The open gangway allows riders to seamlessly move between train cars.
Marc A. Hermann / MTA
amNewYork, in conjunction with the MTA, present “Ask the MTA,” a column where MTA officials answer your questions about transit service in New York City. If you have a question for the MTA about subways, buses, commuter rails and more, email askthemta@amny.com.
Q: Does the MTA plan to buy more open gangway subway cars? — Steve B., Park Slope
A: Yes! Another 80 open gangway cars are set to arrive by 2028, joining the 20 already in service on the G line. Through this fleet, we’ll learn more about customer preferences and how to maintain these trains. The lessons learned will inform upcoming car replacements on the numbered subway lines.
You might’ve heard back in March that, as part of the 2025-2029 MTA Capital Plan’s $11 billion investment in rolling stock, we’re seeking companies to build our largest-ever order of new subway cars — up to 60% of which could be open gangways.
The Request for Proposals asks for different quantity scenarios so we can learn as much about these cars as possible through the responses. While open gangways are new to the MTA, they’ve been around a long time in other transit systems, so builders are already familiar with them. – Jessie Lazarus, MTA Chief of Rolling Stock
Q: Where can I find the special World Cup trains? — Veronica V., Astoria
A: These wrapped trains are an ad buy from the New York and New Jersey World Cup Host Committee and the NYC Mayor’s Office. Their real-time locations are highlighted in the MTA app with a soccer ball icon. You can find them across nine different NYC subway lines, with each of the competing teams represented.
- R Train: Morocco vs Brazil
- 1 Train: Senegal vs France
- 2 Train: Norway vs Senegal
- 6 Train: Panama vs England
- 7 Train: Ecuador vs Germany
- 4 Train: Portugal, Tunisia, Canada, Croatia, United States, Haiti, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, Ghana, Japan
- A Train: Spain, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, DR Congo, Australia, United States, Cape Verde, Netherlands, Jordan, Sweden
- E Train: Colombia, Egypt, Algeria, Uruguay, New Zealand, Türkiye, Iraq, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Czechia
- F Train: Argentina, South Africa, Bosnia, Austria, Paraguay, South Korea, Iran, Mexico, Belgium, Qatar
– Miles Gidaly, Assistant Director, MTA Commercial Ventures
Q: Last time I went to a Yankee game I noticed a little bit of track that looks like it’s headed into right field. What’s that about? — Jessica M., West Village
A: That structure is the last remaining piece of a long-vanished elevated train that once ran from the Bronx to the southern tip of Manhattan, called the IRT Ninth Avenue El. South of 155 St, it closed in 1940, but that little stub by Yankee Stadium — rechristened the 155th St.-167th St. Shuttle — remained for another 18 years because it connected the Polo Grounds at 155 St to the 4 train at 167 St. The New York Giants baseball team, whose home park was the Polo Grounds, moved to San Francisco after the 1957 season, taking away the remaining ridership on the stub.
When the new stadium was built in 2009, it obliterated 162 St, which originally served as the right-of-way for this structure. It remains in place because it’s needed for the structural integrity of the tracks above it. That’s why it looks like it’s headed into right field. But don’t worry, there’s no way trains can be misrouted. — Andrew J. Sparberg, Transit Historian and Author
