NEW YORK — A commuter train shook on the tracks and then derailed in a tunnel under the East River shortly after leaving Penn Station on Monday night, forcing the hundreds of passengers on it to be removed and delaying the trip home for many others. No injuries were reported.
The 5:51 p.m. Long Island Rail Road train to Hempstead, Long Island, carrying up to about 1,000 people, had been traveling slowly as it entered one of four East River tunnels, Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said. The derailment took place around 6:10 p.m., and it was unclear what caused it.
Passenger Tameka Chandler, of Queens, said she was in the eighth of 10 cars. She said when the train got into the tunnel, it started to shake and rock and she could see the car ahead of hers tilted to one side before it derailed.
"It was sideways," she said.
The passengers remained calm, Chandler said.
"People were looking around, but it wasn't chaotic," she said.
Train employees and emergency personnel showed up soon after and helped them get off the train.
Passengers in the rear five cars walked through the train and got out, while another train was brought alongside for passengers in the front five cars to disembark, Anders said. By 8:15 p.m., all passengers had been taken off, she said.
