September 29, 2006
T.G.I. L-Train-Hazmat-Situation Friday!
It was a normal Friday morning commute on the L train for many - until some substance caused the entire line to be shut down in both directions due to what the MTA's website calls a "police investigation."
We have heard a couple things. The last car of a Brooklyn-bound train at the Lorimer stop was cleared, though people were still in other parts of the train. A train conductor was overheard saying something about a woman choking, and maybe something "went off" at Third Avenue. The Fire Department responded to the Lorimer station and is investigating the situation. There might be another situation at either First Avenue or Third Avenue. It's unclear what's causing the situation - an unconfirmed report says it might be on the tracks - or where it is (just Brooklyn or both Brooklyn and Manhattan?). And it doesn't sound like anyone is seriously injured at this point.
Back in May, we had T.G.I. Broken-Down-L-Train Friday!
Update: There are reports that something was sprayed inside the subway car - possibly pepper spray.
Update: The MTA site says things are now running normally.
Update: Reader Dan has pictures of the scene at First Avenue; he says "I asked a fireman if there was a fire, and he asked me if I saw any sick people."
Top photograph of FDNY at Lorimer Street this morning from Tien Mao; bottom photograph of firefighters and waiting straphangers at First Avenue from machfive on Flickr
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Where on the MTA's website did you find that? I can never find anything current there; just those weekly service advisories that are also posted in the stations.
i already skipped class too many times for this crap! we need more efficient bullet trains or magnetic ones that dont crash
Crash?
I was on the train that got stuck between Lorimer and Bedford. It was awful but that's because someone vomited in my car (who actually got off at lorimer) and we were forced to sit there and smell it.
Not sure what was going on at Lorimer but the police presence was huge.
they shut down the 1st ave L too, there were about 6 trucks blocking 14th and 1st. I had to walk to union sq to get a train. oh well, at least it didn't rain
This is where to go for breaking service announcements:
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/alert/alertnyct.htm
the conductor was all, "i don't know what the fuck it was," when he was talking about what "went off."
We heard about the L situation from Tien and from some unconfirmed reports. About 20 minutes later, I went to the MTA site, which said the L was down.
tien, I think we may have been on the same train. Or you were one behind me, which would have really sucked.
But at least you weren't on Vomit Car. Oh lordy.
i actually walked into the station from the G train and saw the brooklyn bound L stopped at the station. the conductor said there was a woman choking, which is why the train was stopped.
from reading your vomit account, it seems like you were going to manhattan.
So, I'm guessing that by the rise in cops seen at several MTA stations over the past week, they got some kind of new threat report or something. Grand Central had a huge presence as well and the Graham Street station had several police checking bags this week.
Mihow: I don't know if it's a rise in threat level, but there is a national election in five weeks! Fear, fear, fear.
Ben, you said it.
But, I gotta say, Dan's fireman comment is a little weird. Sick people? Huh?
L train losers. lol.
mihow: the exact quote was:
me: "Hey, is there a fire down there or something?"
fireman: "Not sure, did you see any sick people when you were down there?"
I had only just gone down the stairs when the booth dudes were yelling "no service" through a bullhorn.
Thanks, Dan. I guess it could have been pepper spray making everyone sick. Still unsure what made the person on my train vomit, however. Weird, nevertheless.
L train contains possibily the ugliest collection of people ever assembled... They should really toughen the door policy..
I would be sick also if I had to go to Williamsburg
Ahahaha! You L train haters are SO witty!
Jenblossom linked to this on my site: L Train Info (ABC local write up.)
Thought others might like to read it.
Funny not.. Might be losing my job and have to take the L-train too... :(
The NY1 website is saying that it was a supicious package at Lorimer street. I must have been on the train just in front, I managed to make it as far as Union Square before the shut down. Why so many conflicting reports?
our website hasn't been updated. as best we can tell, this was just some mace or pepper spray that someone sprayed in the last car of a brooklyn-bound train at 3rd avenue. (probably just dumb kids.) the reason for the massive emergency response is that sick people kept getting off the train at subsequent stops.
Thanks for that information, Bobby. So the vomiting person on the Manhattan bound train I was on was just a coincidence.
What!!!!! The "L" train was actually in service? I've heard the sound of those "New" trains whirring by and thought it was my imagination . Anyway people don't be fooled by this whole bullshit the MTA pushes . I'm not saying that this wasn't a legit scare and all. Most of these "Police investigations are really farces to cover up the fact that one of those "New" trains malfunctioned . It was a "Police investigation a couple of weeks ago when the "M" train suddly stopped running between Middle Village, and Myrtle Avenue . One of the trackworkers told me what I had already knew . The train passed over one of those switches and malfunctioned and had to shut the entire line down ! MTA politics people !