UR TRAIN IS L8, K?

The MTA has [announced plans to hire a firm] to implement a system of text and email messages to alert commuters of delays, the New York Post reports.  The need became clear, MTA CEO Elliot Sander said, after August 8's subway flooding and subsequent mass shutdown of train service.  As envisioned, the service will provide up-to-the-minute updates and be a boon to travelers.

The new plan would be useful in situations such as this morning's Uptown 6 train delay at 28th street, when a "police investigation" kept the doors closed and the train halted from approximately 10 to 10:20 am.  We figure the perp must have been pretty fat, because the cops didn't bother to actually check inside the cars.  That would have allowed all of the commuters to get out.  Rather, they slowly shambled in front of each car, peering between gaps in the windows where any reasonably sized person could safely hide or remain unrecognized.  Passengers wished aloud they had just gotten off at 23rd instead of being lazy every single day. 

The new notification system should be in place by next spring.

Photo courtesy of [Barriem5 on Flickr]