MBTA unveils new Blue Line cars

A passenger took a photo inside one of the first new Blue Line subway cars pulling into Aquarium Station on its inaugural trip. (John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

BOSTON (AP) -- The MBTA is making a ride on the Blue Line safer and more comfortable.

The transit agency on Wednesday unveiled the first of 94 new subway cars that will replace the current fleet of 70 cars that are nearly three decades old.

The new cars will come into service over the next 18 months.

State Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen, MBTA general manager Dan Grabauskas and other dignitaries took the inaugural ride between the Aquarium and Government Center stops.

The new cars feature redesigned compartments with wider seating and hand grips for standing passengers as well as two locations for wheelchairs.

They also have passenger emergency intercoms, smoke detectors and noise absorbers on the wheels to reduce screeching.

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