Kawasaki Rail Car Expands NYC Subway Fleet with $1.5 B Deal
07.11.2025
Kawasaki Rail Car has secured a large contract with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for the supply of 378 R268-series metro trains, estimated to be worth $1.5 billion, scheduled for completion by 2030.
This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
Kawasaki Rail Car modernizes New York’s subway fleet
The vehicles are scheduled to be manufactured in Kawasaki’s domestic facilities in the U.S. once the agreement is reached, serving the domestic workforce there. The delivery process is anticipated to be completed by 2030, starting from fall 2028.
The trains are destined to replace the old R68 & R68A rolling stock, which was launched in the late 1980s. The trains have the same length of 18.44 m, 3 m width, but the height is slightly different, standing at 3.665 m, aimed at satisfying the required levels of efficiency & safety.
The design of the trains also opted to adopt car bodies made from the highest quality material, that is, ‘stainless steel,’ with the main intention of reducing maintenance & increasing the lifespan of the trains.
The trains will be equipped with CCTV, LED lighting, and electronic passenger displays. Furthermore, the trains will be equipped with wider doors, which will result in faster entry and exit, hence reduced dwelling time, leading to consistent time intervals between trains.
Kawasaki Rail Car strengthens its position in the U.S. market
The company has partnered with the MTA for over four decades. In December 2024, the company received another order for 435 R211-series trains, with a contract value of $1.27 billion. The new R268 series builds on the same principles with the MTA, including the same levels of reliability and passenger comfort.
Since 1982, Kawasaki Rail Car has supplied more than 2,900 subway cars of different models to New York City Transit. This helps ensure quality because the engineer is able to modify the design in accordance with the challenges faced by the biggest metro system in North America.
The contract also cements Kawasaki’s strategic foothold in the North American market, which serves the sustainability needs of MTA towards the renovation of the current infrastructure.
The contract also sustains jobs in the U.S. manufacturing sector, which is beneficial for the entire supply chain across the nation.
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What is Kawasaki Rail Car and what does it do?
Kawasaki Rail Car is a subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, specializing in the design and production of subway, commuter, and light-rail vehicles.
When will Kawasaki Rail Car start delivering the R268 subway cars?
Deliveries are expected to begin in the fall of 2028 and be completed by 2030.
How does the R268 series differ from previous New York City subway models?
The R268 builds on the R211 platform and replaces R68 and R68A cars, offering improved energy efficiency, digital control systems, and wider doors for faster passenger flow.
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