The L Train, One of New York City's Most Infamous Subways, Has Become a Garbage Can
For months, the subway trains on the L line have been covered in a thick layer of grime, with no end in sight for cleanliness. The MTA's main car-washing station at its Canarsie train yard in Brooklyn broke down during a summer storm and is expected to be out of commission until next year.
The consequences are dire: many trains are left caked in dust, with handprints smudged across their exteriors like dirty fingerprints on a wall. Windows leak black grime, while the sides of some trains appear to have been splattered with what looks like coffee - a grim reminder that even the most basic maintenance is being neglected.
Commuters who ride the L train are livid about the state of their transportation. "It's horrible that this is the condition of our public transportation right now," said Gabriella Hermalyn, 33, a regular rider on the line. She prefers to take the G train instead, citing its cleanliness and recent modernization as reasons for her decision.
This isn't an isolated incident - New Yorkers have long accepted that their subways will be dirty, with notorious soot, rats, and litter. But even they are dismayed by the sheer level of filth on the L trains.
The MTA acknowledges the problem, but says it has no way to clean the cars until the Canarsie washing station is fixed. It's a costly fix, requiring trains to be moved 20 miles out of the way, which will likely disrupt subway service and add to taxpayers' bills.
MTA spokesperson Laura Cala-Rauch claimed that the agency is "conserving taxpayer dollars" by continuing with interior cleaning while awaiting the reopening of the exterior wash facility. But commuters aren't buying it, citing rising fares - $3 a ride starting next January - without any promise of improved cleanliness on the L train.
"It's like garbage condition," said Hermalyn, echoing many riders' sentiments. "And it's funny because every year the price goes up and up, and yet they do nothing." The dirty state of the subways is a constant source of frustration for commuters, who are stuck with some of the city's most unsanitary transportation options.
For months, the subway trains on the L line have been covered in a thick layer of grime, with no end in sight for cleanliness. The MTA's main car-washing station at its Canarsie train yard in Brooklyn broke down during a summer storm and is expected to be out of commission until next year.
The consequences are dire: many trains are left caked in dust, with handprints smudged across their exteriors like dirty fingerprints on a wall. Windows leak black grime, while the sides of some trains appear to have been splattered with what looks like coffee - a grim reminder that even the most basic maintenance is being neglected.
Commuters who ride the L train are livid about the state of their transportation. "It's horrible that this is the condition of our public transportation right now," said Gabriella Hermalyn, 33, a regular rider on the line. She prefers to take the G train instead, citing its cleanliness and recent modernization as reasons for her decision.
This isn't an isolated incident - New Yorkers have long accepted that their subways will be dirty, with notorious soot, rats, and litter. But even they are dismayed by the sheer level of filth on the L trains.
The MTA acknowledges the problem, but says it has no way to clean the cars until the Canarsie washing station is fixed. It's a costly fix, requiring trains to be moved 20 miles out of the way, which will likely disrupt subway service and add to taxpayers' bills.
MTA spokesperson Laura Cala-Rauch claimed that the agency is "conserving taxpayer dollars" by continuing with interior cleaning while awaiting the reopening of the exterior wash facility. But commuters aren't buying it, citing rising fares - $3 a ride starting next January - without any promise of improved cleanliness on the L train.
"It's like garbage condition," said Hermalyn, echoing many riders' sentiments. "And it's funny because every year the price goes up and up, and yet they do nothing." The dirty state of the subways is a constant source of frustration for commuters, who are stuck with some of the city's most unsanitary transportation options.
. I mean, it's not like we haven't known the L train was a bit grimy before 
. But come on, can't they at least try to keep the trains somewhat clean? It's pretty embarrassing for the city with all the tourists coming in 
. The MTA should really look into fixing that washing station ASAP 
. And I don't buy the "conserving taxpayer dollars" excuse either 
. Those fares are already kinda steep, so I'm not sure why they can't just use a little more of our money to get it done 
.
it's like they're embracing the griminess or something. I mean, I've heard that New York subways can be dirty, but this is just ridiculous. The MTA saying they're "conserving taxpayer dollars" by doing interior cleaning instead of exterior washing? Come on, that's just a fancy way of saying they don't want to shell out the cash for maintenance 
. It's like, hello, we're paying more for our rides and you guys are just shoveling dirt on us (literally). I'm not a fan of the L train anymore; I've been sticking to my G train 
! I've been riding the L train for years and it's always had that rough-around-the-edges vibe, but this is next level 
. And don't even get me started on the price hike to $3 a ride... like, come on MTA! You're supposed to be conserving our money, not using it to maintain a dirty train 
I've been riding this line for years and I'm getting sick of it being so dirty. I mean, come on MTA, can't you just get the Canarsie station fixed already? 
. And what really gets me is that people are just accepting it as "the norm" 
, but I think that's exactly the problem - we deserve better than a dirty subway system! Can't we get some decent maintenance going on around here? 
. but what does that say about us? are we okay with sacrificing cleanliness for the sake of convenience or is it something deeper? maybe we're not putting enough value on our own well-being and health 
. anyway, this dirty L train thing might be a wake-up call to reevaluate what's truly important in our daily lives 
.
. Can't believe our MTA can't even get its act together when it comes to basic maintenance 
. Newsflash: it's not okay! We deserve better than to ride on a subway train that looks like it hasn't been washed since the Clinton administration 
. I'm actually starting to avoid taking it altogether and just stick with other lines...like the G train 
. I get that maintenance is needed, but come on! Can't they at least try to clean the trains a bit while the main car-washing station is down? 
. And honestly, if the MTA can find a way to fix it ASAP, maybe they could even offer some discounts or perks for riders who stick with them until the trains are clean again 
. On the bright side, it's kinda funny how people have just gotten used to the dirt and grime on the subway - like, "oh yeah, that's just normal New York" 
. And don't even get me started on the prices, I'm like $3 a ride now and I'm already dreading my morning commute 
I'm starting to think we should just invest in those portable air purifiers for the subways or something