The effect of the potential rail strike on Amtrak

[Widfara]

I think that cancelling the two-night trip trains was sorta kinda wise, although they could've should've done a better job of explaining why, and given cancelled passengers more assistance in working out alternative travel.
Why do I say this? For the single-nighter trains, getting the passengers to their destination is easier, due to the shorter distances involved. But out west there are miles and miles of miles and miles, and also the equipment would be really out of place.

 

[fillyjonk]

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.

Now my concern is: what if this gets dragged out enough that there's a strike over Thanksgiving? Selfishly, that's when my next trip is planned, and it's too far to drive for me, and trying to figure out how to fly (I am 100 miles from the nearest airport) would be too hard - guess I'd spend another thanksgiving alone like I did in 2020

 

[Qapla]

Going to be crazy to look at this map if there is no agreement by Friday. Most likely no service at all in the western half of the US.

More trains on today's map - but still missing many LD trains

 

[zephyr17]

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

Driving is an alternative form of transportation and by definition they have cars

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

Just saw a northbound Lincoln Service train going by (slowly, as it had just departed the station here) at approx. 10:50AM, so these regional trains seem to be running as normal. (I'll be watching this afternoon to see if the southbound Texas Eagle goes by, though.)

 

[Eric in East County]

Question: what happens if the strike does NOT take place? Will Amtrak reinstate all the long-distance trains it has cancelled? Will Amtrak allow passengers who had reservations on trains that were cancelled to rebook their reservations on the reinstated trains for same dates and accommodations and at the same price originally paid?

So now what happens?

 

[zephyr17]

Today's (9/15) "late" Cascades pair, 507/508, showing as cancelled yesterday, are now "uncancelled" and show as being operated. The service restorations begin.

 

[JoshP]

Amtrak announced FULL service will be restored as of tomorrow Friday 9/16 starting at 3am, any first train will operate normally.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

So now what happens?

Amtrak restart there network, maybe some of today’s trains didn’t make it out, but tomorrow all will. If your riding a three night train, it be a few days before your station see a train. If your book for this weekend, enjoy your travels. If your leaving a terminal today, might want to check. If your were canceled and have not rebooked, call Amtrak.

The question is very broad, so no blanket answer available. This going to be a mess for a few days. Those longer route trains are starting to leave today if all goes well.

 

[moosejunky99]

luckily they settled and i can make it home on Sunday aboard the capital limited. right now I'm crossing at over 100mph on acela train. nice ride.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

All good news.

We might even see more trains out at one time than we have for ages!

 

[zephyr17]

Long distance cancellation status 9/15 11 am PT

Thursday 9/15
Capitol Limited and eastbound Cardinal running

All other LD departures remain cancelled.

Friday 9/16
All LDs departures are good. Normal service.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Long distance cancellation status 9/15 11 am PT

Thursday 9/15
Capitol Limited and eastbound Cardinal running

All other LD departures remain cancelled.

Friday 9/16
All LDs departures are good. Normal service.

Yeah going to take a day to kickstart it.
Wonder if any Amtrak OBS are taken airplane to there trains?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Just saw a northbound Lincoln Service train going by (slowly, as it had just departed the station here) at approx. 10:50AM, so these regional trains seem to be running as normal. (I'll be watching this afternoon to see if the southbound Texas Eagle goes by, though.)

Not till Friday!

 

[Amtraknofly]

So, do y'all think it's safe to book for first week in October?....Is the deal done for sure? I haven't seen the news today. Need to go from Charleston to DC or Philly and rent a car from there to enjoy some fall

 

[tiffany07]

can anyone give advice if october trains should still run as normal? i know they still have to vote and from what i’ve read it’s very likely an agreement will be reached but if not the tentative agreement ends 2 weeks before my trip. going to nyp from georgia aboard the crescent there’s still time to cancel and drive to was and book a train from there but i’d prefer the longer ride on the train and not driving at all.

 

[joelkfla]

Just now on CNN, Secy. of Labor Walsh, who was leading yesterday's negotiations, said the ratification process should take 6 weeks to 2 months. Sounds like we should be good until at at least the end of October.

He said that he thinks it is a good contract, and feels "the chances are very good of ratifying these contracts."

 

[zephyr17]

I seem to recall all parties agreed to another cooling off period of 30 or 60 days to renegotiate and not immediately strike if the membership doesn't ratify this agreement.

Between the time required to have the ratification elections and the subsequent cooling of period, the next couple months look pretty safe to me.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

So, do y'all think it's safe to book for first week in October?....Is the deal done for sure? I haven't seen the news today. Need to go from Charleston to DC or Philly and rent a car from there to enjoy some fall

Go for it.

can anyone give advice if october trains should still run as normal? i know they still have to vote and from what i’ve read it’s very likely an agreement will be reached but if not the tentative agreement ends 2 weeks before my trip. going to nyp from georgia aboard the crescent there’s still time to cancel and drive to was and book a train from there but i’d prefer the longer ride on the train and not driving at all.

Go for it.

Ok that said you might catch a hurricane or early snow storm, or some other interruptions. This labor action is in a good spot. So go for it.

 

[thully]

I’ve kind of had the same concern - while there is a tentative agreement, I’ve seen reports of railroad workers not happy with the agreement, and it seems there is a chance one or more unions reject it. While I’ve generally heard several weeks, I’ve also heard the end of the month - which may be based on the IAM union previously rejecting a tentative agreement and setting a new deadline of September 29th. Any ideas as to where this fits into the equation - could this union strike alone (and would that cause Amtrak to shut down), or could others strike on the 29th?

 

[zephyr17]

The agreement IAM membership rejected was basically the PEB's recommended agreement. AFAIK it was superceded by the one negotiated overnight and announced this morning. This is a new and different contract and probably fulfills the demand of a different contract negotiated by September 29th, so that deadline would now be moot.

The negotiations were with all 12 of the unions, not with just the two whose leadership rejected the PEB recommendations AFAIK.

If any one of the bargaining units strikes, they'll all walk out because they respect each others picket lines.

I am reasonably sure the railroads, unions and particularly Secretary of Labor Wash and President Biden didn't want to leave a time bomb set to go off in two weeks laying around. The Administration's concern wasn't about Amtrak, but the US economy.

Yes, this agreement needs to ratified and could be voted down, but it isn't on a 9/29 timeframe.

 

[thully]

I know Amtrak wasn’t really a major concern with these negotiations - long distance Amtrak passengers are a drop in the bucket compared to freight rail and it’s impact on the economy, and I know they probably don’t want this to become a problem again before the midterm elections. Was really just speaking to the topic of this thread and concerns about October trips,…

 

[Amtrak25]

I was watching MSNBC Ari Melber at 6pm ET interviewing Howard Dean and Michale Steele. They said the basic things that the strike was averted by a tenative deal. Also said Biden was a train guy, which got on the subject of riding Amtrak up and down the NEC. Steele said he used to meet Biden quite often on the train.

Melber and Steele both said they travel NY - DC a lot and why does the snack bar alawys open so late and close so early - is it a policy issue. What do you do for snack. They mentioned their favorite snack to bring along, not reliant on the cafe car.

So they got off topic very quickly and talked about Amtrak, not that the NEC would have shut down.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

So they got off topic very quickly and talked about Amtrak, not that the NEC would have shut down.

The NEC would not have shut down if the strike had occurred. (Perhaps I’m misreading what you wrote)

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Right now everything remains tentative and needs to be approved by the rank and file, but demonstrable progress was made on core issues and any group that backs out risks a worse outcome. My hope is the tentative agreement holds for the benefit of all sides and for the health of our economy.