New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has awarded a nearly $390 million contract to Siemens Mobility to modernise the Fulton-Liberty Lines on the city’s subway network.

Siemens Mobility will collaborate with L.K. Comstock, an electrical contractor that specialises in rail transit systems, on the installation of the Advanced Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology. Included in the modernisation of the century-old infrastructure in Brooklyn and Queens are 23 stations along the 65-track-kilometre system. Included in the contract is a 25-year maintenance contract, with the option for two five-year extensions.

Along with the Siemens CBTC System, Trainguard MT will enable trains to operate at 90-second intervals. The CBTC system will fully integrate interlocking and train control functions, provide 5G-based wireless communication, and boost capacity and reduce waiting times. It also has the capacity to meet future demand.

Trainguard MT will integrate nine subway interlockings across two separate subway lines, with outdated track circuits replaced by axle counter technology, and 5G-based radio communications for real-time, optimised train control.

The new Train Control System will replace all existing signalling and associated equipment, and require the installation and replacement of 24 new Special Work Portions, 94 switch machines, and the construction of four new train control rooms.

A distributed antenna system in the underground tunnels will provide commuters with 5G cellular service to provide continuous connectivity between stations.

In 2024, Siemes secured a contract to upgrade all 170 kilometres of Copenhagen’s S-bane network to allow operation by unattended trains.

Stadler is also developing Advanced Communications-Based Train Control technology, and has recently installed communication-based train control in Basel, Switzerland.

“Modernising the Fulton-Liberty Lines is not just a technological milestone — it’s a commitment to delivering a better, more efficient, and frequent travel experience for millions of New Yorkers. With Siemens Mobility’s next-generation CBTC system, Trainguard MT, we have the power to enhance on-time performance and reduce train intervals to as little as 90 seconds, ensuring faster, more reliable service across the Fulton-Liberty Lines. We are grateful to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for its trust in Siemens Mobility to help shape the future of sustainable and efficient urban transit in New York.”

Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility