South Ferry station opens to 1 train service

Commuters from Staten Island got some relief Thursday, as 1 train service to the old South Ferry loop station opened to partially replace the still-shuttered South Ferry terminal station.

The new South Ferry station has been closed since Superstorm Sandy, when 15 million galls of salt water flooded it, causing a reported $600 million in damage and destroying the station's electrical and mechanical systems.

"We don't want to leave any of our customers behind," said MTA Acting Chairman Fernando Ferrer at the reopening. "This was an important thing to do."

The station is 108 years and closed in 2009 when the new South Ferry terminal opened up.

Straphangers must make sure they're in the first five cars of the train, as the short platform can't accommodate the typical 10.

The station may be closed for up to two to three more years as crews work to repair it.