Investigators say the 56-year-old victim was on a northbound No. 3 train when he was approached by the suspect at the 34th Street-Penn Station stop just after 3 a.m. Monday.
On Thursday, police announced Hiram Carrero was arrested and charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal mischief, arson and reckless endangerment.
Carrero had nothing to say as he was walked out of the 9th precinct in handcuffs.
Police said the man briefly stepped into the train car, set the victim on fire and then exited onto the platform.
It was an off-duty MTA employee who saw the smoke when that train pulled into the Times Square station and alerted police.
The victim was taken to the hospital with significant burn injuries.
Police say the burns were so bad that they found charred skin in the seat where the victim was sitting.
Few other details were released.
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