After 3 days, NY Metro rolls

New York City moved closer to resuming its frenetic pace by getting back its vital subways Thursday, three days after a superstorm, but neighbouring New Jersey was stunned by miles of coastal devastation and the news of thousands of people in one city still stranded by increasingly fetid flood waters.

The decision to reopen undamaged parts of the US's largest transit system came as the death toll reached more than 80 in the US and left more than 4 million without power. Forecasting firm Eqecat estimated the storm's economic damage to run as high as $50 billion.

In New York, people streamed into the city as service began to resume on commuter train and subway. The three major airports resumed at least limited service, and the New York Stock Exchange was open again. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor — the busiest train line in the country — was to take commuters along the heavily populated East Coast again starting Friday. But hundreds of people lined up for buses, traffic jammed for miles and queues for gas formed.

But many in New York City alone were still without power, especially in Lower Manhattan, which remained in the dark after floodwaters had knocked out power.

In New Jersey, the once-pristine Atlantic coastline was shattered. President Barack Obama joined Governor Chris Christie in a helicopter tour of the devastation Wednesday and told evacuees, "We are here for you. We are not going to tolerate red tape. We are not going to tolerate bureaucracy.''

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