CHICAGO —Metra expects it will be unable to operate on at least some of its 11 Chicago-area commuter rail lines in the event of a work stoppage on Class I freight rail lines, the agency said in a statement today (Tuesday, Sept. 13).
Commuter operators elsewhere are also beginning to assess their situations in light of a possible rail shutdown, with the two agencies serving the District of Columbia — Maryland’s MARC and Virginia Railway Express — saying their operations would cease, with one exception.
A work stoppage could come as soon as 12:01 a.m. on Friday, when a 30-day cooling off period ends that followed the release of recommendations from a Presidential Emergency Board appointed to address the dispute between railroads and their unions.
Metra owns and fully controls two lines — the Metra Electric and Rock Island District — and says those should be able to continue to operate regardless of the rail labor situation. The other nine lines “either use tracks owned by freight railroads, intersect with tracks operated by our freight partners, or are dispatched by freight railroads,” it says in the statement.
Four of those lines — the BNSF and Union Pacific North, Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West — are owned by and directly operated by their namesake railroads. “If the work stoppage occurs, we expect there will not be service on these lines,” Metra says. “… On the other lines, we are in communication with the relevant freight railroads to understand how we may be impacted and to determine our options.
“We will provide updates as soon as we can.”
In the Washington area, the Maryland Department of Transportation says any work stoppage would “result in the immediate suspension of all MARC Camden and Brunswick Line service until a resolution is reached,” since those routes operate on CSX Transportation trackage. The Penn line, which operates on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, is expected to operate as scheduled.
Virginia Railway Express says its trains, which operate on CSX and Norfolk Southern tracks, would also be suspended for the duration of any work stoppage, WTOP Radio reports.
Keolis Commuter Services, contract operator of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter trains, told the Quincy (Mass.) Patriot Ledger in a statement that “there are no anticipated impacts” to its operations from a potential freight rail shutdown, but “the MBTA, Keolis and our operating partners will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
Wasn’t CP negotiating on its own with the unions?
Great story Charles. As I think you know from past posts, I spent many an hour on my days off at both Metra and before that the IC Commuter Division trainwatching at various locales along the BN then BNSF Chicago Sub. Getting back to the issue at hand, what’s left unsaid is what happens on the Milw West and Milw North Lines. Metra owns just like it does the Electric and the Rock. Ah, but CP, also subject to a strike or locking out its employees, has dispatching control. What’s gonna be fun, or not, is when all those folks at that last meeting of on-line communities, and previous meetings called to protest CPKC, some of whom may be riders or have family that are riders, find out that their trains may not operate even though Metra owns the railroad because Metra lets CP have the dispatching.
Going back to around 1990 or maybe 1991 – 92, CP Rail went on strike and took down the Hiawatha with it.
Amtrak and METRA Milw Districts provide enough revenue to CP Rail to support a couple of dispatch desks. But I don’t think that’s how it will work. If CP goes out, Amtrak and METRA will likely stop. With all respect to you, Mark, Mr. Retired DS Mark Shapp, it takes more union trades than DS to make a railroad safe.
Could not in some locations route trains so no switches need be thrown by major railroad dispatchers? Say Empire route New York Penn Station to Rensselaer\Albany?
Or North Philadelphia on the NEC to Harrisburg?
NY Penn or GCT to Albany-Renssalear is all Amtrak or MNR. That service will run.
The NEC from Washington to Boston is all Amtrak, MNR or MBTA. Phila or N. Phila to Harrisburg is all Amtrak. Those services will run.
SEPTA service in Phila is all Amtrak or SEPTA. That service will run.
NJT service is all Amtrak, NJT or MNR (Port Jervis) That service will run. NOTE: MNR Suffern-Port Jervis is temporarily bus for an MW project. That service will run.
I should add: in the DC area, MARC’s PENN service over Amtrak from Perryville to Baltimore Penn Sta. and Wash via Odenton will also run.
Just came home from Chicago Union Station to Wisconsin. So far only the western LD’s are cancelled. Haven’t yet checked the METRA or Amtrak web sites.
It’s anecdotal, but I’ll say it anyway. BNSF freights and intermodal through Western Springs remained frequent but tended to be short. We saw no Amtrak trains while we were watching the Burlington.
Anyway, I made a new railfan today. At the age of 68, my friend has never been train watching. Today he was fascinated by Amtrak, METRA and BNSF. He enjoyed every minute as we dined (and drank) by the Burlington main, or when I explained the sights from the trains. He’s also a great friend of our pet cat Burlington Northern Santa Fe who lives with my wife and I.
PS —– A westbound BNSF Metra was reported delayed by a “mechanical issue”. It showed up only a few minutes late with two engines, so I assume a rescue engine coupled at front. Great job BNSF and METRA.
I also have not heard about the Sounder commuter trains in the Seattle area. The north line to Everett, WA and the south line to Lakewood, WA. They both operate on BNSF’s Scenic Sub and BNSF’s Seattle Sub respectively. I would think those would not operate.
They use BNSF engineers so it probably would stop the Northstar svc.
I have not heard any news about Metro Transit (Twin Cities) about North Star service between Big Lake, MN to Minneapolis, MN.
Ed Burns