(KNSI) — An impending rail worker strike could bring a popular passenger route to a halt and put a new kink in an already stressed supply chain.
Amtrak says its Empire Builder line, which runs through St. Cloud on its way to the west coast, will be disrupted starting Tuesday. According to the Amtrak Alerts Twitter page, the company issued service advisories Monday, canceling service beginning Tuesday for the Empire Builder, California Zephyr, and the Southwest Chief lines.
Though the potential strike involves freight rail workers, not Amtrak or its workers, the freight tracks Amtrak uses would not be available if the strike takes place.
Friday ends a 30-day cooling-off period between unions and rail carriers. According to Railfan & Railroad Magazine, the “Presidential Emergency Board issued its recommendations to resolve a contentious round of railroad labor talks that have stretched for more than two years. The board recommended raises for all railroaders but declined to tackle issues like attendance policies and crew size.”
It’s not just passengers who could become stranded. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration, as of 2019, 27.9% of freight movement by ton-miles, which is the length and weight freight travels, is moved throughout the U.S. by rail. Heavy freight such as coal, lumber, ore, and heavy loads going long distances are likely to travel by rail or a combination of truck, rail, and water. The DoT says that 48% of all rail freight consists of consumer goods and miscellaneous products.
Several rail carriers have parked trains carrying hazardous materials, while Norfolk Southern is parking trains starting Tuesday. Norfolk Southern carries 31% of Class I intermodal traffic.
Railfan & Railroad says at least eight smaller unions have struck a deal with Class I carriers, but 90,000 workers between two larger unions have not.
Bloomberg estimates the strike could cost $2 billion a day.
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