An NYC subway conductor was slashed in the neck. Transit workers want better protections on rails
NEW YORK — Police in New York City are searching for a man who slashed a subway conductor in the neck, while the union representing transit workers calls for better protection on the rails.
The Transportation Workers Union Local 100 said the attack happened around 3:40 a.m. Thursday when a southbound train pulled into a station in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.
Conductor Alton Scott was cut in the neck when he stuck his head out the window to make sure the track was clear, the union said.
The 59-year-old transit worker was taken to Brookdale University Hospital, where he received 34 stitches to close the deep cut and is now recovering at home, the union said.
Police said Thursday that no arrests have been made.
Richard Davis, the union’s president, said in a statement that the attack highlights the dangers transit workers face every day. He also urged members to remain vigilant as the suspect remains at large.
“We are facing heinous crimes and brutal attacks. Enough is enough,” Davis said.
Alina Ramirez, spokesperson for the union, stressed that the union has not authorized any official work stoppage or slowdown, despite claims on social media.
She said members working on the metro line where the attack took place reported as usual on Thursday, but remained on “standby” in the hours after the attack until they received safety guarantees from transport management, as is usual after such incidents.
Ramirez said workers have since resumed normal operations on the Metro line.
Spokespeople for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority did not respond to messages seeking comment Thursday, but the agency reported severe delays on the A Line during the morning rush hour commute.
“We are providing as much service as possible with the train crew we have available,” the agency wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, as it encouraged passengers to seek travel alternatives.
The MTA has also experimented with installing physical barriers, such as orange rubber poles at some subway stops, to deter attacks on subway conductors.