R Subway Station Reopens In Sunset Park After Major Renovations

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — An R subway station in Sunset Park has reopened following an extensive renovation that brought countdown clocks, USB charging stations and more.

The 53rd Street stop along the R line was back open over the weekend, ahead of the timetable originally put forward by the MTA when the station closed.

The new station upgrades don't do anything to address the underlying problem plaguing the New York City's aging subway system — an ancient signaling system that doesn't allow trains to run closer together — but riders will notice a big difference when they go underground for the first time.

The station has gotten almost a complete cosmetic makeover. That includes glass barriers to let more light in near the entrance, digital displays of maps and countdown clocks throughout the station and new canopies outside two station entrances.

"We got the job done quickly and efficiently. Our teams worked day and night to complete work on this extensively renovated station in just a little over five months," Ronnie Hakim, the Managing Director of the MTA said in a statement.

"As a result, customers who use the station will now have a wide array of new tools to manage their commutes, including digital screens, countdown clocks located before the turnstiles and on the platforms, USB ports, and Wi-Fi connectivity."

The station got plenty of functional upgrades too. The countdown clocks are displayed both inside and outside of the station, so riders can check train times without swiping through the turnstiles. And USB ports provide easy charging access if you're running low on juice (and have your own cable handy).

The station also includes new benches for sitting and some for "leaning," which you can see against the wall in the photo below:

See more photos of the upgraded station here.

Images courtesy MTA