The MTA introduced new train cars on the Staten Island Railway on Tuesday for the first time in 50 years.

Transportation officials christened the new cars – called R211 – during an initial trip from the St. George Terminal. The MTA began using the same type of car on the A and C subway lines last year. So far, Staten Island has only one five-car train with the new models, but officials said they expect to bring three more new trains to the line in the coming months.

“Today is a great day here on Staten Island,” Staten Island Railway Vice President Frank Farrell said at a news conference. “I can’t wait for our operators to have the opportunity to get behind the controls of these new trains and for our customers to be greeted by brighter, more inviting carriages on their commute.”

The new trains have wider doors, and officials said they can run six times longer than older cars without breaking down.

The delivery comes two years later than expected, which transit officials blame on production problems at a plant in Nebraska operated by MTA contractor Kawasaki.

The new cars replace the aging R44 models that were introduced to the route in 1973. Likewise, these train sets replaced ones that were also 50 years old when the Staten Island Railway was derisively nicknamed the “Toonerville Trolley” due to its lack of reliability.

MTA board member Norman Brown suggested the agency in June hold off delivery of the new cars after some Staten Island lawmakers spoke out against the congestion pricing rule, which was suspended by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber rejected that idea on Tuesday.

“People are obviously frustrated with the rhetoric around congestion pricing. (She) is one of the reasons why I emphasize that three-quarters of the people from Staten Island who come to Manhattan for jobs actually use public transit,” Lieber said. “They take the MTA express buses, ride the ferry and get on the MTA services. They ride the Staten Island Railway.”