The effect of the potential rail strike on Amtrak

[Gary Behling]

If my trip gets cancelled this would be the latest in a long line of cancellations for me.

Since 2016

9/2016-Cancelled for sick member of party (3 days before)
1/2017-Cancelled for sick member of party (day before)
5/2017-Amtrak cancelled train
9/2017-Cancelled for heavy rain concerns
1/2018-Cancelled for snowstorm
4/2018-Cancelled for sick member of party (1 hour before)
7/2018-Cancelled for car did not start that morning
9/2018-Cancelled for sudden heavy rain storm the morning of depature
12/2018-Cancelled for sick member of party (30 minutes before)
4/2019-Amtrak cancelled train
9/2019-Cancelled for car did not start that morning
3/2020-COVID
9/2020-COVID concerns
2/2021-COVID concerns (cancelled day before)
9/2021-Amtrak cancelled train
2/2022-Amtrak cancelled train
9/2022-Railroad Strike?

last trip was in 9/2015.

In my opinion, anyone riding Amtrak 1st Class should simply delay any long distance train trips for at least one year until Amtrak gets their business running correctly. If I spend over $2,000 for a one way trip, having to make those reservations months in advance just to get them, reserve hotel and car rental and suddenly with only one day or less I'm notified that I will be riding some Greyhound bus instead------ Hell no!

 

[trimetbusfan]

The PDX<>EUG Thruway buses don't show on the map, but they are still to operate. Ditto the SEA<>SPK Thruway bus.

but no trains.

 

[Shanson]

This baffles me: When the freight trains aren't running (i.e. on Thanksgiving for example) the AMTRAK trains were running on time. Now that the freight trains will not run, AMTRAK is 'afraid' to drive them on the tracks owned by the freight lines? AMTRAK will probably run 'on time' and that's good! But, I suppose, there could be some yahoo out there that might believe, since the freight trains aren't running, no one else can use their track? Good grief.

Hello, Jack,
Even on those holidays, the dispatchers and maintenance crews are on duty. They are not Amtrak but rather private railroad employees, who won't go to work if a strike is called.

 

[Ryan]

Potential good news:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/09/15/rail-strike-deal-agreement-biden/

The White House on Thursday morning announced it had reached a “tentative” agreement to avert a national rail strike that threatened the nation’s economy.
President Biden said in a statement that the agreement would guarantee “better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their health care costs” for the workers.


Negotiators had until Friday at 12:01 a.m. to reach a deal to avoid a major impact to the economy.
A Department of Labor official confirmed that a deal “that balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation’s economy” was reached early Thursday morning after 20 consecutive hours of negotiations between rail companies and union negotiators.
“Secretary Walsh and the Biden administration applaud all parties for reaching this hard-fought, mutually beneficial deal,” a labor official said. “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.”

 

[zephyr17]

Potential good news:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/09/15/rail-strike-deal-agreement-biden/

 

[PaTrainFan]

Yay very tentative...Still needs to be voted on though.

AP News: Biden: Tentative railway labor deal reached, averting strike
https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-strikes-congress-94089be6a4f469444da99fec9dde1b3e

 

[dennisw]

Yay very tentative...Still needs to be voted on though.

AP News: Biden: Tentative railway labor deal reached, averting strike
https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-strikes-congress-94089be6a4f469444da99fec9dde1b3e

Or one or more railroad changes their mind about it, which is probably a more likely negative outcome since the proposed agreement seems to give the workers what they've been asking for (e.g., protection from being fired for unpaid sick days). I suspect Amtrak management will be busy today sifting through the situation trying to decide if it's safe to bring LD service back.

 

[amy1277]

Yay very tentative...Still needs to be voted on though.

AP News: Biden: Tentative railway labor deal reached, averting strike
https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-strikes-congress-94089be6a4f469444da99fec9dde1b3e

Does anyone know when the vote would take place? I assume today?

 

[John Bredin]

The wire story says the vote would be after a cool-off period of a few weeks, so no strike now either way.

The stories I've seen so far don't say how much the unions got on the time-off issue, which was the remaining sticking-point after the PEB recommended pay increases.

 

[TheCrescent]

Has Amtrak cancelled all long distance trains or just some of them?

I have an upcoming trip on the Crescent. My ticket still shows on the Amtrak app, the Amtrak mentions “select” trains being affected by the potential strike and I haven’t received notice of cancellation.

But news reports say that all long-distance trains have been cancelled.

I don’t know who is correct.

 

[PVD]

Has Amtrak cancelled all long distance trains or just some of them?

I have an upcoming trip on the Crescent. My ticket still shows on the Amtrak app, the Amtrak mentions “select” trains being affected by the potential strike and I haven’t received notice of cancellation.

But news reports say that all long-distance trains have been cancelled.

I don’t know who is correct.

What day is your trip?

 

[user 14106]

They are only canceling day by day. If your trip isn't today it's not canceled yet. With the tentative deal hopefully full service will resume tomorrow.

 

[thully]

Also, it does seem like some of today’s trains that were cancelled as of last night are now back on. In particular, I’m seeing the 354 Wolverine available to book when it was cancelled before, and also the eastbound Cardinal. I figure there may not be many people onboard, though they’re probably doing this to get equipment in the right place if nothing else.

 

[b243923]

At least people cancelled on Auto Train have alternative transportation

What is the alternative transportation other than driving? That would apply to any of the routes?

 

[TheCrescent]

What day is your trip?

Thanks. Saturday.

 

[user 14106]

It appears today's Auto Train departures are reinstated. Sounds like they are going to reach out to people that were affected by today's cancelations.

 

[Old MM]

Well, after time (and some extra expense) rebooking train, hotel and a one way plane ticket, looks like it was for nothing. Could have kept my original booking on the 17th. Kind of irritating but not important in the scheme of things.

 

[jis]

What is the alternative transportation other than driving? That would apply to any of the routes?

Clearly that message was posted somewhat in jest considering all Auto Train customers have their cars handy. The comment was about Auto Train, not about all routes.

 

[PVD]

Thanks. Saturday.

Pretty likely announcements will come soon on the reinstatement schedule.

 

[jis]

For general information about the current status...

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-reaches-tentative-agreement-with-rail-workers-strike-2022-09-15/
Amtrak is in the process of restoring services that have been canceled to the extent possible, and not doing any further cancellations.

 

[joelkfla]

It appears today's Auto Train departures are reinstated. Sounds like they are going to reach out to people that were affected by today's cancelations.

NY TImes:
Amtrak Is Scrambling to Restore Trains It Had Canceled

 

[PVD]

This is the early AM Amtrak statement:
Freight Railroad Labor Negotiations – Restoration of Amtrak Service
September 15, 7:00 AM ET


Amtrak is working to quickly restore canceled trains and reaching out directly to impacted customers to accommodate on first available departures. Bookmark Amtrak.com/alerts for the latest updates.

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

I haven't heard anything specific about cancellations of Illinois Service trains, which operate on the same tracks as several of the LD routes; however, since cancellations of some of the Wolverine trains in Michigan were mentioned earlier in the thread, I'm assuming that most/all regional trains in Illinois (+ the Missouri River Runner) are temporarily cancelled, too.

 

[joelkfla]

I hope the statement that it will take several weeks for a cooling off period and vote is accurate. That takes a load off my mind. I was worried about getting stranded in CHI, or in WAS on the overnight connection, on my trip the last week of this month.

 

[user 14106]

It appears the Capitol Limited, and Cardinal departures for today are also reinstated. The Auto Train, Cardinal, and Cap were mid trip from yesterday when the announcement came out so today's trip is still feasible as crew will be in the right places.