Trains are rolling again on the Long Island Rail Road after a deal was reached to end a strike that shut down the busiest commuter rail system in the United States.
The first trains departed from New York City’s two main rail hubs, Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, shortly after noon Tuesday. The railroad’s 11 unions reached an agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to restart service, with full operations planned for the evening commute home.
MSI previously reported that negotiators had reached a tentative deal to end the walkout. Deal reached to end Long Island Rail Road strike.
The strike was the Long Island Rail Road’s first walkout since a two-day strike in 1994.
Riders had mixed reactions. Michele Forrester, who relies on the LIRR to get to her job at a grocery on Long Island, was among the commuters waiting at the Jamaica, Queens, hub Tuesday afternoon.
“I just feel like it should not have gotten to this point in the first place,” Forrester said. “With how much they make, it feels like other people are struggling to get by, and they’re talking about getting more money.”
Service was expected to return to normal schedules by Tuesday evening.