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Seltzer bottle on F train tracks triggered widespread delays, MTA says

The MTA says this seltzer bottle helped trigger widespread subway delays on Wednesday morning.
The MTA says this seltzer bottle helped trigger widespread subway delays on Wednesday morning. Photo Credit: Vincent Barone

It doesn’t take much to ruin a subway commute.

A seltzer bottle found on the tracks of the F line helped to cripple service during the Wednesday morning rush hour, according to the MTA.

The bottle, which rolled under a signal stop arm near the York Street station, caused an F train’s emergency brakes to be activated a little before 8 a.m. The stalled train, along with another switch problem, led to a full closure of northbound F service between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Those issues triggered a maddening array of service changes and contributed to extensive delays on not only the F but the A, C and G lines, as well.  

Trains were snarled with delays for more than an hour and a half, affecting the commutes of thousands of riders, the MTA said.

“We’re often asked, ‘what activated the brakes?’ Today’s answer? This seltzer bottle…” the MTA’s subway account tweeted Wednesday afternoon.