Electrical problem snags travel out of Penn Station on travel's busiest night

@ashleymarand via nbcnewyork.com

Crowds at Penn Station after the Long Island Rail Road suspended service because of an electrical problem.

Updated at 11 p.m. ET: Service out of New York's Penn Station is returning back to normal after a commercial power outage resulted in suspension of all train service in and out of the station on Wednesday night, the busiest travel night of the year.

At issue was a power outage caused by Con Ed work, the New York Post reported. The outage turned off the switches around 5:30 p.m., during the crush of rush hour. All service was suspended temporarily -- resulting packed crowds at Penn Station on the busiest travel night of the year. 

For a while, passengers were not allowed into the station, due to overcrowding, but the crowds had mellowed by 9 p.m. ET and the station reopened.

The Long Island Rail Road resumed its service close to its modified service, the MTA said on its website, although delays and cancellations were expected.

 


The initial fury and frustration was felt immediately on social media.

"Oh my!!! #lirr NJT and Penn station SHUT DOWN on the busiest travel night of the year. Enough is enough for us!," said Leslie on Twitter.

Mother Nature (mostly) cooperates during travel rush

"I've tried to be understanding because of Sandy, but "Switching problems" at Penn Station the night before Thanksgiving?!?! #njt #lirr," tweeted Rob Celletti.

There was also some humor.

"Good thing New Yorkers and New Jerseyans are a famously calm people who always handle unexpected delays with tact. #njt #lirr," wrote Chris Heller on Twitter.

More on Twitter from NBCNewYork.com

From poor weather conditions in the Midwest to a worker protest at LAX, travel slowdowns and higher rental car costs have made Thanksgiving travel anything but smooth sailing. NBC's Ron Mott reports.

Discuss this post

Jump to discussion page: 1 2

. . . and THAT, ladies and gentlemen is why I don't live in a big city.

  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:11 PM EST

If you lived in "a big city", you wouldn't need to take the LIRR (well, unless you worked somewhere else, I guess).

  • 3 votes
#1.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:14 PM EST

Unreal. This is like the first Monday after Hurricane Sandy all over again. Utter chaos and anger from every single person. NJT and MTA need to get it together...fast.

  • 1 vote
#1.2 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:22 PM EST

SEIU union had LAX shutdown today or at least delayed. It was a good preview of Greece coming to CA which won't take long !

  • 1 vote
#1.4 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:54 PM EST

. . . and THAT, ladies and gentlemen is why I don't live in a big city.

It's actually funny that you mention that, I was just thinking that that was an awful lot of cattle in one place.

    #1.5 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:15 PM EST

    I wonder how many of these people will miss out on a Black Friday sale because of this?

      #1.6 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:24 PM EST

      Hopefully they'll start rioting, raping and looting soon. TV is a bit boring tonight.

        #1.7 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:43 PM EST

        With 7Billion, 7,000,000,000, of US, Too Many People on Planet Earth Ya'Think????????????

        • 3 votes
        #1.8 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:46 PM EST

        @PhantomBeast

        How many kids do you have?

        • 4 votes
        #1.9 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:46 PM EST

        Nothing new about this for New York City..the average day is break downs and mass crowds every where...what else is new?

        • 1 vote
        #1.10 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 1:41 AM EST

        phantom,you could always make it one less.

          #1.11 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:29 AM EST

          It makes me feel a little bit better to know I wasn't the only one affected. The customer relations people at Amtrak were very calm, but they never mentioned the cause of the snafu. My apologies to anyone I swore at last night.

          HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

            #1.12 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:47 AM EST

            If you think Eric`s story is impressive,, 4 weeks ago my mum's best friend basically also brought home $6801 workin fifteen hours a week from their apartment and there co-worker's half-sister`s neighbour has been doing this for three months and actually earnt over $6801 part time On there laptop. use the instructions from this web-site..Mel7.com

            • 1 vote
            #1.13 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:22 PM EST
            Reply

            The LIRR... just one more reason I will never live on Lon Giland.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#2 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:13 PM EST

            Sign of the apocalypse.

            • 2 votes
            Reply#3 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:16 PM EST

            And armageddon tired of it.

            • 2 votes
            #3.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:51 PM EST

            Oh, groan.

            • 1 vote
            #3.2 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:58 AM EST

            12-21-2012..be here soon!

            Where will you be that day?

              #3.3 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 1:43 AM EST

              The apocalypse? Nah... the train was only 3 hours late. It's much worse elsewhere:

              A traffic jam stretching more than 60 miles in China has entered its ninth day with no end in sight, state media reported.

              http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38812252/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/worst-traffic-jam-ever-gridlock-spans-miles/

              We have a lot to be thankful for in the U.S.A. And don't you forget it!

                #3.4 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:53 AM EST
                Reply

                glad that i left there more than 1 year ago. no longer worry about weather and train there anymore...

                • 1 vote
                Reply#4 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:17 PM EST

                Meh...it's just NY....thank god I live in Chicago!

                • 1 vote
                Reply#5 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:17 PM EST

                Normal day in D.C.!

                  #5.1 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:33 AM EST
                  Reply

                  Can of sardines!

