Loose Acela panel sparks Penn Station tunnel fire, halting major NYC rail service

A dangling metal panel from Amtrak’s NextGen Acela car 2155 likely bridged the East River Tunnel’s third rail, triggering an electrical fire that knocked out NJ Transit and LIRR service into New York Penn Station. With tracks 3 and 4 out, most LIRR trains were diverted to Grand Central Madison and NJ Transit to Hoboken, leaving Penn Station largely unusable while signaling repairs were completed and tracks were tested for reopening. Amtrak said signaling work was finished and tracks 3–4 were set to reopen after testing, though remaining service restoration and ongoing union negotiations added uncertainty for Friday into Saturday.