May 16, 2026, 3:43 PM GMT
MTA releases new statement following LIRR strike announcement
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber released a new statement on X about LIRR strike negotiations.
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.
Last updated: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 10:48PM GMT
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
- May 19, 2026, 5:17 PM GMT
- May 19, 2026, 4:39 PM GMT
- May 19, 2026, 12:49 AM GMT
Here's how the news is developing.
May 16, 2026, 2:36 PM GMT
Queens Borough President speaks to Eyewitness News amid LIRR strike
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. says he is very concerned about the impact of the LIRR strike.
Richards Jr. says the buses and subways will be 'chaos' if the strike continues into Monday.
May 16, 2026, 2:27 PM GMT
Islip town supervisor Angie Carpenter shares station plans amid LIRR strike
Angie Carpenter told Eyewitness News the town is trying to accommodate commuters.
The Bayshore station is going to be a staging area for buses, and the parking enforcement has been suspended amid the strike.
May 16, 2026, 12:50 PM GMT
Blakeman blames Hochul for the strike
Nassau County Executive and candidate for Governor of New York Bruce Blakeman blamed Governor Hochul for the LIRR in a statement issued on Saturday.
"Hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders woke up to chaos because Kathy Hochul failed to do her job. This strike didn't come out of nowhere - Hochul knew this deadline was coming and still allowed commuters, small businesses, nurses, teachers, and tourists to become collateral damage. Hochul can't pass a budget on time, can't keep the trains running, and cares more about bailing out Zohran Mamdani than the commuters stranded on platforms. Hands down, Hochul is the worst governor in America," he wrote.
