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CORRECTION: There were 21 people trapped on the Manhattan-bound Roosevelt Island tram car. Stories yesterday on the stalled tram incorrectly stated the number of people in the car. Pg. A21 ALL 4/ 21/06
The Roosevelt Island Tramway suspended service indefinitely as city and state officials began an investigation into what caused an electrical failure that left 69 people trapped for nearly 12 hours hundreds of feet above the East River.
"The primary power system for the tram was compromised yesterday for reasons that have not yet been identified," said Herb Berman, of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, which runs the tram. "We are now investigating the cause."
On Tuesday, police and fire officials pulled off a daring open- air rescue, much of it seen live on TV. But troubling questions remained about why three of four electrical systems designed to power the trams were inoperable yesterday and why it took so long to bring the stranded riders to safety.
"I'm sure that the people would have liked to be taken down quickly," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who praised the joint efforts of police and fire officials and called the rescue a "classic city operation."
"We did what we had to...