Subway Switch Glitch Traps Straphangers, Leaves Stations Packed

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Straphangers said they were stuck underneath Brooklyn for about two hours Monday afternoon as the MTA rushed to fix switch problems in a Crown Heights station, according to transit officials and riders' tweets.

A switch malfunction at the Franklin Avenue 2, 3, 4 and 5 train station on Eastern Parkway about 1 p.m. caused massive delays, limited service and long waits in trains trapped in the tunnels, the MTA and riders reported.

"Let me out of here!!" Tweeted Susan Lerner. "Heading into 2nd hour stuck on an unmoving 5 train just past Franklin station."

Lerner added that the lights were on in her car, the air conditioning was working and her fellow passengers calm, but several other New Yorkers needed all caps to express their frustration.

The incident led to packed stations throughout the subway system as rush hour commuters waited for trains.

An MTA spokesperson was unable to confirm that riders had been stuck underground for hours.

The 5 train remained out of service between Franklin and Flatbush avenues as of 3:20 p.m., but service was badly affected hours later.

The MTA warned riders to expect delays on the 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains in Manhattan and The Bronx and suggested the B, Q, D and R trains as an alternative.