Transit officials and unions representing Long Island Rail Road employees sealed a new contract Monday, ending a three‑day strike that halted service across Long Island. Despite the agreement, Tuesday morning trains ran on a skeletal schedule, leaving commuters to scramble for alternate routes. L.I.R.R. president Rob Free promised full service by 4 p.m., aiming to restore the evening rush.

Students and teachers felt the pinch. Ivan DeLeon, 26, drove from Merrick to Citi Field and caught the subway, adding fuel costs amid soaring gas prices. Rashida Omar, a Queens math teacher commuting to Newark, reported a 40‑minute increase to reach state‑testing schools. Both said they had no option but to endure the disrupted timetable through the lingering uncertainty today.

Business travelers and city workers also navigated detours. Martine Hackett, a health‑department consultant, drove from Uniondale to a West Side shelter training, noting that colleagues outside Long Island remained oblivious to her ordeal. Evening commuters like Sean Higgins opted to stay home, avoiding the three‑hour return trip. The strike’s fallout underscores the fragile dependence of the economy on rail reliability.