Sheinelle Jones Was ‘Trapped’ on Dark New York City Train After Falling Asleep for 2 Hours, Tried to Pry the Doors Open

**Sheinelle Jones Shares ‘Nightmare’ Train Experience on ‘Today with Jenna & Sheinelle’**

On the recent episode of “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle,” co-host Sheinelle Jones recounted a bewildering and somewhat harrowing experience she encountered during a train journey from Philadelphia to New York City. The event, which she described as a “nightmare,” unfolded late on the night of April 6, leaving her both relieved and bemused by the circumstances.

During the episode, Jones, a mother of three, explained that she had been returning home after a long day in her hometown. Having spent the day worn out from errands and family commitments, she succumbed to fatigue on the train, drifting off into a deep sleep. “I got a little sleepy because I’d had a long day, and I fell asleep,” shared the 47-year-old journalist, who discussed the incident with co-host Jenna Bush Hager.

Unbeknownst to Jones, her restful slumber would lead to quite the unexpected awakening. Initially scheduled to arrive at Moynahan Station around 10 p.m., she was jolted awake around 12:20 a.m. to find herself alone in the darkened carriage, a situation that provoked both panic and disbelief. “So you’d been asleep for two hours underground?” Hager asked incredulously, to which Jones confirmed, “For two hours in the depths of New York City. Let me tell you something. There was no one there.”

The revelation that she was the sole passenger aboard the train raised eyebrows, particularly given the absence of train personnel to ensure her safe awakening. “It’s a nightmare scenario,” Hager remarked, highlighting the unusual nature of the ordeal.

Once fully awake, Jones embarked on a search for help, navigating through the empty train cars in hopes of finding a conductor or any staff member. “I went all the way down, like, surely I’ll find a conductor,” Jones recounted. However, after her thorough search proved fruitless, she decided to attempt an escape. In an effort to open the train’s exit, she discovered that the door mechanism was unresponsive. “I thought, ‘No problem, I’ll just push the exit thing,’” she said, before realising she was, in fact, trapped.

In addition to her growing sense of despair, the situation grew more pressing when Jones noted that her three children—aged 16, 13, and 13—had not reached out to check on her absence. “That’s another thing! I’m like, why didn’t anybody care? Like, ‘Mom, where are you?’” she quipped, expressing her concern over their apparent lack of worry.

After struggling to escape, which resulted in a bruise on her finger, panic began to set in, prompting Jones to call emergency services. Keeping her composure, she relayed the details of her situation to the 9-1-1 operator, wanting to ensure she didn’t sound overly distressed during the call. “I was so worried that you guys would hear this call… I was like, ‘Hi, this is weird,’” she recalled, sharing the surreal experience of asking the operator to stay on the line with her.

Fortunately, relief came in the form of two police officers who arrived to assist her. They not only helped her off the train but even requested a selfie with her, allowing the situation to take a lighter turn. Finally reunited with her children after several hours, Jones expected a warm response but was met with nonchalance, as they were engrossed in playing video games. “I got home and I thought it was gonna be like, ‘Mommy, where have you been?’ They were up playing video games, like, ‘Hey, Mom!’,” she said, laughing off the shock at their reaction.

Jones’s extraordinary experience serves as a reminder of the unexpected situations that can arise in daily life, even during seemingly ordinary tasks such as commuting. The recounting of her ordeal not only captivated viewers of “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” but also sparked conversation about safety and awareness during travel, drawing attention to the need for vigilance in public transport systems.

While the incident was undoubtedly unnerving for Jones, she approached it with a sense of humour and resilience, showcasing her ability to navigate life’s unexpected challenges—a quality that resonates with her audience and emphasises the importance of staying calm in difficult circumstances.