The Long Island Rail Road has fired an engineer accused of letting a passenger operate a rush hour train.

A spokesman for the commuter railroad says Ronald Cabrera was told of his dismissal Friday. The railroad says it conducted an internal review and concluded Cabrera failed to protect passengers, the public, employees and himself.

Cabrera is accused of letting passenger William Kutsch drive the train with nearly 400 riders aboard in July. Authorities say it went as fast as 80 mph with Kutsch at the controls.

Nassau County prosecutors charged the two with reckless endangerment. Cabrera also is charged with official misconduct. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Cabrera can appeal the firing. A message left for his lawyer wasn’t immediately returned.