Trapped on a train: Woman details being stuck inside MTA train for 8 hours during storm

Betty Manocchi and her husband, John, caught an 11:30 a.m. train from Ossining up to Cold Spring to dine at a restaurant on the day of the storm. 

Lee Danuff and Ben Nandy

Jul 12, 2023, 9:43 PM

Updated 380 days ago

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A woman who was stuck inside a packed MTA train for eight hours during Sunday's storm opened up to News 12 about the all-day ordeal. 
The historic rainfall and flash flooding that hit the Hudson Valley caused major delays for train passengers. Betty Manocchi and her husband, John, caught an 11:30 a.m. train from Ossining up to Cold Spring to dine at a restaurant on the day of the storm. 
It was pouring when they got to Cold Spring. 
"We never left the platform. It was as if someone had a garden hose on the windows," she says. 
After deciding it was best to get home before conditions got worse, they caught the 3:20 p.m. train back to Ossining. 
Manocchi says the train was packed with passengers. 
Gov. Kathy Hochul says there were about 300 people on board, including hikers, bikers, dog-walkers and people with kids.
The train made a stop in Manitou. As it was about to come through Peekskill, the conductor informed the passengers that a boulder fell on the tracks just ahead.
Manocchi says conditions started to deteriorate after several hours of being stuck. The bathroom no longer worked, and they lost air conditioning. 
There were also several more announcements about track damage and a non-working-engine. The Manocchis were moved to a second train.
The Ossining station was flooded, so their neighbor got them at the next closest station, Croton-Harmon. 
They got home after midnight.
Hochul thanked the passengers Wednesday for their patience and the MTA workers for their professionalism.
Hochul also announced that the Hudson Line was operating again.
"Oh, they are running? I don't think I'm going to Cold Spring for lunch today," says Manocchi.


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