New York’s new subway is already polluted with homeless and scruffy people

Subway

For Mateu Sedacca

March 18, 2023 | 7:51 a.m

That’s why we can’t have nice things.

Tramps, junkies, smokers, drinkers and other scofflaws are already fouling the subway system’s newest $27 million train less than a week after it debuted on the A line.

The Post witnessed the crazy behavior of the R211 last week, which began operating on March 10 and is the first batch of 1,175 futuristic cars the MTA is buying over the next two years for $3.2 billion .

On Tuesday afternoon, three homeless men and an addict were found in various states of consciousness in four of the 10 fancy cars.

One man went outside and muttered to himself, and others lay down on the benches to take a nap during rush hour.

The Post witnessed a group of teenagers in the gap between two cars, dangling their arms under the moving train to record the sound of the wheels.

When someone alerted authorities, the train came to an abrupt halt while MTA employees investigated, causing a five-minute delay.

On Thursday, one man happily smoked a cigarette while another passenger sipped from a Coors Tall Boy.

A third man later hotboxed in one of the cars with a joint.

The new cars, designed by Antenna and built by Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. has been heralded by transit authorities and passengers for its top-of-the-line amenities, including wider doors for faster boarding, better digital displays, extra space for disabled passengers and cameras safety in each car.

But even with police officers occasionally stationed in some cars, the behavior on board remained a trainwreck, depressing foreigners who expected a smooth ride in the clean new cars.

“It’s been four days and someone’s already trying to make it their home,” lamented one straphanger.

“I expected them to sleep with the older ones, not this new one.”

Two other passengers complained that their maiden voyages on the tricked-out train literally stank.

“It still smells bad, and there’s still someone lying on the seat,” said 35-year-old Isa. “I definitely expected better.”

Electrician Shakil Hasan, 21, said: “I was excited to get in and set up but when I got in it started to smell.

“Nothing good can last.”

Ironically, new-generation subway cars attract more vagrants, noted an MTA cleaner.

“They’re attracted to it because it’s hotter” than older cars, he said.

The new train managed to go viral just three days later, when a gang of teenagers beat up a 15-year-old autistic boy and dragged him out of one of the subway cars.

“You can have the best equipment on the subway, but if you don’t have the level of security to protect passengers, what’s the point?” said Charlton D’souza, head of traffic advocacy group Passengers United.

Asked about the disorderly behavior of passengers already affecting the new cars, an MTA spokesman directed The Post to the New York City Subway Rules of Conduct.

Many passengers still appreciated what they saw as a drastic upgrade from the 1970s R46 models that currently handle most of the A and C line service.

“It’s a well-designed train. The first thing that caught my eye was [illuminated] door,” said freelance consultant Chris Darland, 58.

“I appreciate that the MTA is trying to do something.”

While two of the new trains ordered so far will be linked by closed corridors, known as an “open gangway” model, the train running from Manhattan to Queens on the A line does not have the closed link and separates the cars with a open gap

After the new metro train currently in service successfully completes a 30-day trial period, more trains, including those with the open-bridge model, will eventually be put into service.

Then things could get a lot worse, and smell more, straphangers fear.

“I’m not looking forward to the open walkway because one person will stink up the whole train,” said 22-year-old Edwin Martínez-Vázquez.

“It still looks clean, but I wonder how long it will stay that way.”

The lone 10-car train is currently running during its trial with a limited service, from morning to early evening.

“They want to run it during the day to eliminate all the problems,” one MTA driver said of the limited service.

“At night, they have construction, they have other things going on. It’s still in its trial period, they want to get the kinks out.”