MTA panel OKs rail-car purchase for Long Island, Metro-North railroads

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Finance Committee has approved the purchase of 316 M-9A rail cars for Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced yesterday.

Pilot cars will be delivered by Alstom in 2029 and are expected to first enter LIRR passenger service in 2030. All cars will be delivered by 2032, Hochul and MTA officials said in a press release. LIRR will receive 160 cars and Metro-North, 156.

"We’re looking to buy almost 2,000 rail cars as part of the new [MTA] capital plan — $10.9 billion worth — and this 300-plus order gets us off to a strong start," said MTA Chair Janno Lieber.

The M-9A cars are needed to replace Metro-North's M-3 cars that are beyond their service life, and allowing the LIRR to retire its M-3 cars. The LIRR's M-3 cars' service life was extended to support the opening of Grand Central Madison.

The M-9A cars feature glass windows, USB charging ports and accessibility improvements, including automatic doors for bathrooms.