NYC subway service melts down as riders return following blizzard

Lead

On Tuesday, as New Yorkers returned to schools and offices after a snowstorm that buried the city from Sunday into Monday, subway service on multiple lines broke down, producing packed cars, long delays and a smoke-filled train. A G train reportedly struck an object on the tracks near Long Island City, producing sparks and smoke that forced evacuation and a suspension of G service between Bedford–Nostrand Avenues and Court Square. Additional disruptions included a full suspension of C train service and extensive delays on the A line, leaving some riders waiting up to two hours at crowded platforms. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said the G train struck debris that exposed wiring near the third rail; investigations and recovery were ongoing into Tuesday afternoon.

Key takeaways

• The incident occurred on Tuesday after a weekend blizzard that dumped snow across New York City; the G train hit an object at or before 21st Street in Long Island City, causing sparks and smoke.
• Service on the G line was suspended between Bedford–Nostrand Avenues and Court Square and did not resume immediately into the afternoon.
• C train service was suspended citywide for a period; transit officials instructed riders to use the A train, which was operating on local C tracks in affected segments.
• Delays at Nostrand Avenue (A line) exceeded 20 minutes for many riders during morning rush; some passengers reported waits approaching two hours.
• Riders described packed platforms and cars, limited staff on-site and little real-time communication from MTA crews during the disruption.
• MTA spokesperson David Steckel said the train “hit an object on the tracks that has yet to be recovered,” and that exposed wiring near the third rail created the smoke.
• Several commuters reported missed work or court appearances and severe commute impacts; at least one MTA employee on site said staffing shortages complicated operations, per rider accounts.

Background

New York City experienced a significant snowstorm beginning Sunday and continuing into Monday, prompting heavy accumulations across boroughs and renewed pressure on transit operations. Unlike past major storms when the MTA closed some above-ground services, the agency kept all subway lines running during Monday’s storm, a change intended to maintain mobility for essential workers and commuters. That decision placed vehicles and crews under strain through plowing and snow-clearing operations; residual snow and track-level debris can linger into the next service day.

The MTA operates a mix of older rolling stock and newer open-gangway trains that allow movement between cars; those newer trains lack internal doors between cars and can transmit smoke and smoke smell more easily across the entire consist. Infrastructure vulnerabilities—exposed third-rail components, track debris, and winterized equipment—interact with staffing levels and schedule pressures during post-storm recovery. Riders and transit workers both contend with cascading effects: one suspension can force service changes across adjacent lines, as trains are rerouted onto local tracks or held to maintain safety.

Main event

According to passenger accounts, Eric Fries and his wife were riding the G train en route to JFK when the consist suddenly produced a loud noise and visible sparks, then began filling with smoke while stopped between stations. Fries said the train was one of the MTA’s new open-gangway models and that announcements were not made while passengers remained aboard. The train ultimately reached 21st Street in Long Island City, where passengers evacuated; MTA officials later said the train had struck an object on the tracks.

Transit spokesperson David Steckel told reporters the struck component connected to the third rail sparked, which exposed wiring and led to smoke on the moving car. The MTA suspended G service between Bedford–Nostrand Avenues and Court Square while recovery crews searched for the object and inspected the train and track. Separately, C train service was taken out of regular operation for a period; riders were told to use the A line while portions of express and local service were adjusted.

At Bedford–Stuyvesant’s Nostrand Avenue station, redirected A trains led to platform overcrowding and waits that stretched beyond 20 minutes for many commuters during the morning rush. Passengers described long lines down stairwells and packed platforms that made boarding difficult; some riders said they waited nearly two hours and eventually left. Workers from Brooklyn Criminal Court and students headed to school reported missed appointments and classes because of the delays.