                  • 4 votes
                  Reply#6 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:18 PM EST

                  new yorkers--a special breed of people-----they can endure power outages-freak storms---traffic jams -outrageous rent-rat infestations---crowded everything---AND THE NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN WORLD TRADE CENTER TRAGEDY--and they bounce right back for more. gotta love new yorkers! happy thanksgiving to the big appleians----!! this is just a minor glitsch for new yorkers.

                  • 6 votes
                  Reply#7 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:21 PM EST

                  granny22

                  Right you are. We are the best around. I have lived in the city for 30 years and could never move. Can rent in Florida for the winter months but I'll be back here once it's spring. Everywhere else is just fluff. Hard core people live in New York.

                  • 5 votes
                  #7.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:36 PM EST

                  Thanks, Granny!

                  • 2 votes
                  #7.2 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:34 PM EST

                  hal-2824511-----you're welcome-----love new york===have never been there---just love the ''new york state of mind.''

                  • 1 vote
                  #7.3 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 6:55 PM EST
                  Reply
                  amy hensonDeleted

                  The Photo is the reason why I don't work in the City...

                  • 2 votes
                  Reply#9 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:41 PM EST

                  UH OH, the rats can't leave the ship.

                  • 4 votes
                  Reply#10 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:41 PM EST

                  Serves you f'ers right! For living in that butt hole of a place. That whole tri-state area is completely unbalanced. Super expensive. Tax the living s**t out everyone. Great place to live! Commute your ass off everyday of your life. Forget about retiring because they will tax your ass until you die. Sorry - suckers! I escaped!

                  • 4 votes
                  Reply#11 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:52 PM EST

                  you escaped -- sounds like you could not make it -- good riddance

                  • 1 vote
                  #11.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:03 PM EST
                  Reply

                  Ouch , big city living everyone gets so dependent on things working then when they don't look out .

                  • 2 votes
                  Reply#13 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:55 PM EST

                  Ahhhhhh city life!

                  Ain't it sooooooo grand?

                  *siiiighhhhhhhh*

                  After seeing that picture, I think I will step outide on my spacious front porch and stretch out my limbs in some of my 29 acres of forested mountain land!!!

                  Enjoy being smarter than me, in your city!

                  • 2 votes
                  Reply#14 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:06 PM EST

                  OK. And while we're at it, we'll also enjoy being more polite and thoughtful. Thanks.

                  • 4 votes
                  #14.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:15 PM EST

                  New Yorkers? Polite and thoughtful?!

                  AAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHahahahaahhahahahahahaa lolololololololololol..............*

                  GOOD one! Tell me another!!

                    #14.2 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:49 PM EST

                    It is very thoughtful and polite to mock people caught trying to get to their families for thanksgiving.

                    I'm sure many of them are from places like where you live.

                    Not sure why that should make you care more about them, but not being from a small town, I have't learned to think of people in different circumstances than me as a problem.

                    • 4 votes
                    #14.3 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:04 PM EST

                    I'm just thankful I don't live in the city and avoid them like the bubonic plague.....

                    Cities are full of "thoughtful and caring" individuals kinda like that guy that beat the ever loving hell out of that poor electrical utility volunteer that came all the way from Florida just to help get their power back on.

                      #14.4 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:24 PM EST

                      Didn't the unibomber live in a forest?

                      • 1 vote
                      #14.5 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:37 PM EST

                      Where did the Son of Sam killer live?

                      Arn't they searching for a new serial killer that's targetting foreign shop owners right now.

                      We can play this game all day long lol!

                      Man! I LOVE this fresh air! Deeeeeeeeeep inhale! Yup, screw city life!

                        #14.6 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:39 PM EST
                        Reply

                        Hang in there people! This too will pass,try do something to make the time pass. kansas

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#15 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:19 PM EST

                        At least your not one the people that have taken soo many losses on the east coast from storms!

                          Reply#16 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:21 PM EST

                          yea but its worth it! - its such a great place to live. When you want to get to the 'shore', when its hot it takes you 3hrs on the parkway. Paying 4 bucks in tolls, and about $20 to park your damn car, then $5 to get your ass on the beach. Then you have to lay there with a bunch of fat ass slobs. Sorry, I'll take the left coast!

                          • 1 vote
                          #16.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:27 PM EST
                          Reply

                          New Yorkers, especially its city residents, are shrewd, cunning and good at survival. They are like insects that know how to manage any gutter. They know how to take money, keep it, make more and do whatever they can to keep "their" system going. Theyalso have plenty of brain washed immigrants who parrot, "New York, New York.." like drug addicts after crack, and get glued to the neon lights on Time Square. It is intoxicating. We must only worry if that these self serving excellent survivalists are going to move to Conneticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, California in large numbers...and take over. Give them plenty of food, water, energy and keep them there. And entertain them with Broadway, and lots of stories about what is going in the Middle East...that'll keep them happy. I have never been a taker, and I don't how to manage people who are. But they are takers, and even now they get more than New Jersians though NJ got hit more. It is time for the financial capital of the US to shift. How about Chicago, Dallas, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego...? And I bet you a whole lot of Rahm Emmanuels will move with it. :)) My joke man. I like the guy and supported him. No hard feelings dude. Am I scared or what? :))

                            Reply#17 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:41 PM EST

                            This was the dumbest most incoherent babble I've ever read.

