Friday Morning's Terrible Subway Commute Was Perfect For People Who Love Crowded Platforms
Jan. 18, 2019, 11:28 a.m.
We were so close to getting through this week without a massive subway delay...so close, and yet so far.
We were so close to getting through this week without a major morning commute delay...so close, and yet so far. On the other hand, if you're a fan of claustrophobic train rides, overly-packed stations, and frustrating delays with little communication, then this was another successful day traversing the subway system.
@MTA 44 minutes and counting waiting for a train at Steinway (3 have come by too full to get on) and NOT ONE ANNOUNCEMENT about what is happening. & the countdown clocks here aren’t visible, either. What happened to being more transparent?! #notcool
— Becca G (@beccashimmy) January 18, 2019
Police confirmed that a man was fatally struck by an F train at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue station in Queens around 7:15 a.m. this morning. Understandably, this caused delays on the F train immediately afterwards. Less understandably, it caused massive delays on other lines (including the M, E and R trains) that have lingered and continued to delay and exasperated passengers more than three hours later.
Stations on the M and R lines in Queens are experiencing crowded conditions while service resumes after someone was fatally struck by an F train at Roosevelt Av. Trains *are* running but may be too crowded to board. We appreciate your patience as we return to normal service. ^SS
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) January 18, 2019
Gothamist's own Jake Offenhartz was one of those passengers delayed as a result: "My rush hour M train did make it into Manhattan this morning, but only barely. We all got dumped out at Essex, apparently due to a struck passenger in Queens, and from there we were directed to find an F train. But then another M train arrived and, feeling adventurous, I got on. Of course, the emergency brake was pulled about five minutes into that ride, causing half the train to tumble backward. Someone either pissed themselves then, or had already pissed themselves prior to the lurch. We sat quietly with that stench for about 10 minutes and then proceeded onward. Love this town!"
(Jake Offenhartz/Gothamist)
As commuters are wont to do, they channeled their frustrations at the MTA on Twitter:
Nearly a half hour and still no M train at Lex53. Get your shit together @MTA @NYCTSubway
— Kemosabe (@RealMikeDevine) January 18, 2019
Lmao they literally just said no service from this station. Countless trapped waiting for an F train that will never come or leave. @NYCTSubway makes peoples lives WORSE
— SK (@sk199095) January 18, 2019
@MTA if you could help the crowds of people trying to catch the E Train at Court Square station that would be great. pic.twitter.com/flWvbmgWIT
— Rusty (@jahbreeze) January 18, 2019
Lmao they literally just said no service from this station. Countless trapped waiting for an F train that will never come or leave. @NYCTSubway makes peoples lives WORSE
— SK (@sk199095) January 18, 2019
Hi there - we end M trains at Essex to reduce the number of trains going into Queens so we can prevent congestion. We turn trains at Essex St because customers can transfer to other lines there and has a track configuration that allows us to turn trains around easily. ^SS
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) January 18, 2019
@NYCTSubway how do i get refunded on my 2.75 fare?
— Jess (@Jess_Mmm_Velez) January 18, 2019
I really do feel for the people behind the NYCT Subway Twitter account whose job it is to spend all day responding to angry existential tweets about the MTA. Here's but a sampling of other subway problems from this morning's commute:
lmao .@mta this F conductor just went on a rant over the speaker; told all the passengers that reason the train is “running 18min late” is because we’re a bunch of “door holders”, then spitefully announced next stop he‘s going express pic.twitter.com/1mXZ5TYGst
— Sophie v2.9 (@worf_fan) January 18, 2019
@MTA how can one report #unsafe driving? The driver of the e train headed to queens plaza rn is breaking and throwing all of us sardines around far more than necessary or usual! 🤬
— - (@JacklynObvi) January 18, 2019
@MTA I just slipped and fell on the subway steps inside the Steinway station R & M train lines. Can someone salt the stairs inside the station as well? Thank you!
— Christine Pineiro (@ChristineP_) January 18, 2019
Is the loud honking done by trains passing a station REALLY necessary? Do I really need to be so jolted that I jump 10 ft into the air every single time? SO many reasons why I hate you @MTA
— Emma Jacobson (@emmmajay_) January 18, 2019
What level of incompetence are we working with when the @MTA subway card machines cannot accept credit cards? pic.twitter.com/aDrGNkPUT1
— Matt Wheeler (@mattwheeler) January 18, 2019
And here's the cherry on top:
@NYCTSubway i know there is a lot happening this morning but someone puked tons at 7th ave f/g nb platform
— Serious Geneous (@Cooliancee) January 18, 2019
