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.

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May 16, 2026, 9:25 AM GMT

LIRR unions counter MTA proposal; both sides expected to negotiate up until deadline: sources

Both sides are still going back and forth after the MTA presented a new proposal and the LIRR unions countered, according to sources.

They are expected to negotiate, potentially, up until the midnight deadline.

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May 16, 2026, 9:25 AM GMT

MTA brings new proposal to the table; unions reviewing

The MTA has brought a new proposal to the table that is now being reviewed by the union. The union is deciding on a counter.

The details of the proposal have not been revealed.

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May 16, 2026, 9:25 AM GMT

MTA and unions about 1% apart on wages, LIRR union spokesperson says

A spokesperson for the coalition of LIRR unions representing workers said negotiations will continue Friday evening. The MTA will come back to them with another proposal between 5 and 6 p.m., and they are planning a news conference around 7 p.m.

For now, the MTA and unions are about 1% apart on wages, the union spokesperson said. LIRR has come down from 5% and MTA has gone up from 3%. MTA is in the mid-3% range and LIRR is in the upper-4% range.

May 16, 2026, 9:25 AM GMT

LIST: Final trains if LIRR strike goes into effect amid preps for 'orderly shutdown'

The MTA has posted the schedule of the last LIRR trains to run in the event of a strike at midnight.

The agency said it will implement an orderly shutdown in the event of a strike

LIRR officials held a briefing Friday afternoon to discuss the possible worker strike.

"If the strike does happen at 12:01 am, LIRR trains that are in service before midnight on Friday, May 15 will continue to their final destination. We recommend that you plan to finish your trip before midnight."

During the weekdays, the MTA will operate shuttle buses during the peak periods (4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.). The buses have the capacity to transport about 13,000 riders from east to the city, and will drop off at bus locations in Queens where they'll have signs and MTA staff to assist customers, according to MTA officials.

This is the shuttle bus contingency plans if there is a strike.

The MTA also said they would work quickly and as soon as possible to resume service once the strike ends but that it would take them some time to resume service once the strike ends, due to the crew rest periods, where the equipment is and what time the strike ends.

See the list of last trains below:

Babylon Branch
11:45 p.m. westbound from Babylon to Penn Station
11:51 p.m. eastbound from Penn Station to Babylon

Brooklyn service
11:31 p.m. from Atlantic Terminal to Jamaica
11:39 p.m. from Jamaica to Atlantic Terminal

Far Rockaway Branch
11:30 p.m. eastbound from Grand Central to Far Rockaway
11:14 p.m. westbound from Far Rockaway to Grand Central

Hempstead Branch
10:55 p.m. westbound from Hempstead to Grand Central
11:54 p.m. eastbound from Grand Central to Hempstead

Long Beach Branch
10:53 p.m. westbound from Long Beach to Penn Station
11:57 p.m. eastbound from Penn Station to Long Beach

Montauk Branch
8:50 p.m. eastbound from Jamaica to Montauk
10:53 p.m. eastbound from Jamaica to Speonk
10:03 p.m. westbound from Montauk to Jamaica
11:30 p.m. westbound from Patchogue to Jamaica

Oyster Bay Branch
11:30 p.m. westbound from Oyster Bay to Jamaica
11:43 p.m. eastbound from Jamaica to Oyster Bay

Port Jefferson Branch
10:20 p.m. eastbound from Penn Station to Huntington with connection to Port Jefferson
11:48 p.m. eastbound from Penn Station to Huntington with no connection to Port Jefferson
11:52 p.m. westbound from Huntington to Penn Station
9:26 p.m. westbound from Port Jefferson to Huntington with connection to Penn Station
11:28 p.m. westbound from Port Jefferson to Huntington with no connection at Huntington

Port Washington Branch
11:36 p.m. westbound from Port Washington to Penn Station
11:45 p.m. from Penn Station to Port Washington

Ronkonkoma Branch
11:37 p.m. eastbound from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma
11:54 p.m. westbound from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station

West Hempstead Branch
11:18 p.m. eastbound from Jamaica to West Hempstead
11:58 p.m. westbound from West Hempstead to Jamaica