L Train stalls under river during rush hour
Photo credit: Jefferson Siegel | After being stranded on a Brooklyn-bound L train under the East River for almost 2 hours, passengers exit a rescue train that returned them to the First Avenue station.
A Brooklyn-bound L train stalled under the East River during Thursday night's rush hour because of a mechanical failure, the MTA said.
A rescue train was sent on the Brooklyn-bound track and returned, filled, just after 8 p.m. to the First Avenue station.
The MTA said that the train failed near the First Avenue stop in Manhattan. Passengers said that they were stuck for two hours. Most appeared calm but frustrated about the turn of events.
"It was comfortable, calm, quiet," said Upper West Side resident Jamie Garde. Garde was on her way to a meeting but, upon arriving back at First Avenue, decided to go home.
Brian Morano of Ridgewood exited the rescue train with his wife and their 14-month-old child in a stroller. "We were joking and listening to music," Moreno said of the time underground.
Several passengers said that four men exited the stalled train, intending to walk through the tunnel to the next station. They said two men soon returned to the train, saying it was too far to walk. The other two men apparently kept going.
A rescue train pulled up to the stalled train and passengers were transferred.
The intersection of 14th Street and First Avenue was filled with emergency service vehicles. Crosstown 14th St.reet buses filled up fast as passengers were directed to them
As of 9:30 p.m., service has returned to normal on the L, but passengers should expect some delays.
The MTA said the matter was under investigation.
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