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LIRR, NJ Transit service to Penn Station severely disrupted as tunnel repairs continue
By
Andrew Giambrone
and
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published May 15, 2026
Modified May 15, 2026
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Ramsey Khalifeh / Gothamist
By
Andrew Giambrone
and
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published May 15, 2026
Modified May 15, 2026
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Long Island Rail Road and NJ Transit service to Penn Station remained severely strained Friday morning due to an ongoing transit meltdown caused by an East River tunnel fire a day earlier, officials said.
The MTA reported the LIRR was running “extremely limited” service into the station during the morning rush, and cancelled all eastbound trains. Officials recommended riders use Grand Central Terminal or Atlantic Terminal as an alternative, and told commuters to expect reroutes, cancellations and delays throughout the day.
Midtown Direct service on NJ Transit, which uses the East River tunnels, was still being diverted to Hoboken Terminal, the agency said. Rail tickets are being cross-honored by NJ Transit and private carrier buses as well as the PATH train at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken and 33rd Street.
Amtrak said Northeast Corridor service faced delays up to 40 minutes.
Amtrak owns four East River tunnels between Manhattan and Queens, which are also relied on by LIRR trains, as well as NJ Transit trains that turn around in Sunnyside. Only one of those tunnels was in service following Thursday’s fire, Amtrak officials said.
Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams said the blaze broke out in one tunnel but affected components in a second tunnel, knocking it out of service. He said crews were working to restore full service "as quickly and safely as possible."
The disruptions come as Amtrak has closed one of its East River tunnels entirely for ongoing repairs.
The Friday fiasco came less than a day before LIRR unions prepared to go on strike and shut down the railroad if they didn’t reach a new contract deal with the MTA.
Crowds of frustrated commuters waited for infrequent LIRR trains at Jamaica Station during Friday’s morning rush hour.
“I was supposed to go to Penn Station this morning, and I now have to go to this Jamaica stop and meet my friend here, and then we have to somehow find a way to make it into the city,” said Sadie Dibb, 22, a recent college graduate visiting her family on Long Island. “So we'll see how that goes.”
MTA employees at Jamaica’s main concourse guided passengers trying to get to Manhattan. They advised them to transfer to the local subway station connected to the commuter railroad in Queens.
“There is limited service to Penn Station,” a public-service announcement said every five minutes.
Other MTA employees handed out flyers alerting LIRR riders to the potential railroad strike at midnight and urging them to make plans for alternate transportation.
Commuters wait for infrequent trains at Jamaica Station on May 15, 2026.
Ramsey Khalifeh / Gothamist
Andrew Connard, 30, a flight attendant supervisor at JFK Airport whose train was delayed by an hour, said the uncertainty over the looming strike is making it hard for his team to game out contingencies.
“We're kind of just waiting basically for the shoe to drop to find out what to do, because we want to keep our employees informed on how to get to work and everything,” he said. “We're all a little frustrated, but it's just a waiting game.”
Amtrak officials said Thursday's fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. and wasn't put out until well over an hour later. In the aftermath, LIRR service was suspended in both directions between Manhattan Penn Station and Jamaica Station in Queens.
The disruptions upended evening rush-hour commutes. Confused and frustrated crowds congregated near platform entrances at Penn Station as riders scrambled to iron out their travel plans at Jamaica Station.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The FDNY said there were no injuries from the blaze.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA officials have warned commuters to work from home if possible in the event of a strike on the country's busiest commuter railroad.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Tagged
long island
manhattan
new york city
penn station
transportation
Andrew Giambrone
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Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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