A widespread internet outage affected major platforms like Google, Cloudflare, Twitch, and others, causing service disruptions and social media reactions, with some services recovering by late afternoon.
Google Cloud and other major internet services experienced global outages, affecting numerous cloud-based platforms and applications across the US, Europe, and Asia, with ongoing investigations into the disruptions.
NJ Transit and Amtrak are experiencing significant delays and modified services in and out of New York Penn Station due to overhead wire issues and a disabled train. NJ Transit's Midtown Direct trains are diverted to Hoboken, and Amtrak's Empire service between New York and Yonkers is suspended. Full service is expected to resume by noon, but residual delays and cancellations continue to affect commuters.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) plans to shut down segments of all four subway lines in 2024 to work on eliminating slow zones and making necessary repairs. The upcoming shutdowns will begin with the Green Line, followed by the Orange Line and Red Line. The plan aims to provide a more consistent and reliable transit service, although it will cause short-term disruptions. The MBTA has faced criticism for its failure to properly maintain tracks and address speed restrictions. Transit advocates have welcomed the plan as a practical approach to repairing tracks and improving service.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Urbanist
Sound Transit will resume normal service on its Link light rail system on Saturday, following the completion of maintenance work at the Othello and Rainier Beach station platforms. Frequencies will nearly double, with trains running every 10 minutes during midday and weekends. The reduced schedule, in place since August 12, caused frustrations for passengers due to long waits and lack of real-time arrival information. Sound Transit's launch of a real-time arrival system has been delayed until next month. The tile work was necessary for passenger safety, as the existing tiles were cracked or broken. Sound Transit plans to improve its operations for future service disruptions.
Square, the online payment platform, is experiencing a widespread outage, causing multiple service disruptions and impacting balance and transfers. Users across several markets have reported problems using the platform, with some stores only able to accept cash transactions. Square's engineering team is actively working on a fix, while its phone line remains down. The payment service Cash App is also reporting an outage.
Thousands of city workers in Los Angeles went on a one-day strike to protest what they believe is a lack of good-faith labor negotiations. The strike caused some disruptions, with picketing at City Hall and Los Angeles International Airport. The workers, represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 721, are demanding higher wages and improved benefits. City officials assured the public that essential services would not be impacted, but some services such as trash pickup and traffic operations may be delayed. The union and city officials will resume negotiations next week. This is the first strike by Los Angeles city workers in over 40 years.
Amtrak has canceled several train services in the northeast, including the Adirondack, Ethan Allen, and Maple Leaf lines, due to ongoing severe weather. Heavy downpours and widespread flood alerts in parts of Vermont and New York have prompted these cancellations, with some trains being terminated or starting in Albany instead of their original destinations. For the latest updates, visit amtrak.com/alert.
NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line have resumed with limited service after being suspended for three mornings in a row due to overhead wire issues. The service disruptions have frustrated commuters, causing delays and cancellations. NJ Transit rail tickets and passes are being cross-honored by NJ Transit bus, private carriers, and PATH at various stations. The cause of the overhead power problems in Rahway is still being investigated.