A massive brush fire paralyzed rail service in and out of New York Penn Station late Wednesday, leaving train commuters facing a messy Thursday morning trek into Manhattan.
The fire broke out Wednesday evening along the tracks near one of the Hudson River tunnels. Heavy smoke and safety concerns forced transit officials to suspend all rail service as fire crews battled the flames.
Emergency crews brought the brush fire under control overnight, but the aftermath is spilling into the morning rush hour.
NJ Transit warned commuters to expect residual delays across multiple rail lines Thursday morning. The suspension caused equipment bottlenecks and scheduling backlogs that transit workers are still working to untangle.
Amtrak service along the Northeast Corridor is also experiencing cascading delays as a result of the trackside fire.
Commuters are urged to check the NJ Transit mobile app, monitor departure boards and cross-reference schedules before heading out. NJ Transit buses and PATH trains are being recommended as alternate options to bypass congestion.