(Karyn Regal/WBZ NewsRadio)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — New cars on the MBTA Orange Line are expected to be introduced this week.
Six new train cars, the first of over 150 to be added to the line, are set to start running around midday on Wednesday, August 14.
“They are brand new cars, brand new technology. They have a lot to offer to our customers as well as our employees. So, we are really excited to get these cars going,” MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said.
Poftak detailed in a report Monday that the cars will feature improvements, including automatic passenger counters, LED lighting, LCD displays, improved crash energy management, advanced on-board diagnostics, and closed circuit cameras and video recording.
The train cars also aim to improve accessibility for passengers, with features such as wider door openings, more accessible access locations per car, and additional passenger emergency intercoms.
Poftak said in the report that the cars have been undergoing testing for over a year to “ensure the functionality and reliability of all systems.”
Last month, WBZ NewsRadio’s Karyn Regal stepped inside one of the new train cars. Here’s what they look like:
The MBTA expects the next new train set to hit the tracks in September.
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WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports