May 18, 2026, 5:16 PM GMT
Commuters and workers impacted by LIRR strike speak out
Long Island reporter Krista McNally spoke to commuters and railroad workers who hit the picket line on Monday.
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 18, 2026, 5:01 PM GMT
Hochul gets briefing on commute, closely monitoring strike
Gov. Hochul received a briefing on the morning commute at 11 a.m.
"Governor Hochul continues to closely monitor the LIRR strike and travel alternatives. At 11am, she received a briefing from MTA and state leaders on this morning's commute and the status of negotiations between the MTA and LIRR unions," a spokesperson said. "She is pleased that the unions accepted her invitation to return to the table and encourages both parties to continue negotiating in good faith."
May 18, 2026, 2:59 PM GMT
MTA and unions return to bargaining table
Representatives for the MTA and the LIRR unions have been at the table since about 7:30 a.m. on Monday.
Sunday night's talks ended around 1:30 a.m.
Many questions remain: When will both sides reach a deal? When they do, how soon will trains start moving?
N.J. Burkett is outside MTA headquarters in Lower Manhattan where negotiations are ongoing:
May 18, 2026, 2:52 PM GMT
Long Island drivers cope with slow traffic during LIRR strike
Those who opted to drive from Long Island to New York City on Monday morning dealt with early congestion amid the LIRR strike.
Eyewitness News reporter Lindsay Tuchman was in RoadCam 7 all morning to clock the commute.
