Authorities say a network communications issue led to a full suspension of service on several subway lines Friday evening.
The MTA says service on the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 lines, and on the Times Square Shuttle, was suspended in both directions because of a failure in the agency's computer system that powers signals on those lines. The suspension lasted about an hour and a half.
Crews had to manually move the trains to get them into the stations.
"We do not yet know what the root cause of this failure was, and certainly, that wasn't my priority. That investigation is now underway. My priority was to make sure that we ascertain where people were, where all of our trains were, that we made sure that people were safe," said New York City Transit President Andy Byford.
Several commuters, including Assemblyman Michael Blake, took to Twitter to say they were stuck on trains while service was suspended.
Riders were encouraged to use the lettered subway lines or buses throughout the evening.