Overview
- An Amtrak contractor maintenance train car caught fire on Track 11 just outside the Hudson River tunnels early Friday, May 29, and the FDNY declared a two‑alarm response that brought the blaze under control around 4:05 a.m.
- Five rail workers were evaluated at the scene and two were taken to Bellevue Hospital with serious injuries while three declined treatment.
- The blaze damaged overhead catenary wires, signals and track equipment, leading Amtrak to suspend southbound service into New York until at least noon and forcing NJ Transit and the LIRR to suspend, divert or cross‑honor tickets for affected riders.
- MTA CEO Janno Lieber said the fire followed a collision of two work trains and criticized Amtrak’s handling, but Amtrak and the FDNY say the precise cause remains under investigation.
- Penn Station is a critical Northeast Corridor hub that serves hundreds of thousands daily, so the incident adds to recent regional disruptions and could increase scrutiny of Amtrak’s tunnel maintenance and interagency coordination as crews complete repairs and restore full service.