                            Sincerely,

                            New Jersey

                            • 3 votes
                            #17.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:04 PM EST

                            Dr. MS

                            Please go back on your meds.

                            NY and NJ pay more to the federal government than they get back.

                            That is how we support our country.

                            If on occasion the they need assistance from the federal government, so be it, that is what they are there for.

                            • 2 votes
                            #17.2 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:28 PM EST
                            Reply

                            I lived in New York for 12 years during the 90's... this kind of thing happened all the time. I loved it.. it was cool to go through such hardship and be a New Yorker... then my 30's hit and it wasn't that cool to spend my life sitting in a busted train or train station with a bunch of a-holes just like me. Thank god we didn't have texting and tweeting back then to complain about our situations! Don't give up NYC'ers we need your tax revenue!

                            • 1 vote
                            Reply#18 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:03 PM EST

                            So Glad I don't live in New York City!They can't even tie their shoe laces without help!The Hell Hole Capital of the US.

                            • 1 vote
                            Reply#19 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:04 PM EST

                            Most of the people affected don't live in NYC.

                            That is why they are at the train station, to go home.

                            I know this will disappoint you, but the problem has been fixed.

                            • 5 votes
                            #19.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:31 PM EST

                            SomewhereintheUSA! speak for yourself and your own home. We're glad you don't live here too.

                            • 1 vote
                            #19.2 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:39 PM EST

                            So Glad I don't live in New York City!

                            You SHOULD be. It's a crime to have sex with livestock there. You're safer where you are.

                            • 1 vote
                            #19.3 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:32 PM EST

                            The problems been fixed?That's nice! I love busting people's chops!

                            I like New York City!

                            At least I did until Bloombugger infested it!He casts a black shadow over it! Once he drops dead I'll like it again!

                            Now lighten up kiddies!

                              #19.4 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:47 PM EST
                              Reply

                              The NY commuters can use this as practice for the soon coming day that Israel takes out the nuke sites in Iran, Iran retaliates by bombing the oil fields in Saudi Arabia, oil shoots to $400 per barrel and the dollar collapses.

                              Nah, never mind.... they're waiting in line thinking about how awesome Obama is and wondering who will win "Dancing with the Stars".

                              FORWARD!!!

                              youtube dot com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wJdgudIUHzs

                                Reply#20 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:04 PM EST

                                If gas becomes too expensive to afford, we will get on the train like we always do.

                                Why would Iran bomb Saudi Arabia?

                                Remember that your candidate couldn't beat Obama.

                                If you think that fantasizing publicly about disaster befalling the US as a result of reelecting Obama will help the Republicans win office in the future, guess again.

                                The problems facing our country and world can't even be addressed if we don't stop with election spin, and start figuring out what we can agree on to move "forward" as ONE country.

                                • 3 votes
                                #20.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:42 PM EST
                                Reply

                                As long as they have a charge for their I-Phones they won't panic. That gadget is a great pacifier.

                                  Reply#21 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:55 PM EST

                                  They've had switching and signal problems before. It was just their bad luck that this time it happened on the night before Thanksgiving!

                                    Reply#22 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:09 PM EST

                                    ConEd (along with other power companies) is still patching things together from the storm - cannot imagine that this work was planned for today. It must have been something urgent and unavoidable. The power system will be fragile for awhile. Expect more volatility and reliability problems in the next few months - electrical equipment gets cranky after a thorough dousing in saltwater.

                                      #22.1 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:31 PM EST
                                      Reply

                                      As Dennis Leary said "We NY'ers wear that fact like a badge of honor" and he is completely right!

                                        Reply#23 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:42 PM EST

                                        Seems mighty strange to me that there is no problems until the one time they really need to be on time. I do realize things happen and you never know when, still this is mighty strange.

                                          Reply#24 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 10:45 PM EST

                                          Must be Bush's fault

                                          • 1 vote
                                          Reply#25 - Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:28 PM EST

                                          I'm not sure I understand why everyone hates on everyone else. We aren't all alike. Some people like the city and some don't. It doesn't make either one superior. It just makes them different. Personally, I am not fond of crowds, hate shopping, love being outdoors. But I don't think everyone has to feel the same way. In fact, if everyone did feel the same way, I would probably have trouble finding all that open space and empty land.

                                          So why don't all of you get over yourselves and admit that it's okay to be different. Practice a little tolerance. Maybe the long campaign has left you with too much residual anger. Lighten up. Have a drink. Take a hike. Go to a show. Smile at your neighbor. Read a good book. Let go of anger and judgment for one night. You'll feel better in the morning.

                                            Reply#26 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 2:43 AM EST

                                            NYC train service disrupted

                                            Sounds like the union is right on top of things as usual.

                                              Reply#27 - Thu Nov 22, 2012 4:06 AM EST
                                              Jump to discussion page: 1 2
                                              You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
                                              As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.