Rail systems brace for shutdowns, Amtrak cancels routes as strike threat nears

Transit systems across the country were on edge Wednesday amid the threat of a freight rail worker strike, making preparations ahead of possible travel disruptions that could affect hundreds of thousands of rail customers. Amtrak said it is canceling all of its long-distance trains starting Thursday.

Some regional transit agencies said they are preparing for service stoppages as early as Thursday evening ahead of a possible 12:01 a.m. Friday shutdown. They are wrapping up plans to communicate with commuters if a strike is not averted, and some are working with other agencies to direct people to bus alternatives.

The disruptions to passenger systems that operate on freight lines would be felt across several major metropolitan areas, including Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. The strike threat also eliminated most Amtrak service outside the Northeast Corridor, forcing travelers to find other modes of transportation or cancel plans at the last minute.

Amtrak canceled service on all of its long-distance routes beginning Thursday, most of which have a daily trip in each direction and provide cross-country connections for thousands of Americans. Between 24 and 28 daily trains will not operate while service is suspended.

“One can just hope that there is some resolution before Friday,” said Karen Finucan Clarkson, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Railway Express, which carries commuters from Northern Virginia suburbs into the nation’s capital. “We are truly hoping that we can run a service on Friday. That would be the best for the region.”

A strike would involve workers for the two private railroads that host VRE trains — CSX and Norfolk Southern — and result in the suspension of all service. Several commuter rail agencies and the vast majority of Amtrak routes operate on tracks owned by freight railroads whose workers are threatening to strike.

Freight railroads and unions representing their workers have been negotiating a new contract as part of a longtime dispute over pay and working conditions, but have not come to an agreement. A federally mandated “cooling-off” period ends Friday, opening the possibility of a strike or lockout.

The Biden administration has sought to resolve the labor conflict to avert the possibility of one of the most disruptive strikes in recent U.S. history. The Association of American Railroads estimates a shutdown could cost the economy more than $2 billion a day and “could idle more than 7,000 trains daily and trigger retail product shortages, widespread manufacturing shutdowns, job losses and disruptions to hundreds of thousands of passenger rail customers.”

The labor dispute began taking a hit on intercity operations early in the week. Hundreds of Amtrak passengers had to change or cancel plans as the railroad cut cross-country trains on 10 of its 14 long-distance routes before expanding the service suspension Wednesday. The carrier said the changes on those multiday trips, ahead of a possible strike, were necessary to avoid passenger disruptions during a route.

The D.C.-to-Boston corridor, the nation’s busiest, would be mostly unaffected by a strike because Amtrak owns the tracks. But Amtrak said more cancellations are likely, including on state-funded, short-haul service that runs on freight lines. Amtrak operates most of its 21,000 route-miles on track owned, maintained and dispatched by freight railroads.

Major regional train systems Wednesday continued to encourage passengers to plan for alternate travel later this week.

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About the Author: Patriotman

Patriotman currently ekes out a survivalist lifestyle in a suburban northeastern state as best as he can. He has varied experience in political science, public policy, biological sciences, and higher education. Proudly Catholic and an Eagle Scout, he has no military experience and thus offers a relatable perspective for the average suburban prepper who is preparing for troubled times on the horizon with less than ideal teams and in less than ideal locations. Brushbeater Store Page: http://bit.ly/BrushbeaterStore

4 Comments

  1. Whip Line September 14, 2022 at 16:44

    I have heard the Longshoreman have pledged to join with the railroad workers strike.

    • Patriotman September 14, 2022 at 20:09

      I have heard that as well

  2. Chris September 14, 2022 at 17:07

    UNIONS.

    One of America’s LARGEST Economic BA Problems.
    They have become the abusers.

    Fuck’em !

    Get a job on your own merits and hold it !
    Not some twat ass union and it’s “Rules”

    I hate fucking unions, HATE Them

  3. Calvin September 15, 2022 at 05:02

    I am a freight train engineer and have worked for the railroad for more than 20 years. I’m required to be a union member to work where I do. Never been a fan of unions or their politics, but the rail carriers have a master/slave mentality. They put in writing in their industry comments for the Presidential Emergency Board that our “labor does not contribute to profits”- I think they accidentally said the quiet part out loud. I’m sure this week everyone who has watched a news segment on the topic will suddenly be an expert on rail labor negotiations. Just know this- it isn’t about greedy workers wanting more money- it’s about requiring workers to sacrifice everything to make a living. I can tell you firsthand- there is a reason that “getting railroaded” means what it means. In fact there are many reasons.

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