New Summer of Hell? Fire Breaks Out At Penn Station, LIRR Strike Begins 2 Days Later
A blaze started in a feeder cable in one of the station’s East River tunnels on May 14, disrupting LIRR and NJ Transit service well into the next day. Then only hours after the damaged wires were repaired, LIRR workers went on strike at 12:01 a.m. on May 16.
| 16 May 2026 | 07:42
The LIRR level of Penn Station was nearly deserted as a May 14 tunnel fire kept most service suspended throughout the day on May 15, with the MTA urging riders to use Grand Central Madison. A strike began at 12:01 a.m. on May 16, with up to 300,000 commuters impacted if the strike stretches into the work week. (
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Firefighters responding to a track fire that broke out at Penn Station on Thursday, April 14, which snarled commutes well into the next day. (
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The fire severely disrupted LIRR and NJ Transit service, although nobody was injured. (
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It could be shaping up to be a new Summer of Hell for commuters.
A track fire broke out in an East River tunnel on the morning of Thursday, May 14, snarling commutes for numerous Penn Station commuters throughout the next day.
All eastbound LIRR service was halted throughout Friday, with commuters told to divert to Grand Central Station, which was able to provide service.
Then, at 12:01 a.m., on May 16 about 3,200 workers at five LIRR unions went on strike over wages.
Service problems may continue to bedevil commuters even after the first strike at the LIRR in 36 years is settled.
On June 13, the first of eight World Cup soccer matches will be held at Met Life Stadium, which FIFIA renamed NYNJ Stadium during the tournament. For four hours before and after the games, regular commuters will be bumped from NJ Transit to make way for soccer fans. After an uproar, the price of a round-trip ticket for soccer fans heading to the games on NJ Transit was cut to $99, from its original $150.
The mass transit picture is expected to be further snarled if the Knicks advance beyond the Eastern conference finals, reaching the NBA championship.
As a taste of things to come this summer, the MTA described service in the days after the tunnel fire as “extremely limited” as “crews continue repair work,” according to a message posted on the official LIRR social media page on Friday, May 15.
“Expect reroutes, cancellations and delays, and check your train’s status before heading out,” the post added.
The fire broke out in a feeder cable extended to a wall at around 11:22 a.m., on May 14, the FDNY said. A total of 84 fire and EMS personnel shut down E. 31st St., between 7th and 8th Avenues, to combat the blaze; it was under control by 1:03 p.m., just under two hours later.
No injuries were reported, although some commuters indicated that they had smelled acrid smoke. One LIRR train was stuck in the affected tunnel.
According to Amtrak, which owns the four East River tunnels, the blaze cut service to multiple tunnels. By Friday morning, Amtrak told commuters on the Northeast Corridor line to expect delays of up to 40 minutes.
NJ Transit service also continued to be affected by the fire throughout May 15, with Midtown Direct service that typically uses the affected East River tunnels diverted to Hoboken Terminal. Tickets were being cross-honored by NJ Transit, as well as PATH and private carrier buses, at Newark Penn Station and 33rd Street.
The cause of the fire was apparently started when an Amtrak train came in contact with the third rail, causing a fire.
While 300,000 daily LIRR commuters from Long Island were going to be impacted if the strike is not settled, the NJ commuters should be OK.
That is until the World Cup soccer games begin on June 13. Eight games are expected to be played at the renamed New York New Jersey Stadium (which will return to Met Life Stadium moniker when FIFA leaves town), including the final on July 19.