Seltzer Bottle Blamed For A, C, F, G Train Delays

DOWNTOWN, BROOKLYN — Hydration is key, but not when it slows down four subway lines during a busy morning commute, the MTA warned Wednesday.

The transit agency let riders know on Twitter that a single seltzer bottle found on the tracks at York Street station was to blame for "extensive delays" they may have experienced getting to work earlier that day.

"Fellow New Yorkers, please stay hydrated as the weather turns warmer. But please, please, do not throw your trash on the tracks," MTA wrote. "It can cause track fires or get caught in track appliances, causing disruptions like this morning's."

The lonely seltzer bottle hadn't caused a track fire or gotten stuck in a track appliance that morning, but had caused one of the train's brakes to be automatically activated, causing transit officials to shut down service while they moved the train.

The service changes and delays started just before 8 a.m. on the A, C and F trains, according to MTA tweets. Jamaica-bound F train service from Brooklyn and Manhattan was reduced, and then stopped, as the crews worked on the halted train.

F trains also briefly started using the C line, E line and G line to get to where they needed to go, causing delays for those straphangers as well.

The seltzer bottle wasn't the only problem, though. A switch problem at the Jay Street-MetroTech station also made things worse as the MTA tried to get things back on track.

Things were cleared up relatively quickly, with normal service resuming on the subway lines, though still with extensive delays, by about 8:34 a.m.

That was little comfort to some riders, though.

Other Twitter users hypothesized that the seltzer bottle could have been left by an MTA employee, while others agreed that rider's tendency to litter was likely to blame. Some suggested using the subway station cameras to track down the litterer and give them a fine.

"Our crews work hard every day to keep our infrastructure functioning as smoothly as possible," the MTA concluded its tweets. "We want to get you where you’re going—safely, and when you need to be there. Let’s work together to make that happen every day."