LIRR strike live updates: LIRR, MTA reach agreement to end 3-day strike, Gov. Hochul announces

Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday after not reaching a new contract deal with the MTA.

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Last updated: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 2:22AM GMT
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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.

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

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

Eyewitness News has team coverage of the LIRR strike.

The five unions represent about half its workforce, including engineers, signalmen and trainmen.

The unions and the MTA have been negotiating for months on a new contract, with talks stalled over workers' salaries and healthcare premiums.

Stay with Eyewitness News for complete coverage of the strike, including an early edition of Eyewitness News, starting at 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
1 hour and 5 minutes ago

Here's what to know about plans to resume LIRR service

Long Island Rail Road service will resume beginning at noon on Tuesday.

Beginning at 12 p.m. Tuesday, hourly train service will operate on four main branches with electric train service including Ronkonkoma, Babylon, Port Washington, and Huntington.

Full service is expected to be restored in time for the evening rush hour and the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden.

Full peak service is expected across all branches, including diesel service by the evening commute.

Tuesday morning will follow Monday's contingency bus service.

1 hour and 28 minutes ago

LIRR Unions give update after deal reacted to end strike

LIRR Unions held a press conference after a 'fair' deal was reached to end the 3-day strike.

Long Island Rail Road union leaders spoke after announcement of deal to end 3-day strike.
2 hours and 21 minutes ago

LIRR, MTA reach contract agreement to end transit strike, Gov. Hochul announces

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on social media that the MTA and LIRR unions have reached a deal and LIRR service will resume beginning Tuesday at noon

May 18, 2026, 8:51 PM GMT

Shuttle bus ridership lower than expected on Monday; Blakeman gives update

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said not enough people took advantage of the emergency provisions in place on Monday.

Those include extra buses, which officials estimate only 2,100 people used on Monday.

There is also free parking at county parks so people can carpool.

"We highly recommend this, you can get your colleague, your friends, your neighbors together, get a plan, make sure that you get a lot of people in your vehicles," Blakeman said.

Blakeman is running for governor as a republican and quickly blamed Gov. Kathy Hochul for the strike.