Riders stuck on snow-trapped train sue NY agency

The passengers named in the suit met with MTA officials repeatedly in the past year to voice their complaints, but transit officials insisted they "did nothing wrong and that the passengers being trapped was an act of God outside the defendant's control," according to the suit.

Aboushi said transit officials should introduce "an effective communication policy with passengers" that would make it possible to provide accurate information to anyone stuck during an emergency. In addition, he said, there should be a way to get basic resources such as food and water to passengers in need.

"We're not asking them to provide three-course dinners," he said. "But there were grandfathers on that train."

At a City Council hearing earlier this month, NYC Transit President Thomas Prendergast acknowledged that transit officials had lost track of the stranded train.

"We forgot about it," he said, adding, "It's inexcusable."

Associated Press writer Samantha Gross contributed to this report.