MTA Test Shows LIRR Strike Shuttle Could Add 1 Hour to Penn Station Commute
Updated
Updated · News 12 Long Island · May 15
MTA Test Shows LIRR Strike Shuttle Could Add 1 Hour to Penn Station Commute
11 articles · Updated · News 12 Long Island · May 15
A Hicksville-to-Manhattan contingency trip took 1 hour 50 minutes on Thursday, about an hour longer than the usual 50-minute Long Island Rail Road ride to Penn Station.
The delay came from the MTA’s strike backup plan: shuttle buses from six Long Island pickup points to Queens subway stations, followed by a subway trip into Manhattan.
Hicksville, Mineola, Hempstead Lake State Park, Ronkonkoma, Huntington and Bay Shore are the planned pickup sites if workers walk out next week.
Commuters are already weighing workarounds, with some considering staying in Manhattan or avoiding the shuttle because the added hour each way would be hard to absorb.
The plan comes as a strike deadline nears in a wage dispute involving five unions and roughly half of the LIRR’s 7,000 workers, threatening disruption for 250,000 daily riders.
With 250,000 riders stranded, can New York's economy withstand a complete LIRR shutdown?
Why is a 0.5% pay gap pushing America's busiest railroad toward a $70 million-a-day shutdown?
LIRR Faces First Strike in 30 Years: Wage Demands, Political Pressure, and Commuter Chaos as May 16 Shutdown Looms
Overview
As of May 15, 2026, negotiations between the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and its labor unions are at a standstill, with a major strike threat escalating concerns across the region. This situation is causing widespread worry among commuters and has drawn significant political attention, especially for Governor Kathy Hochul, who is seeking re-election after previously losing Long Island and now faces a strong challenge from Bruce Blakeman. The timing of a possible LIRR shutdown could greatly impact Hochul’s campaign, making the outcome of these negotiations critical for both daily commuters and the state’s political landscape.