NYers' Imaginations Go Wild Over MTA's 'Soiled Train' Update

NYers’ Imaginations Go Wild Over MTA’s ‘Soiled Train’ Update

New Yorkers’ curiosity was piqued by an unusual subway service update Monday.

The New York City Transit Subway Twitter account tweeted about 9:30 a.m. that northbound F and M trains were running express from W 4 St to 34 St “while we remove a soiled train from service at 14 St.”

The announcement had many New Yorkers wondering what had happened to the train, and just how bad the problem was. “A soiled train. The mind boggles,” Robin Wigglesworth tweeted.

New York photographer Matthew Narvin summarized many commuters sentiments, tweeting that he had been on some “really soiled” trains in the last eight years, and was very curious as to how bad it had to get before the MTA pulled a train from service.

NYCT gave no other clues in its tweet as to the nature of the soiled train. It tweeted that trains were running normally on the F and M lines again within 10 minutes. But commuters were still left wondering.

“I feel as if the train soiled itself and they’re using the passive voice to save the train from embarrassment, ” Laura Lippman said.

“I’ve been on subway cars with actual fecal matter on one of the seats. I’ve been on subway cars with pools of vomit across the floor. I cannot imagine how “soiled” this train has to be to be taken out of commission,” Alex Ullman tweeted. “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

This is the second time in two days the NYCT has announced service changes due to a “soiled car” needing to be removed from service. On Sunday, NYCT Subway cited this as the reason for delays on the F line. 

It did not respond to passengers asking for clarification on what a “soiled car” was. NBC 4 has contacted the MTA for clarification on Monday morning’s soiling.

Photo Credit: Getty Images
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