MTA Subway Delays: Signal Problems Stall Monday Morning Commutes

NEW YORK CITY — Switch problems and technical malfunctions plagued the subways Monday morning and caused massive delays during a rain-sodden commute, officials said.

The MTA warned New Yorkers to expect delays on 2, 3, 4, 5, F, L, R and W trains as well as the 42nd Street Shuttle.

An NYPD investigation at New Lots Avenue in Brooklyn delayed trains in both directions about 8:45 a.m., according to the MTA.

Brooklyn-bound L trains were delayed after a train hit the brakes at Halsey Street before 9 a.m.

Cops and medics at the Eastchester-Dyre Avenue station in the Bronx slowed 5 trains in both directions also just before 9 a.m., said the MTA.

And F train commuters at the 21st Street-Queensbridge station were told to get off a train with mechanical problems about 8:50 a.m.

Earlier Monday morning, southbound 2 trains were delayed by a switch problem at East 180th Street in The Bronx and rerouted to the 5 tracks about 6:30 a.m., the MTA said.

Then southbound 4 and 5 trains were rerouted to the 2 tracks in Manhattan because of a switch problem at 135th Street about 7 a.m., said officials.

Southbound R and W trains were delayed after someone needed medical help at 14th Street-Union Square just before 8 a.m., said the MTA.

And 42nd Street shuttle service stopped briefly when a platform gap filler malfunctioned and transit workers had to turn off the third rail.

Maya Kaufman contributed to this report.