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9/15/2022
Amtrak and other passenger-rail services preemptively suspended this week in anticipation of a freight-rail strike are returning to normal, now that a tentative labor agreement between freight railroads and rail unions is in place.
Amtrak yesterday announced a total cancelation of long-distance routes after a phased introduction of cancelations began earlier this week. Except for the Northeast Corridor — which Amtrak owns, operates and maintains — Amtrak trains run on track owned and maintained by freight railroads.
"Amtrak is working to quickly restore canceled trains and reaching out to impacted customers to accommodate on first available departures,” said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari in an email issued after the tentative labor contract was announced.
For Chicago commuter railroad Metra, four of its lines are owned and operated directly by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway Co. Metra announced this morning service will return to normal as soon as this evening.
“The late Thursday evening trains that had been canceled by BNSF and Union Pacific in anticipation of a strike will now run as scheduled,” Metra officials said in a message to riders. “We are greatly relieved that we will be able to continue to provide the safe and reliable service that you deserve and that you rely upon.”
Caltrain in Santa Clara County, California, also was taking steps, as a potential strike would have disrupted its service. The Gilroy segment of the Caltrain corridor is owned by UP.
"An agreement has been reached in the national rail labor discussions. We do not expect service impacts," Caltrain officials tweeted this morning.
Other passenger systems that announced potential changes due to a strike included Sound Transit in Washington, Metrolink in Southern California, Metro Transit in Minnesota, Virginia Railway Express and the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration, which operates Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) trains.
The 20-hour negotiation period led to a "hard-fought, mutually beneficial deal," U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said today on Twitter. Walsh was among Biden administration officials involved in the marathon negotiation session that wrapped up early this morning.
"Our rail system is integral to our supply chain, and a disruption would have had catastrophic impacts on industries, travelers and families across the country," Walsh tweeted.