Power was fully restored at Grand Central Terminal in New York City on Thursday night after a voltage drop caused a partial blackout. The disruption briefly affected parts of the station, including elevators, but did not impact train services.
The incident, which began around 8:28 p.m., led to multiple Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employees becoming temporarily trapped in elevators. Emergency responders quickly arrived to ensure their safe evacuation.
Key Takeaways
- Grand Central Terminal experienced a partial power outage Thursday night.
- The outage started at 8:28 p.m. and power was fully restored by 9:17 p.m.
- Five MTA employees were briefly trapped in elevators but were safely evacuated.
- Train services, including Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road, continued without interruption.
- Authorities are investigating the cause of the voltage drop with Con Edison.
Details of the Power Disruption
The power failure began with a voltage drop at approximately 8:28 p.m. on Thursday. This caused lights to go out in several sections of Grand Central Terminal. The outage plunged parts of the busy transportation hub into darkness.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority confirmed that the upper level of the terminal had power restored by 8:53 p.m. The lower level saw full power return by 9:17 p.m., approximately 49 minutes after the initial disruption. The quick restoration effort minimized the impact on the station's operations.
Outage Timeline
- 8:28 p.m.: Power outage begins at Grand Central Terminal.
- 8:53 p.m.: Power restored to the terminal's upper level.
- 9:17 p.m.: Power fully restored to the lower level.
- 9:28 p.m.: All trapped individuals safely evacuated from elevators.
No Impact on Train Services
Despite the partial blackout within the terminal building, train services remained unaffected. Both Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) continued to operate on their regular schedules. Operations at Grand Central Madison also proceeded without any interruptions.
"No train service was interrupted and operations at Grand Central Madison were unaffected throughout," said Tim Minton, an MTA spokesman. "No injuries were reported."
This ensures that commuters experienced no delays related to the power incident. The robust nature of the train operating systems allowed for continued service even with the power issues inside the station's main areas.
Employee Safety and Emergency Response
During the outage, five Metro-North Railroad employees were briefly trapped inside elevators. Emergency generators were activated to help manage the situation. Firefighters from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and personnel from NYC Emergency Management responded quickly to assist.
These emergency crews worked to safely evacuate all individuals from the affected elevators. By 9:28 p.m., officials confirmed that all occupants had been removed without injury. The prompt response highlighted the coordination between various city agencies.
Grand Central Terminal Overview
Grand Central Terminal is a major transportation hub located at East 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It serves as the southern terminus of the Metro-North Railroad and provides connections to the New York City Subway. The terminal is also a significant architectural landmark and tourist attraction, handling hundreds of thousands of commuters and visitors daily.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are now working with Con Edison, the utility provider, to investigate the exact cause of the voltage drop. Understanding the root cause is critical to prevent similar incidents in the future. The investigation will examine the electrical infrastructure and any potential external factors that may have contributed to the outage.
The focus of the inquiry is to ensure the continued reliability of power supply to such a vital transportation facility. This proactive approach helps maintain public safety and operational efficiency for millions of travelers.
Broader Transit Network Unaffected
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority confirmed that the broader New York City transit network remained fully functional. Subway services, along with Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road operations, continued normally across the city. This indicates the localized nature of the power issue within Grand Central Terminal itself.
- The incident did not impact the subway system.
- Metro-North trains ran on schedule.
- Long Island Rail Road services were uninterrupted.
The quick resolution of the power outage at Grand Central Terminal underscores the importance of resilient infrastructure and effective emergency response protocols in major urban centers. The joint investigation with Con Edison aims to strengthen these systems further.
