New York City's subway problems converge on evening commute, cause chaos

Thursday night's commute on New York City's subways was worse than rush hour — you could call it "commute-ageddon."

According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the trouble began when a power outage hit a group of subway lines, causing signals to go out. Then a fire in a manhole south of West 4th Street damaged more signal cables, which knocked out signals to subway cars, creating hours — yes, hours — of delays

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New York City's subway system uses a signal system that helps drivers operate the trains. Colored lights on the track — red, green, yellow — tell drivers when to go, when to stop and inform drivers when there is a train ahead of them on the same track. Read more...

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