Widespread Amtrak Power Outage Leaves Riders Stuck On Hot Trains Beneath Penn Station
June 19, 2019, 11:37 a.m.
Emergency officials are responding to packed, hot commuter trains currently stuck under the streets of Midtown, after Amtrak officials made the decision to shut off all power on the tracks between Philadelphia and Penn Station.
Emergency officials are responding to packed, hot commuter trains currently stuck under the streets of Midtown, after Amtrak officials made the decision to shut off all power on the tracks between Philadelphia and Penn Station.
A spokesperson for Amtrak said that a full hold was put into effect at around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, due to an unidentified issue between Trenton and Philadelphia. Since then, several people report being trapped on Amtrak and NJ Transit trains, and witnessing their fellow passengers experiencing medical issues—including fainting and panic attacks—in the heat and confusion. Others said they were told to avoid using the bathroom, and that they do not have access to food or water.
The @Amtrak conductor says entire track is down and not operational from NYC to Philadelphia, and *they have no idea when it will be fixed.* Also, cafe car closed, so no access to food+water. And the bathrooms are not working, so we are told to avoid using the bathroom.
— Nichole Dobo (@nicholedobo) June 19, 2019
I am stuck on a train in the tunnel inbound to ny penn thanks #njtransit in my car one person needed medical attention and a child just had a panic attack. 🖕 @njtransit
— Joey Pistone (@daguy666) June 19, 2019
No train service between Washington DC and New York Penn Station is exactly how I like to be greeted when going back to work after a week and a half off. This PATH train commute is going to be hellish..... pic.twitter.com/y1mcaoNzCN
— Lakia Holmes (@Lakia_Holmes) June 19, 2019
Power has since been turned on for some trains, though a few remain trapped under Penn Station, officials said. "The cause is under investigation, but at around 10:45 a.m. power has been restored in full, although the hold of the trains traveling east of Philadelphia is still in effect," the Amtrak spokesperson, Jason Abrams, added. "There are also three disabled trains in the South Tube that are currently being rescued."
A spokesperson for the FDNY confirmed that they were on scene at Penn Station after receiving reports of three disabled trains in the area.
Just some video from my train on stuck on the NEC alone between Newark and city. Been almost an hour so far. @NJTRANSIT @Amtrak getting really in hot in this car. NO AC #NJTransit pic.twitter.com/usuMgNtwwp
— Ron Berkowitz (@ronberk1) June 19, 2019
Maggie Andresen, a photojournalist who was stuck on one of the trains near Penn Station, tells Gothamist that people saw sparks flying out her window when power was lost shortly after 10 a.m.—just a few minutes out from Penn Station. She added that one passenger "was having trouble breathing from anxiety and low blood pressure [and] was helped by some fireman." That train has since been evacuated, but the status of the other two trains is currently unclear.
when your ny penn-bound transit train becomes a hoboken-bound train, you know it’s going to be a smooth day... no rail power in penn station, no amtrak power all the way to Richmond, VA, FYI 👍🏻
— Katie Smith (@KtSmith725) June 19, 2019
This is a developing story and we'll update as more information becomes available.
UPDATE 12:00: Power has been restored, and each of the stuck trains has returned to Penn Station, according to an FDNY spokesperson. One person was treated by EMS for difficulty breathing, but was not hospitalized.
Hundreds of other passengers were also stuck for a time on trains outside the Metro area. Ron Berkowitz told Gothamist he was traveling from Summit, NJ to Penn Station when "the train just came to a dead stop in between Newark and Penn Station.”
“The power went out—and that happens from time to time, but it comes back. This time it didn’t come back on.”
“It was just getting really hot," he added. "The issue is that it’s a packed, rush hour train, and it’s hot...Everyone was calm, considering.”
He said he blamed Amtrak for the chaos, noting that there's been "a wire issue that’s been going on forever. It’d be great if they could figure that out.” And he predicted a mess for the evening commute: “I’ll probably take an Uber home.”
With Jen Chung
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