Long Island Rail Road Workers Launch Strike, Shutting Down Nation’s Busiest Commuter Rail Line

The shutdown of the Long Island Rail Road, which hasn’t had a full stoppage since the 1990s, affects nearly 300,000 commuters.

A sign warns commuters of a potential Long Island Rail Road strike at Penn Station in New York City on May 14, 2026. Seth Wenig/AP Photo

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service stopped entirely early Saturday due to a strike.

About 3,500 employees—including engineers, signal workers, machinists, electricians, and communications workers—from a coalition of five unions initiated a labor stoppage at 12:01 a.m. after contract negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on wage raises fell through.