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L Train is Back in Service

By Meredith Hoffman | November 8, 2012 4:27pm | Updated on November 8, 2012 6:26pm

WILLIAMSBURG — The L train is back, and getting lots of love.

Williamsburg and Bushwick dwellers rejoiced Thursday afternoon that they could once again hop to Manhattan with ease, after the L train was out of service for 11 days in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

"I almost had a heart attack, I was so happy," said Greenpoint resident Kayla Monetta, 21, of learning the train was back up and running.

"It's a crucial thing," she added, noting that her college classes and job are both in Manhattan. "I haven't been able to get anywhere, to do anything."

Williamsburg resident Teresa Eggers and her two friends waited at the Bedford Avenue station to "take the train to Manhattan just because we can," she said, and exclaimed that "we expected confetti" to announce the return of the popular subway line.

"We walked in 2 feet of snow yesterday," her friend Dave Zohrab remarked of the train's outage during Wednesday's nor'easter

And Greenpoint resident Sarah McLaughlin, 31, said she was "psyched" that her needed transportation to work was back in service.

"I was like 'yes!'" she said of realizing the L was working again. "I use the train every day."

The much-loved subway connecting Manhattan, Williamsburg, Bushwick and Rockaway Parkway started service again at 3 p.m., MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota tweeted Thursday afternoon. 

"Ladies and gentlemen: The L train is back," Lhota said on Twitter. "Enjoy your trip home."

Within 24 minutes, the announcement was retweeted 229 times.

The L train, which many Williamsburg and Bushwick residents depend on for their commutes, was closed for nearly two weeks, since the approach of Hurricane Sandy.

Its closure frustrated straphangers and sparked a petition for a replacement bus shuttle that garnered more than 3,000 signatures this week — and the popular train's return instantly inspired thrilled exclamations on Twitter and Facebook.

"THE WAR IS OVER! THE L TRAIN IS BACK" Brooklyn resident Jose Gerardi tweeted. 

"WOOOO gonna be a good weekend," @Shharla posted.