Flooded Uptown Trains Back For Evening Commute, MTA Says

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN — About 500,000 gallons of water that plunged into the 1, 2 and 3 train tracks after a water main break early Monday morning will be fully dredged out by the time New Yorkers head on their evening commutes, the MTA said.

The break, which was on a city-owned main between West 62nd and 63rd, had halted most of the 1, 2 and 3 trains in the Upper West Side since it erupted around 5 a.m. The 1 and 3 trains had completely stopped between Times Square and 96th Street station and completely shut down the 2 line as its trains were sent to run on the 5 train's tracks.

But the MTA said all three trains will return to their normal schedules by 4 p.m.

“Our current expectation is that service will be restored to normal levels by the evening rush, beginning at 4 p.m.," MTA President Andy Byford said around 2 p.m. "The water in the system has now been drained and pumped and we are in the process of inspecting the impact area which stretches across four stations from 59th Street-Columbus Circle to 79th Street."

(MTA)

Byford said the water first poured into the system around 5 a.m., causing a northbound 1 train to get stuck in the tunnel for 15 minutes near the 66th Street station.

Power was fully cut from the subway lines by 5:45 a.m. so that transit officials could begin pumping out about 500,000 gallons of water, which had risen above the electrified third rail, making it dangerous to run trains, Byford said.

The water main had broken near an emergency hatch on the Broadway line, which meant water poured easily into the train tunnels. Water also came in through vents, Byford said.

“We have deployed extensive resources in the Infrastructure, Track and Signals Departments, as well as cleaners, to address the situation," he said. "72 signals and 12 switches will be inspected to ensure they are functioning properly."

(MTA).

Update: The 1, 2 and 3 trains' service was restored as of 3:50 p.m., according to the MTA.