Getting You From Point A to Point B — Safely

Every day, 3.4 million people ride the New York City subway. One of the biggest misconceptions riders have is the belief that the subway is supposed to get them to work on time. Train Operator Anthony Outeiral clarified the matter. Getting passengers “from point A to point B safely, that’s the number one directive of our job. Everything else falls in after that,” Outeiral said. For the past 20 years, Outeiral and his coworker, Train Conductor Chris Sarro, have done just that.

Together, they saved the lives of six teenagers who were subway-surfing during the winter of 2025. The dangerous subway-surfing trend, fueled by social media, has tragically claimed the lives of fourteen teens over the past four years. Train operator Outeiral spotted the teens behaving suspiciously on the platform before they boarded the train. As the train was leaving, station conductor Sarro saw the teens climb up onto the roof, and heard them running on top of the train cars. Sarro alerted Outeiral, who safely stopped the train between Avenue P and Kings Highway in Brooklyn. The teens fled the scene, risking their lives a second time by running along the train tracks, which has a third rail. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

“What amazes me is they’re always talking about saving money. And they just signed a new law that we can get rid of conductors eventually... I don’t think computer systems would have stopped those kids running on our train,” Outeiral said. “We worked as a team and were able to save six people’s lives. What is that worth? How much budget is six kids’ lives worth? And that’s just one incident.”

In a separate incident, Outeiral came to the aid of a family in distress at Kew Gardens station. Their cat had escaped from its carrier and fallen onto the subway tracks. After locating the feline, Outeiral jumped onto the track.

“I told the cat, ‘Listen... I don’t know you. I am trying to help you. Please don’t scratch me,'” Outeiral said. After grabbing the cat by the scruff of its neck, Outeiral climbed back onto the platform. The family was grateful to have its pet back.

“There’s never a dull moment down here,” Outeiral added.

“That’s for sure,” Sarro chimed in.

As a train operator, Outeiral is responsible for safely driving the 1,000 to 2,000 passengers in his ten-car train throughout the subway system. He also performs safety inspections, ensuring that the lights, brakes, air conditioning, and heating all function properly.

As conductor, Sarro acts as the train operator’s eyes and ears. He remains alert to any potential danger, ready to notify Outeiral. Sarro will call for medical attention or police assistance if necessary. He provides directions for passengers and mentors new transit workers. Sarro makes all the announcements. He is also responsible for opening and shutting the train doors.

Being a transit worker is a dangerous job. Workers can trip, fall, or be crushed. The electricity that powers the third rail can kill a person. Aside from the mechanical dangers, intoxicated and unruly passengers can also pose a threat. Fights and shootings have broken out. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the city, many transit workers lost their lives to the virus.

What motivates these two transit workers to keep showing up despite the dangers? Their love for their passengers and coworkers. “You become family down here,” Sarro said.

They both love positive interactions, like when a passenger greets them or says “thank you.” Or when every day, for a year, a 6-year-old waited with her parent for Outeiral’s train to say “hi” to him on the way to school. She even wrote a note, thanking him for getting her to school on time. “That’s what makes it worthwhile,” Outeiral said with a smile. “Kids love the train. They love waving. If you honk the horn at them, they go crazy,” Outeiral shared.

What advice do these two transit workers have for their fellow New Yorkers? “Leave home earlier. Don’t get on the train to go to work five minutes before you’re supposed to be there,” Outeiral said.

“Smile. Smile more. Look on the positive side of life,” Sarro added.