Subway service was temporarily disrupted in Coney Island on Wednesday when an F train derailed near the W. Eighth St.-NY Aquarium station in Brooklyn. The incident occurred just before 12:30 p.m. as the train approached the Neptune Ave. station. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries among the 34 passengers and three crew members on board, including a train operator in training.

Richard Davey, the NYC Transit President, stated that crews were investigating the cause of the derailment. Davey suggested that a potential track issue may have been responsible for the incident. Unlike the previous derailment on the No. 1 line, the F trains involved are equipped with event data recorders, which should assist in determining the cause.

In response to the incident, F train service was halted in both directions between Coney Island-Stillwell Ave. and Kings Highway stations. Crews eagerly awaited the arrival of a crane to restore the train to its correct position. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) sought to provide alternate transportation options by implementing shuttle bus services for affected commuters.

Passenger accounts described the moment of the derailment, with Elisa Gales, a retired nurse, stating that the train suddenly jolted forward and backward. She suspected a derailment had occurred and braced herself to prevent her friend from sliding in her seat. Despite the unexpected circumstances, the atmosphere within the train remained calm, and passengers patiently waited for further instructions.

The section of track where the derailment occurred had been inspected by the MTA's track geometry car in November, which found no issues. The incident comes less than a week after a separate derailment on the No. 1 line in Manhattan, resulting from a collision between a passenger train and a train that had been taken out of service. The two incidents appear to be unrelated, according to Richard Davey.

Efforts to restore subway service along the F line are underway as the MTA aims to have the line fully operational by Thursday morning. As investigations into the derailment continue, the MTA will work diligently to identify and address any potential maintenance or structural concerns to ensure commuter safety.

Overall, the incident serves as a reminder of the constant vigilance required to maintain the integrity of New York City's subway system, as well as the resilience of its passengers in the face of disruptions.