Fire in train car near New York City’s Penn Station injures five and disrupts service | New York

A fire broke out in a railroad car near New York’s Penn Station early Friday, injuring five people and disrupting service for many passengers, authorities said.

The fire caused train delays on New Jersey Transit and Amtrak rail service to New York, and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service was briefly suspended more than a week after a strike shut down that system.

New Jersey Transit reported on X that it was a burning Amtrak train car “in one of the Hudson River tunnels.” It was stated that the fire caused “damage to overhead cables”.

“The effects are expected to last until the morning rush hour,” the statement said.

Amtrak said it was suspending service on the X until at least noon for maintenance resulting from a “suppressed fire in the New York area.” It was stated that long delays were expected on trains heading to northern New York.

It did not release any information about the fire itself. An email seeking comment was sent to Amtrak.

Fire officials said 100 firefighters responded to the blaze early Friday and five people were injured. Two of them were hospitalized. Their conditions were not immediately known.

Penn Station, below Madison Square Garden, can serve approximately 600,000 passengers per day via Amtrak, the New York subway system, New Jersey Transit and the LIRR.

More details coming soon …