NYC subway delays fueled by aging cars and equipment, report says

Credit: Matthew LeJune on Unsplash

Aging subway cars and equipment are causing increasing delays for New York City commuters, according to a report released Wednesday by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Of the 2.7 million scheduled subway trips in 2024, 486,614 arrived late, with infrastructure and equipment failures responsible for 31 percent of those delays—up from 24 percent in 2023. The report also found that over a quarter of subway cars are past their 40-year lifespan, and major service disruptions linked to car issues nearly tripled, from 27 to 77 in the first six months of 2025.

“As the MTA prioritizes work in its capital program and brings back riders, it’s important to understand where and how subway service is being disrupted and delayed,” DiNapoli said in a statement