A subway train carrying about 300 people collided with an out-of-service train near West 96th Street in Manhattan on Thursday afternoon, causing the out-of-service train to derail, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said.
According to MTA officials, the northbound no. 1 train collided with a second train traveling at slower speed, injuring 24 people, including four transport workers. None of the injuries are considered serious.
MTA officials said at a news conference Thursday that the crash did not appear to be related to an equipment malfunction.
The incident began when the No. 1 train stopped at 79th St. because the quails applied its brakes, MTA officials said. The train had gone out of service and was slowly making its way downtown when it crossed 96th Street, and the train carrying 300 passengers was returning to a local track in front of it. Officials said that all clears have been given for the passenger train to run.
At a news conference Thursday at the station, Richard Davey, president of New York City Transit, the MTA division that operates the subway, said several of the damaged train's emergency brake cables had been pulled. The MTA has launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, an authority spokesperson said.
“Fortunately, there were no serious injuries,” Mr. Davey said. “Obviously, two trains should not collide with each other. We're going to get to the bottom of it.
In addition to the 300 people on the passenger train, firefighters and MTA workers evacuated another 300 to 400 passengers from a train behind it after power was cut at the station, Mr. Davey said.
Service on the 1, 2 and 3 routes was suspended throughout much of Manhattan after the derailment.
The MTA said service had not resumed on the northbound 1 train between 42nd and 137th streets as of 6:30 p.m. Published On social media.
Mr. Davey said. “It's a little confusing out there,” he said. “It will take us some time to get this service up and running again.”
He said he hoped to restore service by Friday morning's rush hour but could not guarantee that.
Lucas Mann, 17, a student at a special music school near Lincoln Center, was in the first car on the No. 1 train when he and other passengers “felt a big shock.”
“I was scared,” he added.
Purvi Thacker, 41, said she was on the northbound 2 train and suddenly braked at 86th Street as the northbound trains collided. Other passengers got impatient and opened the window when the power went out. Some left the stopped train and walked on the tracks.
“It was frustrating,” said Ms. Thacker, who lives in Manhattan. “It was very hot.”
Subway derailments have been rare since 2017, when several services were disrupted. At the time, incidents revealed how much maintenance was neglected, and after a change, the system's performance improved dramatically.
The last train derailment involving passengers occurred on September 20, 2020, when the A train derailed around 14th Street. More than 100 people were on board, three of whom suffered minor injuries.
New York City's transit system is enjoying a period of stability as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Ridership has increased, and the state's funding has balanced its finances through at least 2027. And the city is set to begin collecting billions of dollars through a congestion pricing program to generate revenue for subway and bus upgrades. Networks.
Much of that work involves making critical upgrades to its signal system, which keeps trains moving.
Mariame Diallo, 15, said she was on the No. 3 train, behind the No. 1 train.
As she and other passengers waited for about an hour to get off the train, some people on board opened the tunnel doors to get off the tracks.
Mrs. Diallo, who was on her way home from school, said she almost got on the No. 1 train when it crashed. Instead, she waited for the next train to ride with three of her classmates.
“I think sticking with your friends pays off,” he said.
Erin Nolan and Emma G Fitzsimmons Contributed report.
