R subway service is restored to Whitehall Street

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that as of 6 a.m. Monday, December 3rd, R train service is extended to Whitehall Street -- operating south of 34th Street for the first time since Hurricane Sandy left millions of gallons of corrosive salt water in several subway stations and under river tunnels.

In order to bring the Whitehall Street R station back on line, transit workers accomplished the formidable task of repairing and replacing track, third rail, communications systems, pumping equipment, electrical feeds and controls. This allowed MTA New York City Transit to extend R train (Broadway line) service from 34th Street to Whitehall Street in Lower Manhattan, easing the burden on the Lexington Avenue Line.

"Transit workers continue to work around the clock to bring the Montague Tube back online, which will complete the R line link from Lower Manhattan to Downtown Brooklyn," said MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph Lhota.

Customers should be aware that only one escalator at Whitehall station is in operation. The escalator at the north end of the station (Stone Street entrance) had previously been removed from service for replacement and remains out. The two escalators at the southern end sustained extensive damage in the wake of the storm but one has been restored to service. Customers who have difficulty climbing stairs are urged to consider using the Rector Street R station instead.

Much work remains in order to restore the Montague Tube, which carries R trains between Lower Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn. Workers are repairing and replacing hundreds of signal relays, track switches, stop motors, and electrical wiring. Service to Brooklyn is expected to return by late December.

Number 1 train service remains suspended south of Rector Street in Lower Manhattan; and J/Z service remains suspended south of Chambers Street.

Read more at www.mta.info by clicking here.

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