The familiar orange-and-yellow seats of New York City’s subway cars are set to disappear, marking the end of an era for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Starting in 2025, the agency will begin retiring more than 1,700 subway cars from its aging R46, R62/62A, and R68/R68A fleets, which have been in service since the 1980s.
The trains, known for their vintage interiors, currently operate on lines such as the F, N, Q, B, 1, 3, and 6. Their departure is part of the MTA’s broader 2025-2029 capital plan, which includes a significant investment in modernizing the city’s transit system.
The state-of-the-art R211 and R211S models, which are already running on the A and C lines, will replace the old cars. These new trains feature wider doors for faster boarding, built-in security cameras, digital displays, and blue-and-gold seating. Designed to enhance passenger safety and comfort, the R211 series represents the MTA’s push toward a more technologically advanced and efficient subway system.
For many New Yorkers, the orange-and-yellow subway seats evoke a sense of nostalgia, representing decades of city life and countless commutes. The transition to the sleek new trains will undoubtedly modernize the experience, but it also signals the end of a design that has become synonymous with the city’s subway culture.
