Metro-North railcar procurement has moved into a decisive stage, with the MTA now looking for manufacturers to build 252 new railcars. The order would renew a large part of the commuter fleet and may later grow through an option for 377 additional vehicles.

Metro-North railcar procurement advances fleet renewal
Metro-North railcar procurement advances fleet renewal

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking suppliers for single-level passenger coaches for Metro-North Railroad. In the official MTA announcement, the authority says this would be Metro-North’s first order for this type of rolling stock in several decades. The first batch is intended to replace Shoreliner coaches built during the 1980s and 1990s, which now run on the Hudson and Harlem lines.

Metro-North railcar procurement targets Shoreliner replacement

The current Shoreliner coaches make up around 23% of Metro-North’s active passenger fleet. Their replacement will be funded through the MTA 2025–2029 Capital Plan, which sets aside USD 68 billion for transport system modernisation across the network.

The wider capital programme includes USD 12 billion for new rolling stock. Of that amount, USD 6 billion is dedicated to Metro-North modernisation, covering passenger coach renewal and infrastructure upgrades. In practical terms, the Metro-North Shoreliner replacement sits inside a larger investment programme focused on service quality and long-term asset reliability.

Metro-North Railroad operates suburban rail services north of New York City. Its routes serve key commuter corridors in New York State and Connecticut, carrying more than 250,000 passengers a day. For Metro-North passengers, the MTA new Metro-North railcars programme focuses on comfort, reliability and future service capacity.

Janno Lieber, Chair and CEO of the MTA, said it was time to improve the Metro-North passenger experience with more modern and reliable railcars. He added that the procurement process should encourage manufacturers to deliver equipment “faster, better and more cost-effectively than in the past”.

USD 6 billion backs Metro-North coach renewal

The base order will replace the existing Shoreliner fleet, which has been in service since the 1980s. As previously covered by Railway Supply, the procurement combines a 252-car base order with an option for 377 additional coaches. According to the MTA, the new coaches should provide better passenger comfort and give operators more flexible, reliable equipment for the next 40 years.

Jessica Lazarus, MTA Chief of Rolling Stock Programmes, said replacing the ageing coaches would give Metro-North passengers “the comfortable and convenient journey they deserve”. She also said operators need modern vehicles that can serve the network for the next four decades.

Lazarus noted that the new tender structure reflects the authority’s intention to attract a wider range of rolling stock manufacturers. Any selected supplier will still have to meet the MTA’s strict safety and performance requirements. The tender keeps fleet renewal linked to the authority’s search for manufacturers able to meet future Metro-North needs.

Accessibility, Wi-Fi and fleet reliability in focus

The contract covers three types of vehicles: cab cars with toilets, trailer cars with toilets and trailer cars without toilets. Each coach will provide approximately 100 seats, keeping the focus on commuter service while updating the passenger environment.

The technical specifications focus on reliability, accessibility, safety and the overall passenger experience. The new Metro-North railcars will include two wheelchair spaces per vehicle, ADA-compliant accessible toilets, improved passenger announcement systems, digital information displays, onboard Wi-Fi and charging points for devices. Bicycle and luggage storage areas, together with CCTV systems, are also included in the planned equipment package.

The coaches must be fully compatible with Metro-North locomotives. They also need to operate across the existing network and remain suitable for possible future extensions. That requirement links the order not only to current fleet replacement, but also to longer-term planning for the railroad.

Fleet reliability is one of the main technical targets. The current coaches achieve an average distance between failures of around 430,000 miles, or 692,000 km. The new fleet is expected to raise that figure to 570,000 miles, or 917,000 km.

This indicator shows how far a vehicle can travel before unscheduled repairs or maintenance are required. For Metro-North’s more than 250,000 daily passengers, higher fleet reliability should mean more dependable services.

Manufacturers have until October 2026 to submit bids. The MTA expects to award the contract in early 2027, and the first new railcars are scheduled to enter service in 2029.