Penn Station fire delays LIRR trains

An early morning fire near Penn Station cause some delays for commuters early Tuesday morning. Some LIRR trains were rerouted to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn; others were sent to Hunters Point Avenue in Queens. A few trains were canceled at Jamaica Terminal in Queens. There was no permanent damage to the platform and track areas. Normal rail service resumed later that day, and no further problems were anticipated for the evening rush. The A, E and C subway lines resumed running through the area at 5:38 a.m. with residual delays. The fire struck out at 2:22 a.m. in an underground construction site at 34th Street and Eighth Avenue. By 5:22 a.m., it was brought under control. Hours later, smoke was still visible in the area surrounding the rail hub located near Madison Square Garden and the James Farley Post Office building. The cause of the fire is still undetermined.