Limited subway service restored on W line after windows smashed on dozens of trains, MTA says
NEW YORK -- W line trains are running again, but on limited service between Astoria and the Whitehall Street Station.
It appears the MTA is wrapping up its repairs stemming from an act of vandalism police said happened on Tuesday morning, impacting dozens of train cars.
Yellow Line train customers were dealing with service disruptions since that commute. Earlier, CBS New York learned more about why: The MTA said 36 train cars had to be removed from service after their windows were smashed.
Watch Doug Williams' report
Photos showed the damage. MTA and NYPD officials said a total of 78 train car windows were smashed early Tuesday morning. The hardest hit line was the W, which was suspended Tuesday evening. All Yellow Line customers have been experiencing delays, as well as D and F train riders.
"I'm here today to be, frankly, outraged at what's happened over the last 24-36 hours. We've had someone or some group of individuals who have vandalized over 70 windows, impacting about 35-36 trains," New York City Transit Authority President Richard A. Davey said Wednesday morning. "To have, as I said, a group of individuals or an individual disrupt the commute of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and probably cost us tens of thousands, if not more, dollars to repair these windows is outrageous."
Officials said they could not definitively say where the vandalism took place, but they believe it happened on active subway cars, not in a yard. An investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.
"I mean, pissed off. Can I say pissed off? I mean, seriously," said Davey. "I have train crews sitting in that break room right now who don't have W trains to run."
Watch: MTA update on vandalism spree
Davey also issued a warning for the person or people responsible.
"I don't know of a place that has more cameras than a Las Vegas casino than we do. We will find you. We have your picture. I have no doubt," he said. "We will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."
"Breaking windows on trains, causing them to be put out of service, not only inconveniences our riders, but it's a crime and when caught you will be arrested and you are going to be facing felony charges," NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kempter said.
The MTA said the repairs will cost more than $500,000. Some commuting subway riders told CBS New York they had noticed the delays starting Tuesday morning.
"It took so long," Maya Malde said. "I was 45 minutes late to work today. A bunch of people were as well."
"Horrible. It's bad enough the service is usually slow, but ... " another rider said.
"Imagine being on that train and glass is coming and cutting you. I feel like that's a little out of control," a rider named Paris added.
So why did it take so long to make the repairs? MTA officials said some of the train cars vandalized were older cars, with windows that aren't made anymore. So they stole windows from cars not being used to replace the broken ones.
