Subway Trains Running - With Restrictions

By Bryan Virasami | STAFF WRITER

September 13, 2001

Most subway trains in the city are expected to operate today, with some lines bypassing stops below 14th Street in Manhattan, the Transit Authority said yesterday.

Above ground, the streets south of 14th Street remained closed to non-emergency vehicles yesterday and trains avoided or bypassed stops near the World Trade Center sites, a plan expected to remain in effect today.

"It was lighter than usual," Transit Authority spokesman James Anyansi said about yesterday's train use.

Two major lines in Queens will have close to normal service through Manhattan. The F will have normal service, while the E will only run from Jamaica to West Fourth Street, Anyansi said.

Number 7 train riders can expect normal service. The G line will be normal while the J will terminate at Essex Street. The N line will run from Astoria Boulevard to 34th Street and between Court Street to Stillwell Avenue.

The service interruptions are not as severe considering the magnitude of Tuesday's tragedy, watchdog groups say.

After meeting his wife safely Tuesday afternoon, Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign said he boarded an F train in Manhattan after service was resumed and they were pleased with the smooth ride home.

A longtime critic of the system, Russianoff said the Transit Authority appears to be in control of the situation so far. "It's a miracle," he said. "It seems they coped with an incredibly difficult situation."

In Manhattan, the C train will remain suspended. The A line will run normal but bypass Broadway/Nassau and the Chambers Street stops.

The No. 1/9 line will only run from 242nd Street to 34th Street. The 2 line will run from 245th Street to 34th Street and from Flatbush Avenue to Atlantic Avenue. The No. 3 will have shuttle service from 148th Street to 135th Street, according to the Transit Authority.

All shuttles - the Sixth Avenue shuttle, Grand Central and Franklin Avenue shuttles - are expected to run smoothly today.

While school closings yesterday played a role in keeping ridership low, it's unclear how things will go today. Anyansi said he doesn't expect train service to be scaled back any further, and service may be added.

"At the very minimum we are hoping to have service where we can," Anyansi said.