like automatic doors for bathrooms.
MTA officials worked to reduce costs and speed up production. Tim Mulligan, chief of the MTA’s rolling stock program, noted: “We are using innovative methods to bring down costs and delivery time. By building on the reliable design of previous cars, we were able to work with the contractor to get things done better, faster, and cheaper.”
The contract represents an 11-month reduction in production schedule and a 14.6 percent decrease in costs compared to initial estimates. Alstom beat out China’s CRRC to win the contract, which also includes an option for up to 242 additional cars.
The railcars will be manufactured at Alstom’s facilities in New York State, including their newly opened Plant 4 in Hornell. This 135,000-square-foot facility is the largest passenger train manufacturing site in the United States capable of producing stainless steel car body shells. The project is expected to create hundreds of new jobs and boost the regional economy.
Riders will have to wait several years for the new trains. Pilot cars will be delivered in 2029, with the first cars entering LIRR passenger service in 2030. All 316 cars are expected to be delivered by 2032.
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This purchase is part of a much larger investment in the MTA’s fleet. Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO, said: “We’re looking to buy almost 2,000 rail cars as part of the new Capital Plan — $10.9 billion worth — and this 300+ order gets us off to a strong start.”
The timing coincides with increasing ridership on LIRR routes. “Thanks to record on-time performance and increased service with the opening of Grand Central Madison, LIRR ridership continues to explode,” said LIRR President Rob Free. “Our customers deserve modern railcars which will result in even more reliable service.”
Interior renderings of the new railcars show three-and-two seating arrangements. While not every feature has been revealed, modern railcars typically include improved climate control, enhanced seating comfort, and reduced noise levels compared to older models.
The M-9A purchase is funded as part of the MTA’s $68.4 billion 2025-29 Capital Plan, which was fully funded through legislation signed by Governor Hochul on May 9 as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Enacted Budget.
