N Train Derailed at 57th Street

Tonight around 5pm, an N train jumped the tracks. There have been conflicting reports of whether or not it was just one car or two that derailed…not that it matters. The fact is that there was a subway derailment.

Passengers on board had to be removed with a rescue train. Typically, this means a train that pulls up along side the stranded train. Then, gangways or ramps are used to transfer passengers from one train to the other. In the derailed cars, passengers would have been moved forwards or backwards into cars that were still on the tracks.

At this time, the MTA website is still reporting:

Due to an ongoing rail condition at the 57th Street-7th Avenue Station:

Bay Ridge-bound trains are running on the line between the 36th Street Station in Queens and the 34th Street- Herald Square Station.

There is no train service between the Queensboro Plaza Station and the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard Station in both directions.

Shuttle trains are being provided between the Queensboro Plaza Station and the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard Station.

Please expect delays in service on the and trains at this time.

I love how it gets played down to an “ongoing rail condition.”  I think it borders on dishonesty.  Just come right out and say that it was because of a train derailment.  Don’t try to be all secretive.

Also, it’s not really a huge shock.  I posted this video over a month ago about a section of track at 59th street that sags 6″ or more when the train passes over it.  It still has not been fixed.  I cannot believe that they don’t know about it.  If not, the inspector needs to be fired because this is obvious to all the passengers that wait on that platform.  Plus, with all the construction on that platform, surely a worker has seen what I did.

Anyway, I think it is safe to say that there could be some morning issues for the commute.  Even if everything gets fixed, it is likely that trains will run through the area slowly.

Check the MTA site for the latest updates.