July 18, 2025 ASTORIA, Queens – In a bizarre early morning incident reminiscent of a video game, an unidentified woman managed to commandeer a locked N train and take it for a short joyride through Astoria, Queens, on Thursday. The peculiar caper, occurring around 4:30 a.m., has once again highlighted persistent security vulnerabilities within the New York City subway system.

Police report the woman gained unauthorized entry into the otherwise secured N train at the Broadway Station. From there, she somehow managed to operate the train, moving it one stop southbound to the 36th Avenue station.

No Service Interruption, But Questions Remain

While the MTA confirmed the train was out of service and completely empty at the time of the incident, and thankfully no injuries or damage were reported, the event raises serious questions about who can access and operate these massive machines. An MTA spokesperson stated there was no impact to Thursday morning’s train service, a small mercy given the potential for chaos.

A Recurring Nightmare: Subway Joyrides

This isn't an isolated incident. For years, the issue of unauthorized train access has plagued the transit system. According to TWU Local 100, the union representing transit workers, cab doors are routinely locked, but the standard key fits every train in the system. This glaring loophole means keys are often stolen or, disturbingly, purchased on the black market.

Just this year, the city has seen multiple, equally audacious incidents:

• March: Two juveniles assaulted a conductor at the Park Slope station, stealing her cab keys, though police noted they already possessed a set.
• January: Two teenagers, aged 15 and 17, were apprehended after accelerating an R train to over 30 miles per hour beneath the streets of Sunset Park.
• September (last year): Two other teens were arrested for a similar stunt in Queens.

The Push for Modern Security: Biometrics on the Horizon?

The MTA has acknowledged the problem, stating it has been implementing additional locks on these doors and is actively developing new technologies to restrict unauthorized access to conductor cabs.

MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber, speaking back in April, emphasized the urgency of the situation. "It's really time for biometrics," Lieber stated. "Unfortunately, these old trains, we need to have modern security systems on them. It's one of the things we're spending a lot of money on in the next capital program."

While the commitment to advanced security is clear, the MTA could not provide a timeline for when this crucial biometric technology would be fully implemented across the vast subway network. Until then, the allure of a joyride on the rails seems to remain a tempting, albeit dangerous, prospect for some.