Rail systems brace for shutdowns, Amtrak cancels routes as strike threat nears

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Transit systems across the country were on edge Wednesday amid the threat of a freight rail worker strike, making preparations ahead of possible travel disruptions that could affect hundreds of thousands of rail customers. Amtrak said it is canceling all of its long-distance trains starting Thursday.

Some regional transit agencies said they are preparing for service stoppages as early as Thursday evening ahead of a possible 12:01 a.m. Friday shutdown. They are wrapping up plans to communicate with commuters if a strike is not averted, and some are working with other agencies to direct people to bus alternatives.

The disruptions to passenger systems that operate on freight lines would be felt across several major metropolitan areas, including Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. The strike threat also eliminated most Amtrak service outside the Northeast Corridor, forcing travelers to find other modes of transportation or cancel plans at the last minute.

Amtrak canceled service on all of its long-distance routes beginning Thursday, most of which have a daily trip in each direction and provide cross-country connections for thousands of Americans. Between 24 and 28 daily trains will not operate while service is suspended.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/09/14/amtrak-passenger-rail-strike/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

[NickB79]

1. I just realized that a lot of propane is moved by rail

And it's a popular heating option in rural areas, like mine.

It will be time to fire up the furnace in another month.

I just texted my firewood guy to get another full cord of oak and hickory delivered.

[cstanleytech]

2. I hope they do not need to strike because you can bet the Republicans will be lining up to blame the

Democrats followed by laying the foundation to attack both the rail system and the unions in this country in general.

[LeftInTX]

3. We're eff'd in November if there's a strike

The rail system is not at risk. Unions are at risk though. It could force repukes to outlaw unions eventually.

Commuter rail will get bashed, but most goods in the US are shipped by rail.

We already have supply chain issues. People are gonna explode. No gas, no coal...We do not have trucking capability to fill this. The energy sector is gonna be eff'd. Cattle won't be shipped.. There goes our food. Most manufacturing relies on rail.

[Backseat Driver]

5. Apparently, Weyerhauser lumbermen in Oregon/Washington states walked out yesterday over

wage issues...

[Backseat Driver]

6. Sorry, duplicate...

[cstanleytech]

10. "The rail system is not at risk" No, not in the short term. Now in the long term I can see the

Republicans using this to continue their attack on the rail system just as they have continued their relentless attacks on our interstate system.

[LeftInTX]

12. You know that rail shipping volume has significantly increased since 1956

Passenger rail is in the skids, but shipping is way up there.

No one wants hazardous trucks all over the roads.
Rail is how most hazards are shipped.

BTW: How often do you see a cattle truck full of cattle going to auction or slaughter on the road?
How often do you see cars being shipped over the road?

When I was a kid, we used to see cattle being shipped in trucks and cars being transported in bulk on trucks. Now it's done via rail. Rail is considered efficient and Republicans like that because it means less jobs for truck drivers. If a train has one locomotive and 30 cars, versus 30 trucks with 30 cabs and 30 drivers, rail is cheaper.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JBaYck_vbalvCE8OOAZ4sqGlB1xC2ZVo-6kTg4qMVeVwpPHYF4Xgq4bf7YCvGHK9J6OCY2lmZ7-Nj3uDoGPHWsTS8lbgfW4X4ErC2P2i3Q820zVX4SM1xMBP3fDNJZ6nS5pF2Kc-VZ01FNNYjRXeAOkm-FODV4uJ3gK1CywHu7_KOC2xCunSNbgSizIzP4XzCcnkdA

[cstanleytech]

13. Yes, I know but we are talking about Republicans.

You know? The same people that used to denounce people like Putin and now they are in bed with him.
Plus they now embrace every absurd conspiracy theory in the sky.

[Magoo48]

4. Then Democrats must get their message out first, a message which places the blame squarely

where it belongs—on greedy morbidly rich freight haulers. Some railroad working conditions are untenable. Republicans aren’t the only ones who can place blame. So, do Dems fight for what we believe or ask working people to wait. Delay is denial.

[LeftInTX]

7. Voters won't listen to all of that.

They will see a shortage and blame it on unions and Democrats.

Prices are already high. Look what happened with gas.

Truman lost the mid-terms due to a rail strike.
If voters didn't listen back then, they certainly won't listen now!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946_United_States_elections

[Crowman2009]

8. Maybe those voters should pull their heads out of their asses, and stop giving into....

...economic extortion from billionaires and their propaganda machines. They should wake up and realize their incomes are on the line as well if they continue this capitulation to the rich.

[LeftInTX]

9. They should, but they won't

[ripcord]

11. 9 of the 11 unions have accepted agreements with the railroads

2 are holding out, it isn't going to be hard for the right to blame those 2 unions for being unreasonable.

[Wonder Why]

14. Once again, Amtrak management shows their total

incompetence. After dumping all their employees in 2020 in spite of government money to keep them and putting their railcars in non-maintenance status because they thought long distance would never come back, the executives got a big bonus this year. Now once again they make a brilliant move, canceling the still-reduced long distance trains just before the settlement. I think they should get a second bonus for their careful planning - NOT!

As news reports have mentioned, they are now "...struggling to restart the service and contact the passengers" they dumped.

And I'm an Amtrak enthusiast who takes long distance trains all over the country.