Gothamist: Harlem = Building Collapse Prompts Metro-North Service Suspension Service = Restored to Grand Central, Expect Delays

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oh NO. Hopefully this cleans for the evening rush which is about to = start. I=20 need to get home!!</ [more]

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March 4, 2008

Above images from WNB= C 4,=20 below right image from WCBS 2; bottom left image from Peter Haskell/WCBS = 880

3D2008_03_bldgcol2.jpg=20 A=20 building collapse at 124th Street and Park Avenue has prompted the MTA = to shut=20 down all train service in and out of Grand Central Terminal. = Metro-North's=20 Dan Brucker told WCBS 880, "We don't know how long the closure will = last. We=20 have been told by the police not to have any trains run through the = 125th Street=20 station."

That's probably because the authorities are concerned that vibrations = from=20 the trains will affect the building. The building at 102 East 124th = Street=20 partially collapsed a little after=20 noon, and then later the entire building collapsed. The building = next to it,=20 100 East 124th, is in danger of collapsing and will=20 be demolished immediately. It's believed the buildings, which are = owned by=20 Kushner Companies, are vacant - no=20 injuries are reported.

All trains are being held at stations above 125th Street. About = 80-90,000=20 people using Metro-North during rush hour, which means that when (if) = service=20 resumes, there will be some crazy delays. Additionally, WABC 7 reports, = "some=20 equipment will be out of position because it is now stuck outside of = Grand=20 Central Terminal."

And it looks like the MTA website is currently ~~down~~ = back up:=20 "Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Line train service has been temporarily = suspended=20 into and out of Grand Central Terminal because of a building collapse in = the=20 vicinity of 124 Street and Park Avenue." And from the NYC Transit alert, = "Also,=20 due to a building collapse in the vicinity of 124th Street and Park = Avenue=20 affecting Metro-North Railroad Service in and out of Grand Central = Station, New=20 York City Transit is cross-honoring Metro-North Railroad ticket = holders=20 at the Marble Hill-225th Street Station, Wakefield-241st Street Station, = 233rd=20 Street Station and the Grand Central-42nd Street Station."

3D2008_03_mnmobscene.jpg=20 Expect a mob scene at Grand Central. In fact, we're getting = reports=20 that there are crowd control issues at Grand Central. And streets around = the=20 collapse have been closed, as the Buildings Department and emergency = services=20 are on location.

Update 4:45PM Some commenters h= ad good=20 suggestions for trying to get out of the city, but WCBS 880 reports = bussing=20 may be a dream: "Brucker says no way to bus people around there, = wouldn't make a=20 dent in that crowd. One bus holds 50 customer, while one train holds = 1,200=20 customers."

Update 5:07PM Service is restored to train service in and out = of Grand=20 Central, but expect extensive delays (estimates are 90 minutes, could be = more).

By Jen Chung in News |=20 Link = | C= omments=20 (17) | Recommend=20 this! (5) |

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Tags: building = collapse, Grand = Central=20 Station MTA, Harlem, Metro-North =

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Comments (17)

[1]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:29PM

My dad's frantically trying to find a way to get home that doesn't = involve=20 someone driving to Manhattan to pick him up.

[2]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:35PM

people who live in lower westchester can take the 2, 4, 5 or 6 into = the bronx=20 and catch bee line buses that go through lower westchester.

[3]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:40PM

Take the subway up to the Bronx and switch up there. (read above, = e.g. Marble=20 Hill where the Hudson crosses the 1 train @ 225th)

How do folks get by in life without knowing the backup routes.=20 Yeesh!

[4]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:42PM

why isn't the MTA cross-honoring the tickets for the Port Jervis = line?=20

[5]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:43PM

The two furthest tracks are operating. It'll be a headache, but = you'll get=20 home.

[6]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:44PM

Have a fun commute home!

[7]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:47PM

Oh man, this is gonna be ugly.
Sounds like my ride home on the 1 = train is=20 gonna be packed with Metro Northers...crap.

[8]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:49PM

Steven -- Port Jervis line goes through NJ into Penn Station -- = nowhere near=20 this!

[9]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:53PM

Trains to Port Jervis go out of Hoboken.
Where is the freaking = Second=20 Avenue Subway now Mr. MTA man?

[10]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:57PM

Port Jervis line will be good for people who use the Hudson Line. = Especially=20 stops from Peekskill to Beacon, since it's just over the Bear Mountain = or=20 Newburgh - Beacon Bridge.

Anyway this doesn't matter anymore. Service has been restored.

MTA Metro-North Railroad
ALERT

March 4, = 2008=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF= =BD=EF=BF=BD.4:45 PM

Service on the Harlem, Hudson, and New Haven lines has been = restored into=20 and out of Grand Central Terminal.

Customers should expect extensive delays (of up to 90 minutes) and = crowded=20 conditions on trains as we resume service. Please be sure to listen for=20 announcements in Grand Central Terminal and at outlying stations in the = event of=20 service changes.
We regret any inconvenience you may have = experienced as a=20 result of this incident.

[11]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:58PM

Another (expensive) alternative is Amtrak to Croton-on-Hudson or = Yonkers, or=20 to Stamford.

[12]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:59PM

going forward, here's an idea. how about demolish all the vacant = buildings=20 along the rail lines since the owners have been negligent for = decades?

i may be taking an amtrak home tomorrow. dammit!

[13]=20 | 03/04/08=20 04:59PM

Glad I refreshed; Steven beat me to the news. And also to the method = my dad=20 was going to use to get home.

[14]=20 | 03/04/08=20 05:02PM

MTA Metro-North Railroad
ALERT

March 4, 2008 4:45 PM

Service on the Harlem, Hudson, and New Haven lines has been restored = into and=20 out of Grand Central Terminal.

We regret any inconvenience you may have experienced as a result of = this=20 incident.

http://www.mta.info/alert= /alertmnr.htm

[15]=20 | 03/04/08=20 05:06PM

I thought this was Gothamist not Suburbanist?
Peekskill, = Poughkeepsie and=20 Newburgh????

[16]=20 | 03/04/08=20 05:50PM

There goes another building 'artists' won't be squatting = in.

[17]=20 | 03/04/08=20 05:52PM

Re: JacqueMehoff
There are a lot of people who reverse commute and = people=20 in the Bronx who actually use Metro-North.

=20