NEGOTIATORS have reached a deal to end a strike that halted services on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), the busiest commuter rail system in North America.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Monday that the deal would not increase fares or taxes and would give workers fair wages. She said she was not free to disclose specific details while the new contract terms are being considered and voted on by union members.

The deal comes years after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and five unions started bargaining on a new contract. Union members went on strike on Saturday, halting service for roughly 250,000 commuters who use the rail system between New York and the city’s eastern suburbs every weekday.

A full service was expected to be restored by this afternoon’s rush hour.

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen vice-president Kevin Sexton said the unions believed they had reached a fair deal, but he wouldn’t disclose any specifics until the details could be shared with members.

The unions, representing about half the rail network’s workforce, had demanded rises to keep up with inflation and rising living costs.