Transit source says a "saboteur" caused this morning's A train derailment at 14th Street

Source tells @NY1 someone took a spare piece of equipment called a plate and placed it on the rails where the train runs

https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/transit/2020/09/20/subway-train-derails--northbound-subway-service-suspended

Source says train hit seven columns as it derailed entering the 14th Street station

I personally have not seen a train damaged like that since the 2017 Harlem derailment

MTA's chief safety officer, Pat Warren, briefing on this morning's A train derailment at 14th Street

- 135 people on train

- 125 people on a train stranded further north on tracks

- Rules out malfunctioning equipment or crew error

Warren says "something" put on track, and investigation on going.

NYPD Transit Bureau Inspector Thomas Ponella:

- police interviewing a 30-year-old man at Transit District 2

Frank Jezycki, head of subways:

2 wheel sets - 4 wheels - from lead car derailed, west of running rails

"significant damage" to the train car, trackbed, equipment, columns

"we aim for a normal rush hour for tomorrow morning, that is the goal"

Jezycki:

"the trains weigh quite a bit of weight so it's something significant that would cause the derailment"

damage to several hundred feet of third rail, 4 structural columns

Jezycki says he believes incident occurred just south of the 14th Street station in the tunnel

Derailment caused third rail power to cut, causing a train near 34th Street station. Riders walked through a rescue train

MTA working to restore service in an hour or two, with trains skipping 14th Street

Transit source sends these pics:

First one shows the spare plate suspected of causing derailment, source says

Second one, damage to support column

NYPD announce arrest of suspect in today's derailment

He was charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief assault and criminal trespass