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.