Over 20 Injured As Subway Trains Collide and Derail During Rush Hour
On Thursday January 4th, 2024, two subway trains collided and derailed on the Upper West Side of Manhattan near the 96th Street station. The incident occurred around 8:20am, right as many New Yorkers were commuting to work.
According to officials and witnesses, a southbound Number 1 train struck a stalled Number 3 train from behind. The impact led the Number 1 train to derail and hit a subway wall. Over 20 people sustained injuries, though none appeared to be life-threatening. Those injured were treated at local hospitals for conditions like smoke inhalation and injuries from falling in train cars.
The collision caused extensive disruptions across the New York City subway system. Service on the 1, 2, and 3 lines was immediately suspended as emergency crews responded to the scene. By the afternoon some limited service had resumed, but major delays persisted as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority worked to remove the derailed train car blocking the tracks.
MTA Investigates Braking Failure as Derailment Cause
The MTA has launched an investigation into the cause of the derailment, looking into early reports that the Number 3 train’s emergency brakes had failed leading up to the collision. Officials are inspecting equipment from both trains involved to diagnose any mechanical or signal failures.
While the exact factors are still being determined, investigators suspect the Number 3 train was stopped on the tracks due to brake problems right before getting hit by the Number 1 train. This aligns with accounts from some passengers that their train had unexpectedly halted moments before the crash.
Federal Review of NYC Subways Ordered After Incident
In response to the derailment, the federal government has mandated a comprehensive review of New York’s entire subway system. Citing this as the latest in a series of concerning safety incidents across NYC’s transit network, the Federal Transit Administration issued an order requiring a full inspection of equipment, tracks, signals, and more across all subway lines.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated the federally overseen review will focus on identifying risks and developing solutions to ensure reliable, safe transit for NYC communities. The Secretary promised full federal support to quickly conduct inspections and implement recommendations.
Lingering Rail Disruptions Frustrate City Commuters
While some subway routes resumed partial service on Friday morning, extensive delays and skipped stops continued causing headaches for commuters. The derailed Number 1 train blocked a complex multi-line junction until crews managed to get it back on tracks late Friday night.
Rerouted trains, overhead signal problems, and residual suspension of stations closest to 96th Street left riders facing long waits, packed railcars, and general chaos getting around on subways through the start of the weekend. Many resorted to other travel modes, flooding platforms for buses, ferries, and rideshares operating alternative transit.
| Subway Line | Service Impact |
|---|---|
| 1 | No service between 137 St and South Ferry |
| 2 | No service between 96 St and Brooklyn |
| 3 | No service between 96 St and New Lots Ave |
Table 1. Ongoing subway route suspensions as of Saturday 1/6/2024 due to 96th Street derailment
City and State Officials Respond to Subway Disaster
Mayor Eric Adams along with other city and state leaders quickly addressed the public as details emerged Thursday morning. They confirmed emergency response units arrived on scene minutes after the crash and coordinated with transit officials on impacts to commuters. Governor Kathy Hochul rode an F train after visiting the derailment site and pledged the state will assist however possible to restore full subway operations.
In a tweet Mayor Adams acknowledged frustrations of delayed New Yorkers but asked for cooperation and patience. He also reminded the public to yield subway seats for those injured from the collision as some return to work with bandages, crutches, etc still recovering.
Lingering Investigations and Infrastructure Inspections Ongoing
NTSB investigators will likely be analyzing evidence from the crash for months working to pinpoint factors leading to the rare derailment. Their insights will inform safety recommendations as well as litigation by those injured pursuing legal damages.
In the near term, comprehensive infrastructure checks mandated across all subway lines will take priority to identify related hazards – though officials note so far this appears to be an isolated major incident. Track work at derailment site continues round the clock so full Upper West Side service can be restored after railyard repairs finish next week.
This breaking news story will be updated as more details emerge on causes, lasting impacts, and improvements stemming from Manhattan’s January 2024 subway collision.
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