Five unions representing nearly half of the Long Island Rail Road’s workforce could walk off the job as early as Thursday, Sept. 18 after contract negotiations with the MTA broke down. The workers have gone three years without a new contract, but MTA officials said the unions have failed to return to the table to negotiate to avoid a strike.

A strike could affect nearly 300,000 LIRR daily riders, the largest commuter railroad-riding population in the country,

Transit officials urged office workers who can work from home to do so in the event of a strike. They noted LIRR riders who have cars can drive into the city and park at subway stations in Queens. The agency plans to run shuttle buses every 10 minutes from three LIRR stations.

“We  couldn't possibly replace the full service that LI

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