2 1/2 Hours In the NYC Train Tunnel
Thursday, September 22nd, approximately 9AM.
In the middle of the inbound New Jersey to New York train tube – the train stops, the air conditioning stops, and the lights reduce (just a little).
Ten years in NYC. I have been here through 9/11, and the blackout. One thing that I have seen, as most NYer’s have, is that the majority of our population wants to be reasonable, calm, and civilized. Even when things start to seem a little more serious than a ‘typical delay’ and there are lots and lots of people surrounding you. You realize, if things get a little more than uncomfortable, there is always the chance for the occasional ‘crazy’ to come out.
This morning, my typical 28 minute commute took three hours. For 2 1/2 hours I was sitting on the inbound NJ Transit train, sweating it out with some fellow commuters in the tunnel under the Hudson. Rest assured, everyone was calm and collected – even with a few, completely understandable, individuals that were fighting off claustrophobia and the tendency for their asthma to worsen. (Jennifer, my seat mate, was a trooper!) Throughout the two hours, I was reminded just how true it is that most people are simply trying to collectively ‘get through’ anything like this without making comments or remarks that foster the negative, and consequentially panic-oriented, mentality.
Periodically, the NJ Transit announcements came over the train communicating that they were looking for the issue and there were several trains stuck in the tunnel, without power.
I want to take this opportunity to applaud Sprint (Ya baby!), the wireless provider, because I happen to have a different cell carrier which did not work in the tunnel (and doesn’t work many other places either!!). My fellow passenger, with Sprint service, was able to let me borrow her cell phone to reach out and update my meetings, etc because of the delay. Sprint, let me know if you need a spokesperson…*I’m your guy!
*Shameless plug from former actor (JasonAlanCaine.com). 
At one point, the conductors opened the train doors to let fresh air in since we had no air circulation. The conductor also took a look outside of the train to see in front and behind our train – indicating to the rest of us that there were trains on both sides. A little later, another conductor announced that we were to be ‘rescued’ after those two trains were pulled out by a diesel engine, which would then couple with our train and pull us out. The word ‘rescue’ actually generated some laughter – I think the conductors intentions were right, but evidently, even after two hours on the train, passengers had never even felt the need to call it a ‘rescue.’ What does that say about how well everyone can manage a circumstance like this? A lot of good things.
Even when the diesel smoke filled our car with a light haze, and that highly desirable diesel smell, everyone was calm and collected. In fact, I heard several people asking around to make sure that if someone needed an inhaler, that it was close by. (Later, after we arrived in the station, someone was being treated for a medical issue as you can barely tell in my blurry photo).
The NJ transit police arrived about an hour and a half into the wait. They had walked 20 minutes into the tunnel (one of them kind of looked like he just slid down a chimney) you could tell everyone was slightly relieved – just because it meant progress was being made.
When we finally got pulled into Penn station, there were a few reporters trying to chat with some passengers about the experience. I figured ‘hey’ – why not? In fact, this kind of thing could always produce a news story from someone willing to feed into the ‘it was horrible and people were very stressed, etc.’ So just to set the record straight, I talked to a few of them to share my experience.
To summarize my experience:
A. Sprint works in the tunnel. Yay Sprint.
B. Some people make borderline silly comments about the situation, and there could always be the bonehead that takes it too far – but MOST people are calm, and helpful. Yay most people.
C. You can’t have enough business cards for an event like this. (kidding)
Anyway, that’s my opinion – and if someone else on the train had a different experience, it’s entirely possible and likely, but I just wanted to send a thank you to the people that were reasonable on our train, as well as the police and conductors who made sure to walk through the cars and share updates when appropriate. Oh and thank you, Sprint.
[Insert Sprint commercial here.] haha
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My name is Makenzie but my family & friends call me Makie for short (and I like it). I'm a songstress, actor, artist, designer, cowgirl and thrift-store fashionista. Just a small town, country girl from MN with a big city dream in NYC. I love BIG & BELIEVE!
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I don’t know if I would have been that calm. Every time I go under the Hudson I have thought about being stuck there. Yikes! I remember the black out and was so glad that I was in a building (only four stories up) and not in the subway or on a train…or on the 40th floor somewhere. Glad you are okay and that everyone remained calm.
Great story. Hope that sprint commercial is waiting in the wings for you:)
Jason,
I was also on the train, and also had my Sprint connected (agreed!)smart phone to connect with coworkers and pass the time. However, the diesel fumes, the silence (and heightend awareness of everyone around you), the heat, and the long time made our car more stressed than yours. The way to prevent hyperventilating or panicking in some cases was talking to our neighbors to distract ourselves- something which I usally never do on the train, but was the pleasant side of things. I will also echo your “thanks” to the staff getting us out of there.
However, after getting to work 3 hours late, trying to concentrate, and get back to normal breathing… there’s been a lasting effect on my system today. And we still have the commute home!
Jason I was on your train too! Next time —knock on wood— I’m stuck I guess I better walk around more so I can have fun people to hang out with! Our car was quite pleasant, as could be considering the circumstances I guess. Also I hear that Verizon worked in the tunnel too. I however have ATT (not by choice!) and had to borrow a phone. Really drives all those commercials home for ya doesn’t it?
I hope your commute home is easier Starla! I couldn’t agree more that talking to some of those with more anxiety helped them. Glad to know many people did the same – I’d want someone to do it for anyone I care about, who’d find themselves in the same sitaution. Pass on the good vibes, paying it forward
Hi Jessi, AT&T didn’t work for me either! And it does drive it home. And I’m glad Verizon worked because it’s time for a little irony…I did this sub-par promo spot several years ago – glad it wasn’t for AT&T!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WSiIz5g9J4&feature=youtube_gdata_player