UNION SQUARE — A stalled L train at Union Square caused delays on Wednesday morning, with some trains dumping commuters off at First Avenue and forcing them to hike to Union Square.
Not a good morning- missed two trains, and then got kicked off the L train with about 800 other people #LTrain
— Shannon O'Halloran (@shano_ohalloran) July 27, 2016
The trouble began shortly before 8 a.m. when a train had mechanical problems at 14th Street-Union Square, causing Eighth Avenue-bound trains behind it to stall, according to the MTA.
#ServiceAlert: 8 Av bound L trains are running with delays, due to a train with mechanical problems at 14 St-Union Sq.
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) July 27, 2016
It was the second time in three days that a major hitch in the L train’s morning commute gave riders a taste of what life without the L train could look like.
On Monday, just hours after the news broke that the MTA has decided to fully shut down the L between Eighth Avenue and Bedford Avenue for 18 months in 2019, service halted completely for nearly an hour after reports of a suspicious package at First Avenue, according to an agency spokeswoman.
Riders, already bearing the weight of the MTA's announcement on Monday, were not pleased this week.
Can't catch a break this morning. L Train shut down at 1st Ave. Walked to Union Square. 4 train stopped at BK Bridge due to sick passenger.
— Simone Schroeder (@SimoneSchroeder) July 27, 2016
@MTA if you are taking the L train away it at the very least has to run properly for the next two years. #delays #delays #delays
— jacquie (@jacquieromano) July 27, 2016