Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
An electrical fire in an East River tunnel at Penn Station on Thursday morning continues to disrupt Long Island Rail Road service into Friday evening, according to ABC7 New York. The fire broke out just before 11:30 a.m. Thursday on 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues in a section of the tunnel owned by Amtrak that links Penn Station to Jamaica.
FDNY crews responded to the blaze, which filled at least one train with smoke and forced power shutdowns to multiple tracks. No injuries were reported in the incident, though fire officials are still investigating the cause of the electrical fire.
The affected tunnel section is currently undergoing repairs following damage from Superstorm Sandy. Officials with the Long Island Rail Road said they do not expect service to be fully restored by Friday’s evening commute, creating ongoing headaches for thousands of commuters.
As of 11 a.m. Friday, LIRR was running limited half-hourly service between Penn Station and Jamaica in both directions, while all other trains were being diverted to Grand Central Madison. The diversions created what officials described as a “messy commute” Friday morning as passengers scrambled to adjust their travel plans.
A frustrated MTA spokesperson released a pointed statement about the incident: “Amtrak equipment. Amtrak tunnel. Amtrak tracks. LIRR riders once again are inconvenienced by this Amtrak situation.” The MTA directed affected LIRR riders to use Atlantic Terminal or Grand Central Madison as alternative boarding points.
The disruption also impacted NJ Transit service, though those trains were operating on or close to schedule by Friday with only residual delays for trains already en route. NJ Transit’s Midtown Direct service continues to be diverted into Hoboken Terminal, and Amtrak warned passengers to expect delays on their routes as well.
Location & Road Context
The electrical fire occurred in one of the critical East River tunnels that serve as a vital transportation link between Manhattan and Long Island. Penn Station, located in Midtown Manhattan, serves as the primary hub for LIRR commuters traveling between the city and Nassau and Suffolk counties.
The affected tunnel infrastructure is owned and maintained by Amtrak, though it carries LIRR trains that transport hundreds of thousands of Long Island residents daily. The ongoing repairs from Superstorm Sandy damage highlight the aging infrastructure challenges facing the regional rail network.
Broader Impact
To help stranded commuters, the subway system is cross-honoring LIRR tickets at multiple stations including 34th Street-Penn Station, Forest Hills-71st Avenue, Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike, Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer on the E line, Grand Central-42nd Street on the 4, 5, 6, and 7 lines, and Woodside-61st Street on the 7 line. The MTA advised all LIRR passengers to check their train status for ongoing delays, reroutes, and cancellations as crews work to restore full service.