Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Rush Hour L Train Stalls Under East River
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 7, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 7, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Riders were stranded on the platform and in subway cars when a Brooklyn-bound L train stalled under the East River just after 8PM. Reader tokyohanna, who took this photograph of people waiting, wrote at the time, "There is a train stalled between first and Bedford. They stopped trains in both directions. A sea of people is on the platform and we can barely walk."
amNew York reports that the train had a mechanical failure close to First Avenue, requiring a rescue train to be dispatched to pick up passengers. Some passengers from the stranded train said "that four men exited the stalled train, intending to walk through the tunnel to the next station. They said two men soon returned to the train, saying it was too far to walk. The other two men apparently kept going." We bet the guys who returned ran into some rats in the subway.
The delay took about two hours to resolve. This comes just in time for the NYC Transit Authority's reorganization of subway train management, where subway lines will get their own managers. Starting Monday, the 7 and L lines will start the program; the 7 train will be managed by 26-year NYCTA veteran Lou Brassica and the L will be headed by 28-year vet Greg Lombardi.
Photograph by tokyohanna on Flickr
Tagged
amNew York
brooklyn
delay
east river
first avenue
flickr
MTA
news
nyc
nyc transit
NYC Transit Authority
NYCTA
people
photos
rats
rescuetrain
stranded
subway
The Program
train
transit
transit authority
transportation
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani says Trump will 'immediately' grant visa to Ghanaian mom of slain Bronx teen
Javits Frimpong, whose family is from Ghana, was walking to school Thursday morning when he was shot and killed.
By
Christian Santana
and
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 31, 2026 at 3:08 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 31, 2026 at 7:03 p.m. ET
Overflowing school in downtown Jersey City is hitting a crisis point, parents say
There aren't great options for relieving overcrowding at P.S. 16 in Paulus Hook. It's a consequence of a economic boom — and huge influx of residents.
By
Michael Sol Warren
News
Overflowing school in downtown Jersey City is hitting a crisis point, parents say
There aren't great options for relieving overcrowding at P.S. 16 in Paulus Hook. It's a consequence of a economic boom — and huge influx of residents.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Bronx e-bike fire that killed a boy has claimed 3 more lives, NYPD says
By
Amanda Rozon
Donald Trump looms over New York attorney general’s race
By
Jon Campbell
and
Walter Wuthmann
How formerly homeless New Yorkers are helping others get off the streets
By
Karen Yi
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .