Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) workers protest outside Penn Station during the third day of a strike by the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), the nation’s largest commuter rail system, in New York City, U.S., May 18, 2026. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
(New York, New York) – The Long Island Rail Road strike is expected to come to an end after the MTA and union leaders reached a tentative contract agreement Monday night.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the agreement, saying LIRR service is set to restart Tuesday at noon.
The deal follows a three-day shutdown that began just after midnight Saturday, leaving hundreds of thousands of Long Island commuters scrambling for other ways to get into and out of New York City.
The strike brought service on one of the nation’s busiest commuter railroads to a halt, impacting riders who rely on the LIRR for work, school and travel across the region.
The unions involved represent a major portion of LIRR employees, including train crews, engineers and signal workers. Contract talks had dragged on for months before the walkout, with pay and health care costs among the major issues at the center of negotiations.
The MTA had put together alternate travel options during the shutdown, including shuttle buses, but officials continued urging riders to work remotely or avoid unnecessary travel when possible.
With a deal now in place, the focus turns to getting trains back on schedule and restoring normal service for commuters.
Riders are being urged to check the MTA’s latest service updates before heading out Tuesday, as the railroad works to bring operations back online.
