The subways are riding in the slow lane these days.
Just more than a month after the MTA hiked fares, new statistics show that many subway lines — especially the “number” routes — are running less on-time and breaking down more than a year ago.
All trains on the 1, 2, N, and Q are running five percent slower this September compared to last, according to new MTA stats that take wait several factors that cause delays in to account.
And several other lines, like the 5, 6, M, and N also saw decreases around four percent — keeping straphangers on the platform and on the trains longer.
“September does not look like it was a home run for us,” said MTA board member Doreen Frasca, who oversees the subway system.
“It feels like this is not going in the right direction,” she told MTA management, and called the numbers “troubling. The trend is not great.”
Top MTA brass said the issues wouldn’t continue in to the future.
“This is situational, and not systemic,” said Carmen Bianco, the senior vice president for subways.
He added that one type of subway car, mostly found on the 4 and 6 lines, have has electrical problems that are being fixed.
But riders say the delays have been progressively worse since last year.
“I get train delays all the time. It makes me late everyday to work if I don’t transfer,” said Q train rider Tiffany Dufault, 25, from Prospect Park.
“I’ve been stuck for 20 minutes. You get subway rage, its like road rage,” she added.
And on the numbered lines, trains have been breaking down 23 percent more this September when compared to last — it was 164,000 miles in 2009 compared to 125,000 this year.
“We’re going to be paying more for inferior service,” said Raehann Bryce, 24, from Harlem. “I was trying to go to the opera once, and I was 40 minutes late because I was waiting for the 1 train.”
Another reason for the delays is the massive repair work going in to the system before the winter chill sets in, said New York City Transit spokesman Charles Seaton. Several projects are happening at the same time, causing delays during off-peak hours.