Subway repairs will shut down lines overnight

Early next year, long stretches of New York City's subway lines will be shut down for brief periods at night for maintenance work.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the move is part of a broad reconfiguration of the way the Metropolitan Transportation Authority does routine maintenance that puts workers in the path of trains.

The MTA says the new scheme will help crews do maintenance and reduce the need for delays at other times.

For now, the MTA plans only to shut down lines where there are other alternatives.

Currently, crews delay trains late at night and step aside when they need to pass.

Transit officials say the new plan will prevent many of those delays.