LIRR Halts Penn Station Eastbound Service After 11 a.m. Tunnel Fire, Threatening Friday Commute
Updated
Updated · NBC New York · May 15
LIRR Halts Penn Station Eastbound Service After 11 a.m. Tunnel Fire, Threatening Friday Commute
12 articles · Updated · NBC New York · May 15
Most LIRR eastbound service from Penn Station remained suspended as of 8 p.m. after an electrical fire in the East River Tunnel damaged the tube, with only one outbound train running since 11 a.m.
Dozens of FDNY firefighters extinguished the blaze in about two hours, but the damage forced cancellations and diversions of most Long Island-bound trains to Grand Central or Atlantic Terminal.
Crowding built through the evening rush as riders were told to use Grand Central, switch at Jamaica for some destinations, or rely on subway cross-honoring at Penn Station, Grand Central and Queens stations.
Amtrak and NJ Transit continued using other tunnels with delays, while Amtrak briefly stopped some southbound traffic into New York and NJ Transit advised some riders to consider PATH.
The outage hit with one East River Tunnel already closed for repairs, limiting rerouting options and raising the risk of more delays, reroutes and cancellations for Friday morning.
Amidst Amtrak-MTA disputes, are tunnel repairs increasing fire risks for thousands of daily commuters?
Is this fire a warning that climate change is already overwhelming New York's aging transit systems?
With Gateway Program relief a decade away, how can New York prevent a total rail system collapse?