{"id":1272,"date":"2026-05-17T13:39:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T13:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1272"},"modified":"2026-05-17T13:39:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T13:39:41","slug":"shutdown-of-uss-largest-commuter-rail-system-enters-second-day-amid-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1272","title":{"rendered":"Shutdown of US\u2019s largest commuter rail system enters second day amid strike"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"98a33abe-cf88-40c2-b843-251e1bc08ac5\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A Long Island Rail Road train at a platform marked Track 3 with a yellow platform edge\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/bcbf92631493846acf9103787d6575e2dc5d1cd9\/584_0_5840_4672\/master\/5840.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A Long Island Railroad train at the Atlantic Terminal Station in Brooklyn, New York.<\/span> Photograph: Meir Chaimowitz\/NurPhoto\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"98a33abe-cf88-40c2-b843-251e1bc08ac5\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A Long Island Railroad train at the Atlantic Terminal Station in Brooklyn, New York.<\/span> Photograph: Meir Chaimowitz\/NurPhoto\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Shutdown of US\u2019s largest commuter rail system enters second day amid strike<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Disruption of Long Island Rail Road continues into second day after workers went on strike as Monday rush hour looms<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The shutdown of the Long Island Rail Road, North America\u2019s largest commuter rail system, continued into a second day on Sunday after unionized workers went on strike for the first time in three decades a day earlier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The railroad, which serves <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/new-york\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">New York<\/a> City and its eastern suburbs, ceased operations just after midnight Friday after five unions representing about half its workforce walked off the job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Kathy Hochul, the New York governor, who has urged commuters to work from home, planned a news conference for late Sunday morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, (MTA) the public agency that runs the railroad, have been negotiating for months on a new contract, with talks stalled over the question of workers\u2019 salaries and healthcare premiums. Donald Trump\u2019s administration tried to broker a deal, but the unions were legally allowed to strike starting at 12.01am Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Kevin Sexton, national vice-president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, has said no new negotiations have been scheduled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe\u2019re far apart at this point,\u201d Sexton said early Saturday. \u201cWe are truly sorry that we are in this situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The MTA chairman Janno Lieber said the agency \u201cgave the union everything they said they wanted in terms of pay\u201d and that to him it was apparent the unions always intended to walk out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The MTA was not expected to provide an update on the strike before the governor\u2019s news conference, which was scheduled for 11am.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The walkout, the first for the LIRR since a two-day strike in 1994, promises to cause headaches for sports fans planning to see the Yankees and Mets battle this weekend or to watch the Knicks\u2019 playoff run at Madison Square Garden, which is located directly above the railroad\u2019s Penn Station hub in Manhattan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The station was devoid of its usual weekend bustle in the afternoon Saturday. Only a few dozen people were seen traversing the main concourse, many dragging rolling luggage from departing or arriving Amtrak trains, which are not affected by the strike.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Departure boards normally showing upcoming trains by destination instead listed ghost trains marked \u201cNo Passengers\u201d. A few signs affixed to customer service windows explained that the railroad was shut down because of a strike.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Access to platforms was blocked off with bicycle-rack style barricades and roll-down gates as MTA police officers stood sentry, directing people to alternative transportation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If the stoppage continues into the workweek, the roughly 250,000 people who ride the system each weekday will be forced to find other routes to the city from its Long Island suburbs. For many that likely means navigating the region\u2019s notoriously congested roads.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Hochul, a Democrat, blamed the Trump administration for cutting mediation short and pushing the negotiations toward a strike. Trump, a Republican, responded on his Truth Social platform, saying he had nothing to do with the strike and \u201cnever even heard about it until this morning\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cNo, Kathy, it\u2019s your fault, and now looking over the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen,\u201d Trump said, renewing his endorsement of Long Island politician Bruce Blakeman, who is challenging Hochul\u2019s re-election bid. \u201cIf you can\u2019t solve it, let me know, and I\u2019ll show you how to properly get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The MTA has said it would provide limited shuttle buses to New York City subway stations, but that contingency plan was not envisioned to handle all the riders the system normally carries on a workday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/new-york\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">New York<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-unions\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US unions<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Shutdown%20of%20US%E2%80%99s%20largest%20commuter%20rail%20system%20enters%20second%20day%20amid%20strike&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/new-york-lirr-shutdown-strike?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F17%2Fnew-york-lirr-shutdown-strike&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/17\/new-york-lirr-shutdown-strike\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Long Island Railroad train at the Atlantic Terminal Station in Brooklyn, New York. Photograph: Meir Chaimowitz\/NurPhoto\/Shutterstock View<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1272"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1274,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272\/revisions\/1274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}