A fire aboard a rail yard train car near Penn Station early Friday morning injured five people and caused major disruptions for thousands of commuters traveling into New York City during the morning rush hour. Authorities said the blaze broke out around 1:30 a.m. in one of the Hudson River tunnels connected to the station, prompting a large emergency response and widespread delays across regional rail networks.

According to fire officials, approximately 100 firefighters responded to the scene after reports of an Amtrak maintenance or work train car catching fire on Track 11. Five transit workers were injured in the incident, with two suffering serious injuries and transported to nearby hospitals. The remaining three declined medical treatment at the scene.

The fire caused significant overhead wire damage, severely affecting rail traffic into and out of Penn Station, one of the busiest transportation hubs in the United States. Amtrak temporarily suspended service south of New York until at least midday, warning passengers of lengthy delays on trains traveling north of the city as well.

NJ Transit suspended service between Penn Station and Newark during the morning commute, rerouting some Midtown Direct trains to Hoboken Terminal. Meanwhile, the Long Island Rail Road briefly halted service before partially restoring operations, diverting several branches to Grand Central Terminal instead.

The disruption comes just over a week after a strike temporarily shut down Long Island Rail Road service, adding to frustrations for commuters already dealing with ongoing transportation challenges across the region. Social media and commuter forums quickly filled with reports of canceled trains, crowded platforms, and long waits as travelers scrambled to find alternate routes into Manhattan.

Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the fire, and investigations remain ongoing. Transportation authorities continue working to repair the damaged infrastructure and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.