Blackout Leaves N.Y. Commuters in the Dark

NEW YORK — Thousands of morning rush-hour commuters arrived at Grand Central Terminal today in semi-darkness before workers restored power to end a 14-hour blackout.

Most of the lights in the commuter hub came back on at 9:45 a.m. after the cavernous terminal and eight nearby buildings--including the Chrysler Building--were plunged in darkness by a power outage.

Electricity was restored to Grand Central and seven nearby buildings by 8:38 a.m. after a power blackout that began 7:03 p.m. Monday, Con Edison spokeswoman Patricia Richardi said.

However, because of an internal problem, Grand Central’s lights were not turned on until 9:45 a.m., she said.

The time of the blackout remained frozen on a massive clock that is a favorite meeting place inside the terminal.

Trains traveled on time and unloaded passengers in the station lighted by large spotlights powered by generators. But commuters faced problems because only two of the station’s 12 exit ramps were open.

“I’ve had worse days. This was a breeze,” said commuter Jim O’Keefe, who arrived at about 8 a.m. from Noroton Heights, Conn.

Metro-North commuter railroad spokesman Ed Donovan said about 150 police officers were on hand to usher passengers out of the terminal.

“It’s like a movie theater, all these emergency lights,” he said. All lights should be back up “by the time they go home. Knock on a little piece of wood,” Donovan added.

Consolidated Edison Co. said it corrected a switching problem in a substation that caused the blackout and restored power at 8:38 p.m., but a second switching problem in feeder cables inside the terminal kept the lights out for hours longer.