NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 18: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) workers wait to direct commuters to alternate routes as Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) workers strike at Penn Station on May 18, 2026 in New York City. A complete shutdown has crippled North America's largest commuter rail system after Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) workers officially walked off the job following a midnight contract deadline on May 16. Labor union representatives and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) failing to reach an agreement, the strike has instantly disrupted travel for approximately 250,000 daily weekday riders. Commuters are now forced to navigate an gridlocked tri-state area using crowded emergency shuttle buses and packed local highways. (Credit: Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Monday's commute for Long Island Rail Road riders was defined by long waits, crowded shuttle buses, and an overall sense of uncertainty as the strike entered another weekday and thousands of New Yorkers scrambled to get to work.
With train service still suspended, commuters were pushed onto a limited shuttle bus network, subways, car pools, and other alternate routes, creating a very different morning than the usual rush-hour ride into the city.
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