Monday, April 6, 2015

HUNDREDS EVACUATED AFTER NO. 7 TRAIN IN NEW YORK STALLS ON THE TRACKS DUE TO MECHANICAL AND/OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRACKS.





APRIL 6, 2015

At least one person was hurt during the evacuation and thousands more had their morning commute stymied because of a stalled train that forced a portion of the 7 line to be suspended between Queens and Manhattan Monday, authorities said.

No 7 trains were running in either direction between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square-42 Street for some two hours, transit authorities said. Service resumed with delays as of 10:45 a.m., MTA said.

The problem arose about 8:30 a.m. when a device known as a sliding shoe, which makes contact with the electrified third rail to transmit power the train, fell out of position as the train passed through the tunnel, an MTA spokeswoman said.

The shoe, as a result, touched a protective board, which caused smoke to develop.  When the conductor hopped out to see what was the matter, he spotted smoke coming off the third-rail protection board, according to an MTA spokesperson.

The FDNY then brought in a rescue train to evacuate passengers from the stranded one. No injuries were initially reported.

The train was carrying nearly 550 passengers, the spokesperson said.

A rescue train was deployed to the stalled train, MTA said. Those hundreds of passengers were evacuated and taken on the rescue train to Grand Central Station.

No 7 because of a mech prob and smoke on tunnel into Queens. Rescue train needed. Questions, yes #mta #nyc pic.twitter.com/wh8y3hiSQg
— Greg Mocker (@gregmocker) April 6, 2015

Commuters should give themselves additional time to get to their destinations, the MTA said. Delays are to be expected on the N, Q and R lines.

Commuters reported “massive” crowds and delays at Queensboro Plaza and Grand Central, with hundreds — if not thousands — of straphangers forced to use the E, M and other lines to accommodate the service stoppage.
Source: pix11.com