Problems With Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin Stopping and Swinging This Afternoon Frightening Some Passengers - North Cabin Taken Out Of Service Later In Day

 Image of Roosevelt Island Tram Station and Cabins. North Cabin on Left Out of Service

There was a problem on the Roosevelt Island Tram North Cabin this afternoon. This report was made to the RI 311 See Click Fix System:

Tram stopped suddenly and started swinging wildly!

On Sat. 8/20- around 2:45pm- my sister, Janet Shea called me at home to tell me that while she was aboard the Manhattan bound tram- it stopped suddenly and started swinging wildly. She and the other passengers were very afraid. She spoke to the Cabin Attendent, who stated he could not bring the cabin backwards slowly to the Tram station on the Island.. He also stated to her that he was now afraid- as this was the second time today this type of incident had occurred. There were no high winds, lightning, etc.. I also called PSD as soon as I was told and they were not informed. I called RIOC- the main number and you cannot get anyone there.. This is happening way too much with a brand new 25 Million Tramway that took more than a year to complete.. This doesn't sound safe...

The Tram passengers made it to Manhattan safely. I walked by the Roosevelt Island Tram Station at about 3:30 PM and both cabins were in operation. An hour later, I received a phone call reporting that the North Cabin stopped just after leaving the Roosevelt Island Tram Station and was being brought back to the Roosevelt Island Tram Station. Another resident reported:

the tram has been having some issues today...I saw it stop twice and swing back and forth a couple hours ago, people were inside, but after each time stopping, it proceeded to the other side...now I see the safety guys are out there taking it up for testing.

At 5:07 PM, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) issued the following advisory:

The NORTH Cabin will be temporarily out of service until further notice.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

UPDATE 8/21 - The North Cabin was back in service when I walked by at 11:30 AM this morning. No explanation yet from RIOC for the cause of yesterday's problem or notice that it was back in service.

Image of Roosevelt Island North Tram Cabin Back In Service This Morning

UPDATE 8/22 - The Television program White Collar is shooting scenes on the North Cabin today. Hope they do not experience similar problems with the Tram stopping and swinging.