Hundreds of thousands stranded after the Long Island Rail Road shut down over failed union talks..
Workers walked out on wages and benefits leaving daily riders scrambling for expensive Ubers and buses..
One guy dropped $200 just to get to a family graduation..
MTA and union pointing fingers while summer travel season starts..
State leaders pushed for mediation but no quick fix in sight..
Social media flooded with complaints about the sudden chaos..
Strike hits hardest for regular working folks who rely on the trains..
This mess drags on and everybody stuck in the middle gets pissed..
Systemwide shutdown of the nation’s busiest commuter rail; 300,000 daily riders stranded.
LIRR strike is in effect
LIRR service is suspended due to a strike.A strike will have a devastating impact on the nearly 300,000 passengers who depend on the LIRR to get where they need to go every single day. MTA leaders will continue to negotiate with the unions to resolve the strike.
Please see below for travel alternatives while service is suspended.
Work from home if possible
Unfortunately, there is no substitute for the Long Island Rail Road, and its shutdown will cause severe congestion and delays. Avoid nonessential travel and work from home if possible.If you must commute, give yourself ample travel time, no matter which mode you take. There will be congestion on the roads and travel alternatives will be near or at capacity due to an influx of additional riders.
Travel alternatives
Shuttle buses
The MTA will provide limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute. Buses will run during peak hours (toward Manhattan from 4:30 to 9 a.m. and to Long Island from 3 to 7 p.m.) to/from six locations on Long Island to subway transfer points in Queens. There will also be limited reverse peak service available on some routes.
3,500 workers strike across five transit unions; picket lines formed at Penn Station and Ronkonkoma.