Five transit workers were injured after an Amtrak maintenance train caught fire inside a Hudson River tunnel serving New York Penn Station at about 1:30 a.m. The blaze, on a work train near 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues, produced heavy smoke and prompted a large FDNY response that knocked operations at the hub into disarray. FDNY said 46 units and 141 personnel were deployed, two victims with serious injuries were taken to Bellevue Hospital and three others declined further treatment. Amtrak opened an investigation and warned riders that full restoration into Penn Station would be staggered into the afternoon.
Widespread suspensions and reroutes across Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and the Long Island Rail Road followed after the maintenance train fire, officials said, forcing commuters to reroute and agencies to cut power and inspect damaged infrastructure.
FDNY response and injuries
Fire department records show crews were dispatched in force, with the department deploying 46 units and 141 personnel to the scene to fight the blaze and clear smoke from the tunnel. FDNY Deputy Chief Michael Barvels described a "very heavy smoke condition, high heat, a lot of hazards down there, tripping hazards, electrical hazards," and said crews used emergency exits to reach and extinguish the blaze. Firefighters reported the fire was under control by about 4:05 a.m.
The agency said the incident involved Amtrak contractor maintenance vehicles on track 11. Emergency medical crews evaluated five people at the scene, identifying all as transit workers who had been working on the maintenance train. FDNY and local emergency services transported two victims with serious injuries to Bellevue Hospital, and three others declined further treatment. No fatalities were reported.
Officials said damage to overhead wiring contributed to the interruption of service, and that power was cut to affected lines while crews inspected wiring and cleared smoke and debris. That combination of smoke, heat and electrical hazards shaped the initial firefighting strategy and delayed the timeline for reopening the affected tracks.
Service disruptions and recovery
Messages displayed inside Penn Station and announcements across agency channels reflected the broad outage. Amtrak temporarily suspended service into Penn Station and warned riders that restoration to normal schedules would be phased in through the afternoon. Amtrak said it opened an investigation into the cause of the maintenance-train fire and that it would post further schedule updates as recovery work progressed.
The railroad also said it was providing rebooking opportunities and refunds while it worked to return to scheduled service levels.
New Jersey Transit halted Midtown Direct service into Penn Station and diverted trains to Hoboken Terminal. NJ Transit also implemented cross-honoring of rail tickets on private buses and PATH trains to help passengers reach 33rd Street in Manhattan. The Long Island Rail Road suspended operations into Penn Station on affected branches and rerouted several trains to Grand Central and Long Island City. LIRR service had begun partial restoration by early morning, but cancellations and equipment issues continued to affect schedules.
An MTA spokesperson issued a terse statement blaming Amtrak infrastructure, saying in part, "Amtrak equipment. Amtrak tunnel. Amtrak tracks. LIRR riders once again are inconvenienced by this Amtrak situation." That comment showed the interdependence of operators that share the Penn Station complex and the tunnels under the Hudson River.
Videos from inside some commuter cars captured heavy smoke and passengers being evacuated or waiting on platforms as firefighters moved through the tunnel. With tracks taken out of service and power cut to affected lines, agencies directed trains away from the hub and moved to contingency plans while inspectors and repair crews worked to clear hazards.
Authorities stressed safety precautions during cleanup and repairs. FDNY and the rail operators warned commuters to expect delays while crews inspected and repaired damaged wiring and cleared smoke and debris.
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Amtrak said full service into Penn Station would not resume until the afternoon, with staggered reopenings across corridors and rebooking and refund options available while crews complete inspections and repairs.
