Waiting at the 23rd Street/Ely Avenue station on the Manhattan-bound E/V platform in Queens this afternoon, I witnessed a prime example of the MTA's inability to deal with wet weather.
A live announcement came over the PA: "No Queens-bound E trains are in service. Please walk to the 7 train platform for Queens-bound service."
As the message repeated, clamorous school kids and the rest of the rather large mid-afternoon ridership had already begun to make their way toward the rain-slicked stairs for their unforeseen transfer.
My own train was delayed about 10 minutes, but when a Manhattan-bound V train finally did pull in, I stepped on.
-- Max Dickstein
Update: MTA spokesman Paul Fleuranges sets Tracker straight on what went wrong. The problems were mechanical, not water related. Tracker stands corrected.
Photo: April 2007 photo from 34th Street and Sixth Avenue via Lab2112's Flickr stream
