An early morning fire at Penn Station in Manhattan disrupted train services on Friday. The incident affected Amtrak, NJ Transit, and the Long Island Railroad, causing significant inconveniences for commuters.
The fire happened near the North River Tunnel, which connects Penn Station to New Jersey. Many Long Island Railroad (LIRR) services were canceled. Some services resumed around 7 a.m. NJ Transit trains heading to Newark and Amtrak trains traveling south of New York were also suspended. Amtrak announced delays for trains between New York City and northern destinations.
The impact of the delays extended beyond the North River Tunnel. NJ Transit disruptions also affected MetroNorth services, particularly on the Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines. NJ Transit announced on social media, “Due to Amtrak overhead wire damage resulting from an earlier Amtrak track car fire in one tube of the North River Tunnel, NJ Transit rail service is suspended between Penn Station New York and Newark Penn Station.”
An Amtrak representative said the fire started at about 1:25 a.m. because of an “Amtrak contractor maintenance vehicle” near the tunnel. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) responded shortly after 1:30 a.m. By 2:43 a.m., it became a two-alarm fire, with 141 firefighters and EMS crews tackling the blaze. They controlled the fire by 4 a.m. Five people suffered injuries; three refused treatment, and two were taken to Bellevue Hospital with serious injuries.
Mayor Mamdani praised the quick response of firefighters and EMS members on social media. “I am grateful to the brave firefighters and EMS members who responded quickly to extinguish this train fire and protect New Yorkers in a moment of danger,” the Mayor stated. He also wished a swift recovery for those injured.
Amtrak, the owner of Penn Station and the tunnels, reported that the fire damaged overhead wires essential for powering Amtrak and NJ Transit trains. They estimated the southbound service suspension would last until Friday afternoon. “Amtrak apologizes for the inconvenience and is providing rebooking opportunities and refunds while it works to return to scheduled service levels,” the organization announced.
This fire is the second such incident at this major rail hub recently. Earlier this month, an Amtrak Acela train’s dangling panel caused an electrical fire, disrupting services for two days.