Looming strike prompts Amtrak to cancel some long-distance routes

In preparation for a rail labor strike that could begin as early as Friday, Amtrak today began canceling trips over three long-distance routes.

Amtrak is suspending service for its Southwest Chief, Empire Builder, California Zephyr and the Los Angeles-to-San Antonio portion of the Texas Eagle routes.

Although a strike would not involve Amtrak employees, a strike by freight-rail workers would impact the freight railroads on whose tracks Amtrak trains operate.

The nation's major freight railroads and rail labor unions have been in discussions over whether to accept the Presidential Emergency Board's recommendations for settling a long dispute over a new contract. A cooling-off period that began after the PEB issued its report last month expires at 12:01 a.m. EDT Friday, after which a strike may occur.

"While we are hopeful that parties will reach a resolution, Amtrak has now begun phased adjustments to our service in preparation for a possible freight-rail service interruption later this week," Amtrak officials said in a prepared statement. "Such an interruption could significantly impact intercity passenger-rail service, as Amtrak operates almost all of our 21,000 route miles outside the Northeast Corridor (NEC) on track owned, maintained and dispatched by freight railroads."

The schedule adjustments are necessary to ensure trains can reach terminals before a freight-rail service interruption, they added.

Most travel within the Amtrak-owned NEC and related branch lines would not be affected. The Acela service would operate a full schedule, and only a small number of Northeast Regional departures would be impacted, Amtrak officials said.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden yesterday made calls to union leaders and rail companies to press for a contract resolution to avert a national strike, The Washington Post reported. Biden administration officials have started preparing for a potential shutdown, which they warned would have a devastating impact on the nation's economy.

Also, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer yesterday said Congress would act to avert a national rail strike, according to Bloomberg.com. 

U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) yesterday announced they've introduced a resolution to require adoption of the PEB's recommendations for a settlement. The resolution is designed to prevent a strike if contract negotiations are not soon resolved, the senators said in a joint press release.

Burr is a ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; Wicker is a ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.