Harlem riders got an unwelcome jolt on Wednesday when a fire in a subway tunnel near 135th Street in Manhattan brought the 2 and 3 lines to a crawl, stalling at least one 2 train and tangling the afternoon commute while crews rushed in to respond.
Service slowed to a slog as trains were held in stations, rerouted, or forced to creep along at reduced speed. Emergency responders and transit crews converged on the area, and power to the tracks was cut so firefighters could safely attack the blaze.
According to CBS News New York, the MTA said a 2 train became stuck in the tunnel near 135th Street after power was shut off to fight the fire. The agency has not yet said what started the flames.
Delays stretched across uptown and downtown
The stoppage gummed up service through upper Manhattan and triggered ripple-effect delays for riders trying to get downtown. It is the latest in a string of incidents in which track and tunnel fires have forced trains out of service this month. A March 6 blaze that suspended 7 line service between Queens and Manhattan was detailed in Track Fire Snarls 7 Train.
Why tunnel fires cause widespread delays
When flames break out in a tunnel, crews often have to de-energize the third rail so they can safely reach the scene. That move cuts power to any trains in the area and leaves them stranded until firefighters and transit workers declare the tracks safe.
A review from the Office of the MTA Inspector General warned that self-evacuations by riders and gaps in onboard communications can make these emergencies even harder to manage and stretch out the resulting delays. Those findings are detailed in the MTA OIG report.
What riders should know
Riders should plan for lingering delays on the 2 and 3 lines through the rest of the afternoon and consider alternate routes where possible. For live service alerts and updates, check the MTA.
We will update this story as officials release more information.
