New Video Shows Electrical Substation Explosion that Knocked out Subway Service in Brooklyn
Intense new video shows the electrical substation explosion that knocked out subway service for multiple lines in Brooklyn Wednesday night, trapping thousands of riders underground for hours.
Riders Stranded for Two Hours
More than 24 hours after riders were left stranded for two hours, only escaping the stalled trains by navigating darkened subterranean tunnels, repair crews were underground Friday morning to begin inspecting the damage left by the blast captured on camera.
Call for Investigation
Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling for a full investigation into what caused the commuter chaos, and Con Edison is trying to figure out what sparked a fire that then led to a massive power loss on the A, C, F, and G trains.
Age of Equipment Contributes to Chaos
Transit officials say they had backup systems in place when the substation blew, but the backup facilities, much like the equipment beneath Smith Street, are nearly a century old. “It’s a risky thing. It can only handle that additional load for so long,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA construction and development.
Maintenance Issues Highlighted
The MTA said power was lost around 5:30 p.m. between Jay Street-Metrotech and Hoyt-Schermerhorn stations in Brooklyn because of the underground fire, which disrupted service on the A, C, F, and G lines at the height of the evening rush.
Riders Share Disastrous Commute Experience
Riders shared their terrifying and frustrating experiences on social media, with many describing feeling trapped underground for hours and having to navigate darkened tunnels to escape.
Investigation Underway
The first repairs came a day after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called for an investigation into the subway meltdown, demanding the MTA do a deep dive into what went wrong. Con Edison is also investigating. “New Yorkers deserve a world-class subway system, and thousands of commuters experienced unacceptable service issues last night due to an electrical issue,” Hochul said in a statement Thursday.
Conclusions
The electrical substation explosion in Brooklyn highlights the need for investment in the aging subway system. While the MTA has backup systems in place, these systems are nearly a century old and require repair and investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the electrical substation explosion?
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation by the MTA and Con Edison.
How long were riders stranded underground?
Thousands of riders were trapped underground for over two hours, with some trains stuck between stations and others forced to reroute.
What did the MTA say about the incident?
The MTA said it had backup systems in place, but they are nearly a century old and require repair and investment. The agency also announced an investigation into the cause of the incident.
Are there any plans to update the subway system?
The MTA has asked Albany for billions of dollars to modernize the grid, with MTA CEO Janno Lieber stressing the need for funding to improve the aging train system.
Are there any plans to inspect the backup facilities?
The MTA will work with Con Edison to understand how a limited outage in a redundant system could create a significant disruption to service.
Did anyone get injured in the incident?
Four people suffered minor injuries, according to the FDNY.
