Photos show strike action as North America’s largest commuter rail system shuts down

The Long Island Rail Road that serves the city’s eastern suburbs ceased operations on early Saturday morning after five unions representing about half its workforce walked off the job.

North America’s busiest commuter railway could shut down this weekend as labour unions and transit officials race to reach a deal before a looming strike deadline.

Five unions representing more than 3,500 workers — including engineers, signalmen and machinists — called the strike after contract discussions with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that runs the railroad, fell apart.

Nearly 300,000 passengers rely on the LIRR daily to travel between New York City, its boroughs and suburban Long Island.