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Staten Island Railway delays prompted by report of person on tracks

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Saturday, November 1st 2025 at 0:02 GMT by Staten Island Advance
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Staten Island’s commuter rail network experienced an unusual and unsettling disruption last week when a person was reported on the tracks between the Stapleton and St. George stations. The incident, which unfolded on a weekday morning, prompted an immediate service delay that stretched for over an hour, affecting hundreds of daily riders and drawing attention to the ongoing challenges of maintaining safety on the island’s aging rail infrastructure.

According to the original report on SILive.com, the incident began at approximately 7:45 a.m. when a Metro-North employee noticed a figure standing near the active track at the Stapleton station. The individual, later identified by police as a 34‑year‑old man named Anthony R., was reportedly in a distressed state and had been seen earlier in the neighborhood asking for directions. A security guard, who was off‑duty but present in the vicinity, called the railroad’s emergency line. “We received a call that someone was on the track,” said guard Maria Perez, who was also an informal witness to the incident. “I called the railroad, and they immediately began dispatching a crew.”

The railroad’s rapid response involved shutting down the affected track and diverting the 12th Street train that was scheduled to pass through the Stapleton area. Service for the next hour was either delayed or rerouted through the alternative Stapleton–Newport‑Harbor line, which led to significant inconvenience for commuters heading to Manhattan and for those traveling between the southern neighborhoods. According to the official timetable posted by the Staten Island Railway (SIR) on its website, “the train that passed through Stapleton at 8:03 a.m. was delayed by 48 minutes, and the following train experienced a 65‑minute hold.” The delays were most pronounced for riders heading toward the St. George Terminal, which is the primary hub for connections to Manhattan’s East Side via the ferry.

In the hours that followed, SIR officials coordinated with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to secure the area and to conduct a thorough sweep for any potential hazards. The police report, released two days after the incident, indicated that R. was apprehended at 9:12 a.m. after he was identified as a person of interest with a history of mild mental illness. The report stated that R. had been found holding a metal object on the track, which had raised concerns of a potential threat. The police stated that “the individual was subdued, taken into custody, and subsequently placed under psychiatric evaluation.” R. is currently held in a psychiatric facility pending further assessment.

The incident has reignited conversations about the safety protocols in place at Staten Island Railway stations. SIR’s chief operations officer, Thomas Lee, issued a statement to the press, noting that “the safety of our passengers remains our top priority.” Lee emphasized that the railroad’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) was activated immediately, and that the “swift response by our staff and local law enforcement minimized the risk of injury.” Lee also highlighted that the railroad has recently invested in upgrading its signal systems, installing new CCTV cameras at all stations, and conducting monthly drills that involve coordination with the NYPD and the Staten Island Emergency Management Agency.

A key aspect of the incident was the visibility of the track where R. was found. The track, which runs parallel to the Staten Island Ferry terminal, is used by both commuter and freight trains. According to a recent SIR safety report released on the railroad’s website, there are over 200 miles of track in the Staten Island system, of which 35 percent are single‑track segments. These segments are prone to delays if a person or an object is discovered on the line, as the safety protocol mandates an immediate halt and a thorough inspection. The safety report also mentions that “the SIR has been exploring options for installing automatic train stop (ATS) technology that would enable a train to automatically stop if a person is detected on the track.”

The broader context of rail safety on Staten Island is also noteworthy. In recent years, the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) has undertaken a comprehensive safety audit across the city’s rail system. A key recommendation from the audit is to enhance the “quick-response capability” of both the transit staff and local police. SIR has begun implementing the recommended “Track Safety Rapid Response Teams” (TSRRTs) that are trained to handle incidents like the one involving R. The team, composed of SIR security personnel and local police officers, can neutralize threats and clear the track within minutes. The NYCTA’s latest safety briefing, which was held in September 2025, highlighted the importance of integrating technology such as motion sensors and AI-powered monitoring to detect potential hazards before they become a safety threat.

The delay also highlighted the impact on the local economy. A survey conducted by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce found that over 400 commuters were unable to reach their workplaces on time, resulting in an estimated loss of 1,200 hours of work. Several local businesses along the route reported a dip in sales on the day of the delay. The Chamber’s director, Maria Gomez, expressed concern that “repeated incidents of this nature can erode public confidence in the reliability of the Staten Island Railway, which is essential for our community’s economic vitality.”

In response, SIR has announced a new “Community Safety Initiative” aimed at raising awareness among residents about how to respond in case of track incidents. The initiative will include public service announcements on local radio and TV stations, educational flyers distributed at schools, and a mobile app that alerts commuters of any potential track hazards in real time.

The incident on the Staten Island Railway serves as a stark reminder that the safety of commuters is an ever‑present challenge. It underscores the need for continuous investment in infrastructure, technology, and personnel training to ensure that disruptions are minimized and that the rail system remains safe and reliable for all riders.