Not So Fast: Extensive Subway Delays for Morning Commute
Just a few days after the MTA announced they’d raised the speed limits on the N and R trains in Brooklyn, things have come to a screeching halt.
This morning, the MTA tweeted that D, N, R and W lines would experience “extensive delays” due to switch problems at Atlantic-Barclay’s Center.
That meant trains skipping stops as they ran express between 36th and Atlantic-Barclay’s. To further complicate things, a train’s brakes were activated near Union Street along the R line.
Service has been further delayed because of a train’s brakes activating near Union St. We’ve been able to move that train and local Manhattan-bound service is restored between 36 St (Bklyn) and Atlantic Av. For service to/from Queens, consider taking an E or F train. 2/2
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) December 11, 2018
This comes right after the MTA Commissioner confirmed that speed limits would be doubled on some stretches of track, from 15 to 30 mph.
One of those sections? Between 36th and 59th on the Fourth Avenue line. Today, they certainly weren’t running that speed, with trains backed up and held at stations across the system. As always, riders took to Twitter to air their grievances:
My husband has been stuck on an R train since before 7:00 at 77th Street. It just started moving.
— Theresa Pirrelli (@Teeluckycat) December 11, 2018
Local Councilmember Justin Brannan, a reliable critic of the unreliable R-train, weighed in with his Christmas wish-list:
Is that too much to ask? pic.twitter.com/fTjZRQdjHo
— Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) December 11, 2018
As of 11:00 am, the MTA’s website was finally showing good service on the lines.