Possible Strike And METRA

If the Conductors and Engineers, as well as other crafts choosing to honor their picket lines, go on strike nationally at 1201A Friday Sep 16, the BNSF and all three UP lines would be shut down, as the C&E on those trains are employees of BNSF or UP as the case may be.

The Rock Island and the IC Electric will be unaffected as those are operated by employees of the NICTD.

The METRA Press Release makes no mention of the MILW , SOO, GM&O, or WAB lines:

https://metra.com/#metra_service_alerts_System

Fair Use (entirety):

At Metra, we appreciate our customers and understand that the services we provide are essential to the Chicago region. For that reason, it is important that we do our best to keep you informed about events that may impact our ability to provide the services that you rely upon.

Unfortunately, a potential work stoppage by freight railroad workers, which could possibly begin Friday, Sept. 16, may directly impact Metra’s ability to operate most of its services.

With the exception of the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines, Metra’s nine other lines either use tracks owned by freight railroads, intersect with tracks operated by our freight partners, or are dispatched by freight railroads.

Four of our lines, the BNSF and Union Pacific North, Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West, are owned by and directly operated by freight railroads. If the work stoppage occurs, we expect there will not be service on these lines.

We will be able to operate service on the two lines that we own, operate and control – the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines. 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.

Negotiations between the freight railroads and unions are ongoing, and we are hopeful that a settlement will be reached before the strike deadline. However, we want you to be aware of this issue so that you can make alternate plans for travel should a work stoppage occur.

We are monitoring the negotiations and will share any updates as soon as we can.

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:29 pm The METRA Press Release makes no mention of the MILW , SOO, GM&O, or WAB lines:

Absolutely it makes mention of those.... just not directly by name.

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.

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:29 pmThe Rock Island and the IC Electric will be unaffected as those are operated by employees of the NICTD.

Uh, METRA.

Stand corrected, Mr. Lurker. Wrong letters came up in my spoonful of alphabet soup

Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation, dba METRA

NICTD; Northern INDIANA Commuter Transit District = South Shore

Latest alert from METRA

We promised to update you regarding our ability to provide service during the potential work stoppage by freight railroad workers that could begin Friday, Sept. 16.

As of now, we expect to be able to operate scheduled service Friday on the Metra Electric, Rock Island, SouthWest Service, Milwaukee District North, and Milwaukee District West lines.

We are continuing to communicate with our freight partners regarding our ability to run trains on the Heritage Corridor and North Central Service lines and will provide updates as soon as possible.

If the work stoppage occurs, there will be no service Friday on the BNSF, Union Pacific North, Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West lines. Both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, which own and operate the lines, have communicated that they will begin curtailing service after the evening rush hour on Thursday, Sept. 15 in preparation for the potential work stoppage.

Thursday, September 15, 2022 • 7:53am - METRARAIL.COM

We are happy to report that in the overnight hours a tentative agreement was reached between freight railroads and their unions, averting a strike that could have started tonight and halted service on the BNSF and three Union Pacific lines. 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. Please accept our apologies for this week of uncertainty and anxiety, and our thanks for your patience and understanding. The late Thursday evening trains that had been cancelled by BNSF and Union Pacific in anticipation of a strike will now run as scheduled.

Since the freight rail strike was averted for now, This Topic will be locked for now. If any news develops in the future on another strike that may impact Metra operations I will reopen this topic at that moment.

Thank You!!