You are reading

Morning 7 Train Delays Caused by Human Error, Not New System or Weather: MTA

File photo

Jan. 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin

Monday morning’s hellish rush hour commute for 7 line riders was caused by human error, not the expensive new signal technology or the light snow on the tracks, the MTA said in statement.

The first Monday morning commute of the new year became a nightmare for many Queens residents after the 7 train was severely delayed by a signal problem near the Grand Central – 42nd Street station.

Shortly after 7 a.m., 7 train express service was halted and overall service along the line between Queens and Manhattan was “extremely limited.” The MTA recommended commuters avoid taking the 7 train altogether soon after.

One commuter pointed out the irony that work was being done on the 7 line all weekend and come Monday, 7 trains weren’t working.

“Only the 7 train could have work done on it all weekend to then only not work come Monday,” the commuter tweeted.

But that work turned out to be the reason for the signal issue and resulting service problems, according to the MTA.

Workers incorrectly re-installed a transponder in the wrong location over the weekend, which caused the trains to not connect properly to the transponder.

“A transponder in an area of weekend track work on the 7 line that is designed to confirm the precise locations of trains was re-installed in the wrong location after work concluded before the morning rush hour,” said Sally Librera, Senior VP of Subways, MTA NYC Transit. “That caused trains to not connect properly to the transponder, resulting in slow speed operation as a safety precaution.”

Last month, 7 train service in Queens was delayed during a Wednesday morning commute because a dusting of snow interrupted the line’s expensive new signaling system on the raised tracks.

The MTA noted that today’s issue was not a weather-related.

“This was a case of human error, not weather or equipment, and was completely unacceptable to our customers and to us,” Librera said.

An unrelated switch issue caused morning delays on the E, F, M and R Queens Boulevard line which lead to more headaches.

“Because some riders had switched from the 7 line to the E,F,M and R, their trips were impacted twice,” Librera said.

She failed to note that the MTA advised passengers to take those lines to avoid 7 train delays — as well as the LIRR which was cross-honoring MetroCards.

Regular 7 train service did not resume until about 2:30 p.m.
“Teams of track workers were assigned to diagnose and resolve the conditions involved, and to eliminate impact on the afternoon rush hour,” Librera said. “They completed their work and after a period of testing for safety, regular 7 train service resumed at approximately 2:30 p.m.”
The MTA will conduct a post-incident review to evaluate contributing causes of the error to minimize future disruptions, she said.
email the author: news@queenspost.com

6 Comments

Click for Comments 
Suckafree

In the private sector, a contractor makes a mistake can be fired as you would expect some form of testing. This makes me wonder if the signaling depends on a transponder with no prior testing but it’s completely acceptable to allow trains to run come Monday? Thankfully, MTA and contractors are not in the airline industry or medical. Then when I have come across errors in hospitals, it’s no surprise patients have the wrong arm or leg operated on.

Reply
VERY UNHAPPY

So now just finding out that the Q32 bus that runs from Jackson Heights( along Roosevelt Ave and then Queens Blvd ) to Penn Station is on of the bus routes that will be changed in this new redesign plan !!! The bus will now go up to 42 St & 5th ave . I work near MSG and this is the ONLY way I can commute to work since I have leg & knee injury . What do es the MTA expect me to do take like 3-4 buses ?? This is total madness especially there is a lot of housing construction on Roosevelt Ave & 51 St . Please I beg everyone NOT to let this go through !! This also applies to Q60- Bus driver was telling me they dont want buses along the # 7 line !!! .
This will be a nightmare.
I cant take train bc of the stairs.

Reply
Gardens Watcher

Weekend work during a holiday period no less. Guess the A team was still on vacation.

13
Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Repeat hate crime offender charged in anti-Muslim subway attack in Forest Hills: DA

A Southeast Queens man is being held without bail after he was criminally charged with assault in the first degree as a hate crime and other charges for allegedly punching and kicking a Muslim woman on an E train in Forest Hills during the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 18.

Naved Durrni, 34, of 106th Avenue in Jamaica, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Thursday and additionally charged with aggravated harassment in the first and second degrees.

Hate Crimes Task Force investigating bomb threats against Mamdani: NYPD

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force launched a probe into multiple death threats made against Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani after his district office at 24-08 32nd St. in Astoria received four expletive-filled phone voicemails, on various dates, making threatening anti-Muslim statements by an unknown individual, including a threat to blow up his car.

The calls were made from an untraceable number and labeled the mayoral candidate a “terrorist who is not welcome in New York or America” in a message phoned in on Wednesday morning.

Queens Defenders founder charged with stealing nonprofit funds as second scandal unfolds

The founder of the Queens Defenders and her husband have lawyered up after they were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the non-profit organization.

Former Queens Defenders executive director Lori Zeno, 64, surrendered Wednesday at the Brooklyn federal courthouse. Zeno was arraigned on an indictment charging her and Rashad Ruhani, 55, with wire fraud conspiracy, theft, money laundering conspiracy and other crimes.