TransitStop Posted January 28, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 28, 2011 Dozens of riders who were stuck on an "N" train in Brooklyn say if it wasn't for a phone call to NY1, they would have been forced out into the snowy night with nowhere else to go. NY1's John Mancini filed the following report. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority now has customer advocates during big storms, trying to avoid the bungles that trapped riders on trains last month. But sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. Like when they tell you you have to get off the train in the middle of a snowstorm. "I said 'I have nowhere to go. I'm not leaving. You know, there's no way I'm going to get home.' Because I remembered the blizzard," said stranded transit rider Eva Mahoney. Mahoney, a Dyker Heights resident, was heading home from Manhattan when she found herself stuck with dozens of others on an "N" train at the Coney Island terminal Thursday. When the trains were suspended about 2 a.m. they were told to leave. Bus service had already been shut down for hours. So Mahoney got on her cell phone. "One of the first places I called was NY1," Mahoney said. Soon, she was on the air, live from the "N" train with photos she had sent to NY1's newspix email. And with that, riders were able to stay on the heated train until service started rolling again at 6 a.m. In December, riders on an A train were trapped for nearly eight hours. To prevent a repeat, officials now aim to stop service before the snow does it for them. The MTA says mostly, it worked. "There were trains that were stuck for short periods of time. There were not trains that were stuck overnight. In every case we worked to be able to move trains into a station where people could leave the train and be able to get assistance to do whatever they needed to do," said MTA Chairman & CEO Jay Walder. Transit officials say the N riders were asked to exit because the train was needed for "sweeper service" to help clear tracks. There was too big a chance it could get stuck to allow any riders, and they should have made that clear to them -- not that it would have persuaded them to leave. "If this train is the sweeper train, put us in the one next to it, ya know? That's not a valid argument that we had to leave the area," Mahoney said. The MTA credits its new strategies with restoring service on most major lines for most of the Thursday morning rush. But officials say they clearly could have done more to make the Coney Island passengers more comfortable. http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/ what are your thoughts, did they have a "right" to refuse the MTA's request or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bveguy Posted January 28, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 28, 2011 Yes, they have a right to stand up for their opinions. At least they stayed warm inside a train for the night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amtrak7 Posted January 28, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 28, 2011 I'd rather sleep on a train than risk getting lost/stuck/injured in a storm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortline Bus Posted January 28, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 28, 2011 From reading this here my reaction. With these riders, the riders had every right to demand that they be transported to a major station, like Stillwell and wait there until the storm ended. At same time the train crew was very rude and should get a complaint for being rude. Unless it was closed the local NYC media was incorrect in that Stillwell Terminal does have bathrooms. Why could not the contact a red cross to provide water to these people? The trains did need to stop and just proceed to the next closest stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRG Posted January 28, 2011 Share #5 Posted January 28, 2011 That was a pretty smart move. I wouldn't want to be anywhere in that weather after hours either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattTrain Posted January 28, 2011 Share #6 Posted January 28, 2011 Unless it was closed the local NYC media was incorrect in that Stillwell Terminal does have bathrooms. The Public Bathrooms at Stilwell are usable but they are not very clean! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bknightshadow45 Posted January 28, 2011 Share #7 Posted January 28, 2011 The Public Bathrooms at Stilwell are usable but they are not very clean! I think after Midnight the (NYCT) closed the bathrooms during the overnight hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattTrain Posted January 28, 2011 Share #8 Posted January 28, 2011 I think after Midnight the (NYCT) closed the bathrooms during the overnight hours. Oh I forgot about that, thanks for the clarification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bknightshadow45 Posted January 28, 2011 Share #9 Posted January 28, 2011 Oh I forgot about that, thanks for the clarification. No problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelham Bay Dave Posted January 28, 2011 Share #10 Posted January 28, 2011 It sounds like the MTA was just trying to cover thier behinds. They wanted to discharge the train to see if it could make it so it they could then maybe service would keep running and avoid paying train crews extra overtime. Since customers refused they just stop service and the crew gets payed overtime to baby sit the train and bring it to the terminal when service is restored. Must be a good pay day for that crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamousNYLover Posted January 28, 2011 Share #11 Posted January 28, 2011 When I have to use portable restroom or subway restroom (excluding Howard Beach, Jamaica Airtrain Station, I usually do #1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeGerald Posted January 28, 2011 Share #12 Posted January 28, 2011 Many or most of the bathrooms in the subway system close at or before midnight, or at the times posted on the signs on the door. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe C Posted January 28, 2011 Share #13 Posted January 28, 2011 In a big snowstorm,i'd rather stay on the train.at least the train has heat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelham Bay Dave Posted January 28, 2011 Share #14 Posted January 28, 2011 In a big snowstorm,i'd rather stay on the train.at least the train has heat. Good point but what if the power goes out like in the Rockaways then your stuck on a train with no power? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bveguy Posted January 28, 2011 Share #15 Posted January 28, 2011 when i have to use portable restroom or subway restroom (excluding howard beach, jamaica airtrain station, i usually do #1. lmfao!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubwayGuy Posted January 28, 2011 Share #16 Posted January 28, 2011 The Public Bathrooms at Stilwell are usable but they are not very clean! Understatement of the year. The only ones worse are the ones at Parsons/Archer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubwayGuy Posted January 28, 2011 Share #17 Posted January 28, 2011 what are your thoughts, did they have a "right" to refuse the MTA's request or not. Yes. If stranded at the station they did not have anywhere warm or safe to go. Their outrage may have actually saved the MTA the embarrasment of if someone had tried to survive the outdoors and gotten severe frostbite or worse. If the train was needed as a sweeper, an alternative heated area (whether inside or outside of a train) needed to be provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4P3607 Posted January 28, 2011 Share #18 Posted January 28, 2011 Understatement of the year. The only ones worse are the ones at Parsons/Archer! aagh you beat me. I was just going to post that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East New York Posted January 29, 2011 Share #19 Posted January 29, 2011 MTA just needs to start giving people the option. People can't get off and they complain, then people can't stay on and they complain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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