Skip to main content

Siemens to automate New York’s Queens Boulevard subway

Siemens has been awarded a US$156 million contract by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to install communications-based train control (CBTC) on the Queens Boulevard Line, one of the busiest subway lines on the New York City transit system. Siemens is supplying the onboard equipment for a total of 305 trains and installing the wayside signalling technology at seven of eight field locations.
August 28, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

189 Siemens has been awarded a US$156 million contract by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to install communications-based train control (CBTC) on the Queens Boulevard Line, one of the busiest subway lines on the New York City transit system.

Siemens is supplying the onboard equipment for a total of 305 trains and installing the wayside signalling technology at seven of eight field locations.

The radio-based CBTC technology provides real-time data on vehicle position and speed conditions, allowing system operators to safely increase the number of vehicles on a rail line. This results in greater frequency of train arrivals and allows MTA to accommodate more passengers on its system. The technology reduces the amount of wayside equipment and, as a result, reduces maintenance costs and service disruptions. Additionally, the technology precisely locates each train on the tracks and controls speed, improving on-time performance for riders and employees.

The system will be managed and deployed by Siemens New York City based rail automation team of CBTC experts which has been working with NYCT for over 15 years.

“Through our work on the Canarsie line, we’ve seen first-hand that CBTC technology can have a significant positive impact on ridership for the New York City subway system,” said John Paljug, head of Siemens Rail Automation. “We’re extremely excited to extend our technology partnership with the MTA and bring advanced automation technology to riders on the Queens Boulevard line.”

Development work is expected to begin on the Queens Boulevard line late this summer with the major installation beginning in mid-2017.

Related Content

  • Siemens to equip Line 4 of Paris Metro for driverless operation
    January 12, 2016
    Siemens received an order from the Paris public transport operator RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) to equip the 27 stations of Paris Metro the twelve kilometre Line 4 with signalling and operations control systems. Siemens will supply its Trainguard MT automatic train control system that uses communications-based technology to achieve fully automatic, driverless operation. All train movements will be supervised via the operation control centre, which will also be supplied by Siemens. Spec
  • Hayden AI on board with NYC buses
    August 10, 2022
    Contract with New York MTA sees 300 on-board cameras added to enforce bus lanes
  • Siemens extends low-power retrofit solution
    February 6, 2012
    The Siemens LED retrofit portfolio has been extended to allow Peek Elite incandescent traffic signals to be upgraded to low-power Siemens CLS LED technology. Offering carbon and energy savings of over 75 per cent, the newly developed retrofit option follows the success of Siemens's Helios retrofit technology and enables even more existing incandescent signals to be upgraded to modern LEDs, whilst maximising the re-use of existing roadside infrastructure.
  • VeriFone TransitPay for New York MTA
    April 17, 2012
    New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)has awarded a four-year, US$6.9 million contract to VeriFone Systems for delivery, installation, and warranty and maintenance services for 1,000 TransitPay systems to provide real-time bus information to customers on Staten Island buses.