NYC Subway Delays: Signals, Emergency Brakes Disrupt Commute

NEW YORK, NY — Thursday morning's commute turned into a nightmare for New Yorkers as more than 10 subway lines were delayed at some point during the morning rush hour.

The most disruptive delays occurred on the B, D, F, M, A, C and E lines after signal problems struck at the 34th Street-Herald Square station around 8:20 a.m., according to the MTA. The signal problems forced northbound F trains to run on the E line between West 4th Street-Washington Square and Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. Service cuts were also made the to M line, which wasn't running between Essex Street-Delancey Street and Forest Hills-71 Avenue, and the B line, which wasn't running between Bedford Park Blvd and Brighton Beach.

By the time the signal problems were resolved around 8:40 the B, D, F and M lines were running with extensive delays for the rest of rush hour. The A, C and E line also experienced delays due to the MTA's need to "clear congestion" caused by diverted trains.

Persistent signal problems also affected the 4 line Thursday morning. Signal problems were first reported at the Woodlawn station around 7:10 a.m., MTA officials said. The signals were said to be fixed around 7:20 a.m., but were broken again around 7:35 a.m., according to the MTA. Delays were reported on the 4 line all morning.

A number of lines were also disrupted by trains' brakes being activated. Commuters were stranded in packed Brooklyn stations when a train on the 2/3 line activated its breaks in the Franklin Avenue station around 8:20 a.m., the MTA said. Normal service returned around 9 a.m., according to the MTA.

Another train, this time on the 7 line, activated its brakes at the Times Square-42nd Street station shortly before 9 a.m., according to the MTA. While the MTA worked to clear the train, Hudson Yards-bound 7 trains were stalled between Queens and Manhattan.

Get live service updates from the MTA website.

Photo by Patch