Boy has alleged joyride driving MTA train

NEW YORK, July 28 (UPI) -- A rider on a New York subway train says he snapped a cell phone photo allegedly showing a young child driving the train.

The New York Daily News reported Jules Cattie, 41, a lawyer, said he was shocked to see the boy at the controls of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority train Monday with the adult driver alongside.

Cattie said that moments after boarding the Lexington Avenue train at Fulton Street, he heard the female train conductor say, "It's green, speed up," he quoted her as allegedly saying. "Yellow, slow down." Cattie thought she was training a new operator, but looked in the conductor's compartment window and saw the child; he took the photo before disembarking at 42nd Street, the newspaper said.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Monday said it is vigorously investigating the charge.

"The rule is quite clear -- train operators are not allowed to have anyone else with them," MTA spokesman Paul Fleuranges said.

Fleuranges said the conductor would be taken off duty at once if Cattie's claim is confirmed the Daily News reported.

"The last thing you want is the train operator to be distracted for any reason," Fleuranges said.