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LIRR strike ends as unions, MTA reach deal after 3-day walkout

Long Island Rail Road started running trains at noon Tuesday, with full service to all branches by the afternoon rush hour.

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Last updated: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 10:48PM GMT
Commuters relieved to have ride after 3-day LIRR strike

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Negotiators have reached a deal to end a strike that has brought North America's largest commuter rail system to a standstill.

CURRENT STATUS: LIRR unions, MTA reach deal to end 3-day strike.

The deal between the Long Island Rail Road and union leaders was announced on Monday. The two sides had bargained for years before the strike began Saturday.

The shutdown forced roughly 250,000 commuters who ride the system each weekday to work from home or find alternate routes to and from the city.

LIRR service started back up beginning Tuesday at noon.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
May 16, 2026, 9:25 AM GMT

Gov. Hochul says a strike 'could be terrible for everyone involved'

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was asked about the potential LIRR strike at an event on Monday morning.

She said a "strike could be terrible for everyone involved, full stop."

"That is why my team and I have been immersed in the details of what the asks are, what can be afforded, what sets the pattern for other unions, right? That you got to look at the whole picture."

Hochul said she has been getting daily briefings and she is encouraging both sides to get back to the negotiating table.

"I think there's some conversations going on, perhaps even now, and I'm involved, and I want to say that we do not want to strike," she said. "We just want to make sure that New York is affordable for everyone, to make sure we, as they negotiate, they get the deal that's going to prevent a strike, I'm committed to that, we're working hard on this."

May 16, 2026, 9:25 AM GMT

Contract talks resume Monday afternoon in Bethpage; Union releases statement

The contract talks scheduled between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the coalition of five Long Island Rail Road unions will resume Monday afternoon in Bethpage.

The unions say despite a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m., Saturday May 16, the MTA has shown no sense of urgency.

"It's clear that the MTA's strategy up until now - if you can call it that -- is to deflect, distort, dither and denigrate. The May 16 strike date is approaching. It's time for management to get serious about negotiating wages," said Michael Sullivan, General Chairman --BRS.

May 16, 2026, 9:25 AM GMT

What are the contingency plans if there is a strike?

More than a quarter million people ride the LIRR each day.

If there is a strike, the MTA would run free shuttle bus service from a limited number of LIRR stations -- Lakeview, Hicksville, Ronkonkoma, Mineola, and Huntington -- bringing riders to a subway station.

May 16, 2026, 9:25 AM GMT

When was the last LIRR strike?

If there is a strike this weekend, it will mark the railroad's first strike in more than 30 years.

The last one happened back in 1994 and shut down service for two days.

Before that, there was a longer LIRR strike in 1987 that lasted 11 days.

Recent strike threats in 2025 were avoided through federal mediation.

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