MRChiCity Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Wonder how this will affect the UP and BNSF lines if it happens? https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/12/business/railroad-strike-threat/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railguy Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Short answer is YES most likely IF there is a strike. METROLINK in LA already came out saying they will be impacted. Roll the dice, this is something the Biden admin and Sec Pete DONT WANT ON THEIR WATCH awith economic impacts of up to $2B a day. Im sure the MEGAs are cheering for a strike. if it does happen might be short. Who knows what will actually happen, go take a poll. Metra is being very quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dailycommuter62 Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 https://metra.com/newsroom/message-customers Basically the UP and BNSF lines will shut down, RI and MED will continue, and the others seem to be up to whether the host roads continue having dispatchers on duty in the meantime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 22 minutes ago, dailycommuter62 said: https://metra.com/newsroom/message-customers Basically the UP and BNSF lines will shut down, RI and MED will continue, and the others seem to be up to whether the host roads continue having dispatchers on duty in the meantime I guess the question is whether the dispatchers are Union or management? If they are union, then that might shut down the other lines. If they are management, then the other lines should continue to run. To my knowledge, BNSF and Union Pacific Metra Lunes are the only commuter lines in the country operated by the freight railroads.. I wonder if Metra wishes it had an agreement in place with UP to take over the operations of those lines? This also might impact Amtrak, except in the Northeast Corridor with the Acela service. This could be a temporary boost to the trucking industry as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railguy Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Amtrak is supending service on most western network trains as of today. More to follow. Metrolink mighy have some lines ran by BNSF. Sound transit and former MSP Northline also tan by BNSF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Railguy said: Amtrak is supending service on most western network trains as of today. More to follow. Metrolink mighy have some lines ran by BNSF. Sound transit and former MSP Northline also tan by BNSF I think MSP Northstar line runs on BNSF trackage,and is dispatched by BNSF, but I don't think BNSF operates that service. The fact that Amtrak is suspending its western network leads me to believe that maybe the dispatchers at these railroads are probably unionized. While I don't know this to be fact, even if they are management, there wouldn't be enough passenger train service to justify staffing dispatchers. Asd to that the fact there would be no one to maintain tracks which would be a safety issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 I looked at the NICTD website but didn't see anything related to the strike. It's likely they will operate normally. Hopefully Metra can work out something to operate the other lines. UPN riders would have the option of the MDN and Purple Line. Somehow I don't think CN will let Metra operate NCS or HC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewFlyerMCI Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 29 minutes ago, artthouwill said: I looked at the NICTD website but didn't see anything related to the strike. It's likely they will operate normally. Hopefully Metra can work out something to operate the other lines. UPN riders would have the option of the MDN and Purple Line. Somehow I don't think CN will let Metra operate NCS or HC. I’d be surprised if anything other than the MED & RID operate, outside of maybe the MDN. Here on the east coast, MARC has already said their the Camden & Brunswick lines (dispatched by CSX) might not operate (Penn line is dispatched, operated and run on Amtrak-owned lines) and VRE has said the same (one line CSX, one line NS). The VRE one is especially bad, since Metro just instituted a shutdown and many people were switching to it as an alternative. I think the only commuter railroads that will suffer 0 effects at all are CalTrain, SEPTA, MNRR & LIRR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 1 hour ago, NewFlyerMCI said: I’d be surprised if anything other than the MED & RID operate, outside of maybe the MDN. Here on the east coast, MARC has already said their the Camden & Brunswick lines (dispatched by CSX) might not operate (Penn line is dispatched, operated and run on Amtrak-owned lines) and VRE has said the same (one line CSX, one line NS). The VRE one is especially bad, since Metro just instituted a shutdown and many people were switching to it as an alternative. I think the only commuter railroads that will suffer 0 effects at all are CalTrain, SEPTA, MNRR & LIRR Maybe add PATH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetroShadow Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 35 minutes ago, artthouwill said: Maybe add PATH? Heavy Rail. Wouldn't really apply in this case. What about the MBTA and CT lines (not necessarily dealt with MNRR) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 5 minutes ago, MetroShadow said: Heavy Rail. Wouldn't really apply in this case. What about the MBTA and CT lines (not necessarily dealt with MNRR) I think PATH operates out of Penn Station and is separate from MTA operations. I also think PATH shares trackage with Amtrak for Boston bound trains which makes it a commuter rail service. While we are at it, I think we can add NJT to the list. The common thing here is that these are electric commuter railroads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 On 9/13/2022 at 3:48 PM, artthouwill said: The common thing here is that these are electric commuter railroads Which doesn't make any difference, since all railroads around there are electric. The question is whether PATH is analogous to the subway. Also, PATH is not the MTA/New Haven. [I deleted other point] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Is it true that there was almost a strike back in May but Joe Biden ordered the workers and railroads to continue negotiating without striking? It's