Siemens Mobility and L K Comstock will modernise New York’s Fulton Liberty Lines with advanced CBTC technology to improve capacity and reliability.
Siemens Mobility and L.K. Comstock have secured a major contract from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to modernise signalling on New York City’s Fulton Liberty subway lines using advanced Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) technology.
The contract, valued at nearly $390 million for Siemens Mobility, will upgrade 23 stations and 65 track kilometres across Brooklyn and Queens, replacing ageing signalling infrastructure with the company’s Trainguard MT CBTC system.
New CBTC technology to improve subway capacity and reliability
The modernisation programme will allow trains to operate at intervals as short as 90 seconds, significantly improving network capacity and reducing passenger waiting times.
The new signalling system integrates interlocking and train control functions using next-generation technology, including 5G based wireless communications. Siemens Mobility said the upgrade will improve operational flexibility and future-proof one of New York’s busiest subway corridors for decades to come.
Michael Peter of Siemens Mobility said: “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.”
He added: “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.”
As part of the programme, outdated track circuits will be replaced with axle counter technology, while L.K. Comstock will manage extensive infrastructure works, including decommissioning old signalling systems and installing new equipment.
The scope includes the construction of four new train control rooms, installation of 94 switch machines and more than 1,200 kilometres of cable throughout tunnels and stations.
Ben D’Alessandro of L.K. Comstock said: “Together, we are helping build a more resilient, higher-capacity transit system for the future.”
The project also introduces 5G commuter cellular service within tunnels and stations, improving passenger connectivity across the network.
Once installation is complete, Siemens Mobility will oversee a 25-year maintenance agreement, with options for two further five-year extensions. This long-term arrangement is intended to support sustained reliability and operational performance.
The Fulton Liberty Lines form a critical part of the New York subway network, linking major routes across Brooklyn and Queens. Originally built in the 1930s and 1940s, the corridor carries the A and C subway services and remains central to the MTA’s future transport strategy.
The project further strengthens Siemens Mobility’s long-standing relationship with the MTA and reinforces the growing role of digital signalling in increasing urban rail capacity and efficiency.
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