LIRR Service Crippled by East River Tunnel Fire, Strike Threat Looms

LIRR Service Crippled by East River Tunnel Fire, Strike Threat Looms. May 15, 2026.

Updated May 15, 2026
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Map showing incident location at 40.7800, -73.3000 Incident location, Long Island

What Happened

Long Island Rail Road and NJ Transit service to Penn Station remained severely disrupted Friday morning following an East River tunnel fire that broke out Thursday, according to Gothamist. The MTA reported the LIRR was running “extremely limited” service into Penn Station during the morning rush and cancelled all eastbound trains.

The fire erupted around 11:30 a.m. Thursday in one of Amtrak’s four East River tunnels between Manhattan and Queens and wasn’t extinguished until well over an hour later, officials said. Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams told Gothamist that while the blaze broke out in one tunnel, it affected components in a second tunnel, knocking it out of service as well. Only one of the four tunnels remained operational Friday.

The disruptions created chaos for Long Island commuters, with crowds of frustrated passengers waiting for infrequent 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 family on Long Island.

Andrew Connard, 30, a flight attendant supervisor at JFK Airport whose train was delayed by an hour, expressed frustration about the uncertainty. “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.”

MTA officials recommended riders use Grand Central Terminal or Atlantic Terminal as alternatives and warned commuters to expect reroutes, cancellations and delays throughout the day. NJ Transit’s Midtown Direct service, which uses the East River tunnels, was diverted to Hoboken Terminal. Rail tickets were being cross-honored by NJ Transit and private carrier buses as well as the PATH train at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken and 33rd Street.

Location & Road Context

The affected East River tunnels are owned by Amtrak and serve as critical infrastructure for LIRR trains traveling between Long Island and Manhattan, as well as NJ Transit trains that turn around in Sunnyside, Queens. The disruption comes as Amtrak has already closed one East River tunnel entirely for ongoing repairs, further straining the system’s capacity.

Investigation & Legal Proceedings

The cause of Thursday’s tunnel fire remains under investigation, officials said. The FDNY reported no injuries from the blaze. Amtrak crews were working to restore full service “as quickly and safely as possible,” according to spokesperson Jason Abrams.

Broader Impact

The transit crisis comes at a particularly precarious time, as LIRR unions were prepared to go on strike at midnight Friday if they didn’t reach a new contract deal with the MTA. Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA officials warned commuters to work from home if possible in the event of a strike on the country’s busiest commuter railroad. MTA employees at Jamaica Station handed out flyers alerting riders to the potential strike and urging them to make alternate transportation plans. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor service also faced delays up to 40 minutes due to the tunnel problems.

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Long Island accident todayLong Island traffic todayLong IslandNY

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I'm in a car accident on Long Island?

Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured or if the vehicles can't be moved safely off the roadway. Stay at the scene — leaving the scene of an accident with injuries is a crime under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law §600. Exchange license, registration, and insurance information with every other driver involved. Take photographs of every vehicle, the position of the vehicles before they're moved, all license plates, the road surface, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. Get the names and phone numbers of every witness — police often won't capture bystander witnesses on their own. Seek medical attention within 24 hours even if you feel fine; soft-tissue injuries and concussions can take a day or two to present, and a delayed medical visit weakens an injury claim. In Nassau County, NCPD responds outside of incorporated villages. In Suffolk County, SCPD covers the five western towns; East End towns have their own forces. New York State Police Troop L responds to accidents on state highways across both counties.

How long do I have to file a no-fault claim in New York?

Thirty days. New York Insurance Law §5102 requires you to file a Personal Injury Protection (PIP/no-fault) application with the insurer of the vehicle you were in (or, if you were a pedestrian or cyclist, with the insurer of the striking vehicle) within 30 days of the accident. Missing the 30-day deadline can void your no-fault benefits — that's up to $50,000 in medical bills and 80% of lost wages (capped at $2,000/month) per injured person. The form is the NF-2 application; your insurance carrier provides it on request. New York no-fault is a true PIP system: it pays regardless of who caused the crash.

How long do I have to sue after a Long Island car accident?

Three years from the date of the accident for personal injury claims under CPLR §214(5). Wrongful death claims have a two-year deadline under EPTL §5-4.1. If a government entity is involved (a county vehicle, a road defect on a state highway, a defective traffic signal, a county bus), you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days under General Municipal Law §50-e — that's a non-negotiable jurisdictional deadline, and missing it usually bars the claim entirely. Property-damage-only claims have the same three-year clock. The clock starts on the day of the accident, not the day you discover the full extent of an injury.

How do I get a copy of the police accident report?

If local police responded to the scene, the report is filed under an MV-104A form. In New York State, you can request a copy through the DMV at https://dmv.ny.gov/vehicle-safety/get-copy-accident-report (roughly $7 online, $10 by mail) once the responding agency has uploaded it to the state system, which usually takes 5-10 business days. NCPD and SCPD also have their own direct-request processes through the precinct that responded. If you weren't injured but the property damage exceeded $1,000, New York VTL §605 requires you (the driver) to file your own MV-104 report with the DMV within 10 days regardless of whether police responded.

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