C Train Back Up. For Reals.

MTA, MTA. Your engineers must be magical, because the A and C train lines, damaged from the subway fire on January 20, earlier estimated to need 3-5 years and then 3-9 months to fix, are working again. No suprise, the local media is taking advantage of NYC Transit's wacky estimates, veiling their stories with surprise. NYCT President Lawrence Reuter credits the MTA engineers, working around the clock in 12-hour shifts, for getting service back to about 70-80% (full service will be expected in a few months). The engineers apparently rigged a temporary signal wiring system, one that Reuter claims is safe. This means that the V train will now travel its usual route, after a brief "moment in the sun."

The NY Times has new estimates on waiting times and train management:

During peak hours, the time between trains will be about 5 minutes on the A line, instead of the usual 3 to 5 minutes, and 10 minutes on the C line, instead of the usual 7 minutes. In sum, 18 trains - 12 on the A line and 6 on the C - will operate in the peak Manhattan-bound direction during rush hours, down from the usual 26.

Hmm. Gothamist would love to know what trains actually get there within their estimated times, because, as they say, a watched train never comes. That's why we did what others did: Bought heavy books to read - hello, Amazon!

So, thank you very much, MTA workers, for helping hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to get going as usual - we're all very relieved.