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Residual Delays After Power Outage Stalls Subways On Christmas Night

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There is progress underground as subway trains get back on track following a power outage that impacted half a dozen train lines overnight and into Monday morning.

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Some trains were back up and running by Monday afternoon, with the MTA reporting delays along the A, D, E, F, N, Q and R train lines due to a loss of power on the third rail at 7th Avenue and 53rd Street on Sunday night.

The FDNY says the issue started with a gas leak near an electrical substation at 53rd Street and 7th Avenue, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported. The leak sparked a fire in the basement, causing the power outage.

The flames -- compounded with the gas leak --made for quite a dangerous situation both above ground and on the tracks.

"Gas could ignite so that's the concern," FDNY Battalion Chief Gregg Hansson said. "Right now the gas is leaking into the street into the atmosphere, so everything is okay."

The fire department estimates 1,200 subway riders had to navigate through dark tunnels and stations, after the electrical outage stopped the trains just after 10:30 pm.

The outage impacted service 7th Avenue down to West 4th Street, and all the way into Queens. 

"We had about two trains we couldn't get into a station so we had to bring personnel down there to evacuate those trains," Hansson said.

One man came into work at midnight- and saw the commotion on 53rd and 7th.

"Tons of fire trucks, paramedics- that's it. And the smell of gas," he said.

Residual delays affected half a dozen subway lines - for over 10 hours, into the Monday morning commute-impacting riders traveling through Midtown.

"I have to find a way to get to my job now, I'm going to be late," one commuter said.

The tracks were re-opened on 53rd street just after 9:30 a.m.

There are still major detours affecting subway lines, so check with MTA.info  or follow the MTA on Twitter for the latest information.

The MTA is urging commuters to allow for additional travel time.

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