being reported that the only way this strike doesn't happen is for Congress to order the workers back to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railguy Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Yup this things been brewing for some time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewFlyerMCI Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 Wanted to create an official topic for any further discussion. Current updates can be found here: https://metra.com/newsroom/updated-message-customers-sept-14 Summary: Lines that will operate: MED, RID, SWS, MDN, MDW Tentative: HC, NCS No service: UPN, UPNW, UPW, BNSF This is all if an agreement is not reached. For the lines with no service, that will happen after evening peak on Thursday (presumably so equipment won't be stranded) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 14 minutes ago, NewFlyerMCI said: Wanted to create an official topic for any further discussion. Current updates can be found here: https://metra.com/newsroom/updated-message-customers-sept-14 Summary: Lines that will operate: MED, RID, SWS, MDN, MDW Tentative: HC, NCS No service: UPN, UPNW, UPW, BNSF This is all if an agreement is not reached. For the lines with no service, that will happen after evening peak on Thursday (presumably so equipment won't be stranded) That's some good news it seems like Metra is confident it will be able to run HC and NCS. Knowing that CN owns those tracks doesn't make me confident that they will allow Metra trains to operate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewFlyerMCI Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 This doesn't bode well. Also leads me to think that while the NCS is still in the air, the HC will probably definitely be cancelled. I'm surprised Metra didn't outright cancel them already, those are the two lines with the most ridership and it's easier than other lines to find alternatives. I imagine a bustitution of the HC wouldn't even be that hard, comparatively speaking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railguy Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 Where you going to find buses well actually drivers. Pace and all privates have shortage of operators Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renardo870 Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 2 hours ago, Railguy said: Where you going to find buses well actually drivers. Pace and all privates have shortage of operators Right. The 213 runs along UP-N between Highland Park and Howard Red Purple Yellow Station. I was going to see if they're gonna have extra buses to go to Davis Purple Line to help UP-N passengers to get to the Loop? UP-W got 309 Lake Street between Elmhurst and Austin/Lake Green. UP-NW got 209 from Des Plaines Metra and Harlem Blue Line O'Hare. I guess Metra will have to figure it out what to do with the customers that are further out. Some of the BNSF customers probably will have to catch 755/850/851/855 in the Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Burr Ridge bus centers to get to the Loop. I guess Metra and Pace will figure something out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 27 minutes ago, renardo870 said: Right. The 213 runs along UP-N between Highland Park and Howard Red Purple Yellow Station. I was going to see if they're gonna have extra buses to go to Davis Purple Line to help UP-N passengers to get to the Loop? UP-W got 309 Lake Street between Elmhurst and Austin/Lake Green. UP-NW got 209 from Des Plaines Metra and Harlem Blue Line O'Hare. I guess Metra will have to figure it out what to do with the customers that are further out. Some of the BNSF customers probably will have to catch 755/850/851/855 in the Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Burr Ridge bus centers to get to the Loop. I guess Metra and Pace will figure something out. There's no way riders from the outer burbs will take parallel Pace routes to the Blue or Green Line. Wilmette and Evanston riders might hop the Purple Line abd River Forest and Iak Park riders will hop on the Green Line, but outside of that, I think riders will either work from home or drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetroShadow Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 4 hours ago, renardo870 said: Right. The 213 runs along UP-N between Highland Park and Howard Red Purple Yellow Station. I was going to see if they're gonna have extra buses to go to Davis Purple Line to help UP-N passengers to get to the Loop? UP-W got 309 Lake Street between Elmhurst and Austin/Lake Green. UP-NW got 209 from Des Plaines Metra and Harlem Blue Line O'Hare. I guess Metra will have to figure it out what to do with the customers that are further out. Some of the BNSF customers probably will have to catch 755/850/851/855 in the Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Burr Ridge bus centers to get to the Loop. I guess Metra and Pace will figure something out. The express buses might be viable options. The local routes, doubtful (but not impossible). But with service delivery on the CTA side? That might be problematic. Theres always vanpools if you're uncertain, but the turnaround time to get a new one started is six weeks. Outside of the VA hospital (UP-N) and anything out of Indiana, very few parallel the afflicted metra lines. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRChiCity Posted September 15, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 FYI https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/09/15/railroad-strike-averted-biden-says-tentative-labor-agreement-reached/10385192002/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railguy Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 Until the far faroff world where we have autonamous buses there is a need for operators. No operators no extra service . Anyone who wants a job all bus companies are hiring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railguy Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 Call off the dogs, crisis hopefully over. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewFlyerMCI Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 I’m glad the strike has been adverted. I feel sorry for the long distance Amtrak passengers thoC something tells me those cancelled trains won’t magically return to service Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.