MBTA Riders Can Check Out A Nearly Life-Size Mock-Up Of Future Red Line Cars At City Hall

A nearly life-size model of new train cars for the MBTA Red Line was unveiled Tuesday at City Hall Plaza, where the spiffed-up Red Line car will be on display through Thursday.

The model lets people step right in, sit on its sleek red benches, and even check out the conductor’s compartment.

The new fleets will be safer and more comfortable, the MBTA said, with features such as extra space, wider doors and modern LED-lighting systems. The mock-up, however, is two-thirds the actual size of the new cars, according to a MBTA statement.

Gov. Charlie Baker, who cut the ribbon at Tuesday’s unveiling, said the model shows that the T is now investing in its infrastructure after years of neglect.

"The Red Line trains that are running in the snowstorm in 2015 are the same that were running in the Blizzard of ‘76, which is kind of incredible,” Baker said. “Two million miles for a lot of these trains. It’s time we say ‘thank you’ and put in the new ones."

About three years ago, the MBTA asked the public to vote for the car designs they liked best. Here are the other designs. Some Red Line cars will begin replacing the old editions next year.

The MBTA expects to replace all cars on the Red and Orange lines by 2023, as well as make upgrades systemwide to tracks and signals — an investment that is expected to cost more than $1 billion.