NYC subway lines impacted by power outage; NJ Transit rail service disrupted by heat

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Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Subway lines impacted by power outage; NJ Transit disrupted by heat
Lindsay Tuchman has details on the ongoing subway delays at Fulton Street Station.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Amid the scorching temperatures on Tuesday, major problems to mass transit in New York City and New Jersey caused major headaches for evening commuters.

The issues persisted during the Wednesday morning commute with J train service resuming with severe delays.

There are also residual delays on the A, E and F lines.

In New York City, a power outage on the third rail at Delancey St-Essex St. in Lower Manhattan shut down the J subway line in both directions between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

That caused a cascade of delays and inconvenience on a handful of other lines, including the M, B, D, F, C and E lines.

It wasn't exactly what commuters were hoping for at the end of a long, excruciating day.

"It's after 9 p.m. and I can't get home. I have to go walk. They already made me pay... I'm feeling great," one rider said.

It was hot and crowded in the stations, and some decided to get on busses, making long evening commutes even longer.

While the MTA urged customers to visit their website and app for the latest advisories and instructions, some riders told Eyewitness News that the app had no updated guidance.

"The apps are not updated, so I'm relying on a man's advice on how to get there," one ride said.

It's not clear if heat is connected to the MTA train issues.

"NYC Transit has dispatched crews to the affected area to troubleshoot the cause of this disruption, which has not yet been determined," said MTA spokesperson Eugene Resnick in a statement.

Meanwhile, NJ Transit wasn't fairing much better.

The agency put out an alert during the evening commute, saying that they were experiencing heat-related rail equipment issues affecting air conditioning units and other electronic components.

They told customers that they may experience delays, and it could be necessary to "cancel or combine select trips for the next 48-72 hours."

They urged riders to check their website or mobile app for the latest updates and info.

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