A transit employee who identified herself as Ann Barrett said staffing shortfalls compounded the problems, with fewer crews available to run trains after the storm because some staff could not reach depots. The MTA declined to provide a staffing tally; agency spokespeople referred questions to service advisories and earlier statements about running some express service on local tracks for the morning rush. Delays persisted through the day as crews cleared debris, inspected electrical components, and managed rolling stock allocations across affected lines.

Analysis & implications

Operationally, the incident highlights a tension in the MTA’s post-storm strategy: keeping all lines open maintains network capacity but increases exposure to track-level hazards and equipment failures that can cascade systemwide. When a single train is taken out of service on a vital connector like the G, reroutes and suspensions ripple to adjacent services; the decision to run all lines during a storm can therefore increase the complexity of recovery on the following service day.

The smoke event also underscores the safety sensitivity of open-gangway trains. While open-gangway designs increase capacity and passenger flow, they allow smoke and fumes to propagate through multiple cars faster than sealed designs, raising evacuation and communication challenges if an electrical fault occurs. The MTA will need to assess whether operational protocols and on-board announcement systems are adequate when an open-gangway consist experiences a fault between stations.

Another practical implication is staff availability after severe weather. If substantial numbers of operators, conductors or maintenance personnel cannot reach depots, the agency’s ability to maintain scheduled service is constrained regardless of available rolling stock. Riders’ reports of limited on-platform information also point to a communications gap that can amplify frustration and erode trust during disruptions, increasing political and managerial pressure on the agency to improve real-time updates and contingency staffing plans.

Comparison & data

This snapshot compares immediate operational impacts recorded Tuesday morning. While the MTA did not publish a consolidated delay metric for the storm’s aftermath in the Gothamist report, commuter reports consistently described waits of 20 minutes or longer and several accounts near two hours. Those passenger-supplied wait times provide a granular view of rider experience that contrasts with the MTA’s line-level advisories.

Reactions & quotes

Passengers and workers expressed frustration at the lack of timely information and the personal cost of delays.

“It was really loud, sparks flying, it was unnerving for sure…then smoke started to fill the whole car when we were not moving,”

Eric Fries, passenger

Fries said the train made no announcements while smoke filled the open-gangway cars, prompting a hurried evacuation at 21st Street. Riders on the platform described confusion and limited staff presence while crews worked to secure the scene.

“That platform is full, so I’m going to go home… I pay a lot of money to go to school, so thanks a lot MTA,”

Alexa Meliton, student

Meliton’s complaint reflects the immediate financial and educational disruption commuters felt; others reported missed court appearances and missed work. Transit employee accounts likewise pointed to operational strain.

“They said there’s no personnel. They’re trying to run full service with 50% personnel,”

Ann Barrett, MTA train operator (passenger account)

Barrett’s statement, reported by riders at Nostrand Avenue, led to questions about staff availability; the MTA did not provide a staffing figure in response to inquiries cited in the reporting.

Unconfirmed

• The exact nature of the object struck by the G train has not been publicly recovered or identified as of the latest reporting.
• Reported staffing levels (for example, the claim of operating with “50% personnel”) were described by riders but not corroborated with MTA workforce statistics in the published account.
• No formal MTA timeline for full restoration of C and G services was provided in the source article at the time of reporting.

Bottom line

The post-blizzard subway breakdown on Tuesday illustrates how weather, track hazards and staffing constraints can quickly produce systemwide effects even after an agency attempts to keep all lines running. A struck object that exposed wiring and produced smoke forced an evacuation, a suspension of G service in a key Brooklyn–Queens corridor, and temporary removal of C service, with knock-on overcrowding on the A line and long waits for many commuters.

Short-term remedies will require recovery crews to recover debris and verify track and train safety; medium-term responses should include clearer on-board and station communications during evacuations, reviews of open-gangway emergency protocols, and an assessment of post-storm staffing resilience. For riders and city officials, the episode is likely to renew scrutiny of the MTA’s storm contingency planning and real-time information systems.

Sources

• Gothamist — local news reporting that includes MTA spokesperson statements and passenger accounts