Power outage disrupts entire NY subway system on anniversary of 1997 two-day blackout

New Yorkers trying to ride the subway experienced long delays, as the system’s central control faltered due to a power outage. The mishap comes on the anniversary of the notorious 1977 blackout. The problem was first reported around 1:30 p.m. local time (17:30 GMT), with the Metro Transit Authority (MTA) warning passengers of “extensive” delays and long wait times.

The MTA’s Rail Control Center in Manhattan lost power for unspecified reasons, and had to activate a backup system, the Gothamist reported. As a result, trains throughout the subway network had to be dispatched locally, instead of remotely, resulting in cascading delays. FULL REPORT