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Stuck NYC subway riders thank MTA for '2 hours of anxiety'

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Published  December 12, 2024 1:10pm EST
MTA
FOX 5 NY

Power failure strands thousands on Brooklyn subway

Thousands of subway riders found themselves stranded after a power failure in downtown Brooklyn caused major disruptions. The the A/C/F/G lines either lost power or had to be rerouted.

NEW YORK - Thousands of subway riders were left stranded underground Wednesday evening after a power failure in downtown Brooklyn caused massive disruptions. 

Many described the ordeal as an "absolutely brutal commute."

Frustrated commuters took to social media to share their experiences, many posting videos on TikTok showing packed subway cars where passengers were shoulder to shoulder, visibly hot and irritated as they waited for any signs of a resolution.

Morgan Gruer chronicled the escape from the subway through the tunnel after waiting "90+ minutes."

Stuck subway riders share jokes, snacks

"Mira

Passengers on stalled New York City subway train

Footage filmed by passenger Morgan Gruer chronicles the escape from the immobile F train and journey through the tunnel between the Bergen Street and Jay Street subway stations in Brooklyn, after waiting "90+ minutes."

culously, strangers offered up jokes, hands, snacks, even weed," Gruer wrote in captions on her TikTok video. "Definitely not how I planned to spend my evening, but the good cheer and goodwill of strangers on a subway reminded me why I love NYC."

Photos shared online showed passengers being guided off the trains into subway tunnels and up service stairways, emerging through trapdoors on Brooklyn sidewalks.

@Smokeyandmaid shared her experience, saying, "I had the pleasure of getting stuck on the F train underground in Brooklyn for over 2 hours—no Wi-Fi, no way to reach my loved ones."

She ended with a sarcastic nod to the MTA, writing, "Thanks for the memories and the 2 hours of anxiety."

What happened on the subway?

The power outage happened just before 5:30 p.m., affecting the A, C, F, and G lines between the Jay Street/MetroTech and Hoyt-Schermerhorn stations. With no power or service updates, riders were forced to endure long periods of uncertainty in sweltering, cramped cars.

After a tense wait, firefighters arrived to assist, guiding passengers off the stalled trains and into dark subway tunnels. They were then led up service stairways to trapdoors in the middle of Brooklyn’s streets, as photos of the chaotic scene flooded social media.

The MTA told FOX 5 that a Con Ed power failure caused the disruption. FOX 5 reached out to Con Ed, who said that the feeder cable that services the subway lines at the Jay Street station went out of service momentarily and officials are still investigating why. 

The company has yet to confirm the cause of the failure, and the MTA said about 3,500 riders were on two F trains that lost power and had to be evacuated.

By 10 p.m., trains were once again running on the local track between Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets and Euclid Avenue, but for many, the damage was done—their evening commute, one they’ll never forget, had turned into an ordeal.

MTA