Monday, November 30, 2009

AirTrain loses doors

From the NY Post:

A JFK shuttle train that had just undergone preventive maintenance lost two doors just before picking up its first passengers [Friday], sources said.

As the AirTrain pulled into the Lefferts Boulevard stop at 3:30 a.m., the two doors swung off their hinges. One careened onto the tracks and the other jammed into the platform.

"This is very troubling," said an airport source. "[Had] it happened when the train was crowded, people would have fallen out -- and they'd now be dead."

No one was aboard the computerized two-car shuttle -- which carries no conductor or motorman.

One of the broken doors, affixed to the outside of the cars, became "embedded into the concrete platform like a knife into a birthday cake," said a source.

An alarm sounded, but the train -- minus the two doors -- barreled on to the Howard Beach station, sources said.

Once there, it was taken out of service -- but staff didn't notify Port Authority officials until 6 a.m., sources said.

The potential tragedy -- and what caused it -- was under investigation last night, prompting one source to say, "They're reviewing it to see why it occurred, but all indications are that there was a problem in the maintenance yard."

10 comments:

faster340 said...

"No one was aboard the computerized two-car shuttle -- which carries no conductor or motorman."

"An alarm sounded, but the train -- minus the two doors -- barreled on to the Howard Beach station, sources said."

This is what happens when life is left up to machines!!!

Hell this is what happens when life is left up to humans too.

Anonymous said...

Maspeth Mom says...

Dont forget the people that run these trains are assholes. Remember when they put 160,000 lbs of cinder blocks in the train to simulate people on its maiden voyage, when the train stopped all the bricks toppled over and killed the train operator. He was a young kid who thought he had hit the jackpot by driving the maiden voyage.

Anonymous said...

I used to work for one of the contractors on this project and they were wild as hell.

I was always getting it in the neck when I insisted that fire hazards be eliminated, exposed wiring be covered and carpets secured.

We had one manager break a leg because he insisted on rushing about on a surface that had not been properly prepared.

Drunkenness was endemic, including when company vehicles were in use. Company events where liquor flowed were routinely held in areas reachable only by car.

I was so relieved when I was fired and went to work in a more professional environment.

Anonymous said...

Door prize or booby prize?

Anonymous said...

Love the automated Aitrain. Would love it more if all the trains were like that.

I'd sooner put my trust into HAL than some crack-head welfare queen that you seen scurrying about in the subway system

Anonymous said...

Someone who shows up for wages every day and works regardless of the time of night, weather, minor illness etc. is not a "welfare queen" or king by definition.

In the meantime, let the robot save your racist ass if something goes wrong such as a terrorism incident, fire, or act of God.

Anonymous said...

Two MTA were killed on a trial run of the air train, set back the opening date about six months.

Anonymous said...

Things like this make me feel much safer driving underneath the train on the Van Wyck. Prior to opening, one train derailed on a curve on the airport grounds sending concrete showering down. One day, it just might be over the expressway.

Anonymous said...

Made in France what did they expect? This reminds me of the Concords that would drop "spare parts" all over Rockaway Blvd.
Drivers would duck every time they saw it coming in

Anonymous said...

im surprised this got out ... people actually ride the airtrain ?!