Capitol Corridor Amtrak train likely to be suspended if railroad workers go on strike
Operators of the Capitol Corridor Amtrak commuter train that runs from Sacramento to the Bay Area warned riders that service is expected to be suspended as early as Thursday if workers initiate a labor strike that will impact the nation’s freight railroads.
Capitol Corridor officials on Monday advised riders to plan on using alternate transportation starting Thursday, since there would be no known date for when the Amtrak commuter train service would resume. They also said they will not be able to provide bus bridges during this event, but they will keep riders informed of alternative options.
“We are hopeful that all parties will come to an agreement without any interruption in service, however, we also understand that you need to be aware of this possibility to make informed plans about your travel later this week,” officials said in a Capitol Corridor advisory.
CNBC reported that two of the largest railroad unions, which represent half of railroad union workers, are in negotiations with railroad carriers, demanding more quality-of-life provisions in their contracts, covering attendance policies, vacation and sick days.
If their demands are not met, The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART Transportation Division say they will strike.
The nation’s Class I freight carriers, including Union Pacific Railroad, are in negotiations with their labor unions, according to Capitol Corridor officials. If a strike is called, freight and passenger operations on corridors managed by freight railroads would cease, including the UPRR lines on which Capitol Corridor commuter trains operate.
“The potential duration of a labor action is unknown, but given the national disruption that this will cause, our hope is that resolution would occur relatively quickly,” officials said in the Capitol Corridor advisory. “Our ability to resume service will depend on the duration of the strike.”
The commuter service asked riders to share this information with fellow riders and to check its website capitolcorridor.org and its social media accounts for updates, including Facebook and Twitter.
This story was originally published September 12, 2022 at 5:24 PM.
