Track on which New York subway train derailed was new

A section of rail that snapped and caused a New York City subway train to derail had been installed just weeks ago, transport officials said today.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority said the rail that broke underneath an F train in Queens yesterday was manufactured in the US last November and was only installed in March.

The MTA said other rails from that shipment will now be inspected.

About 1,000 commuters were on board the train when it left the rails at 10.15am local time.

Nineteen people were injured, four seriously. Several hundred were trapped on the train below ground for hours.

MTA workers are repairing a damaged 500ft (150m) stretch of rail and aim to have local service restored within a few hours.