Potential Work Stoppage Could Derail Metra Service On Friday

CHICAGO — If you use Metra to get to work or for other traveling purposes, you might want to look into an alternative ride. The commuter rail system company announced Tuesday that a potential work stoppage by freight railroad workers could happen as early as Friday.

Metra, the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership, operates 242 stations on 11 rail lines. It serves the Chicago metropolitan area as well as the surrounding suburbs.

"Negotiations between the freight railroads and unions are ongoing, and we are hopeful that a settlement will be reached before the strike deadline," Metra said in a statement to customers. "However, we want you to be aware of this issue so that you can make alternate plans for travel should a work stoppage occur."

Metra said the work stoppage would potentially impact most of its services. According to a news release, except for the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines, Metra’s nine other lines either use tracks owned by freight railroads, intersect with tracks operated by the company's freight partners, or are dispatched by freight railroads.

"We will be able to operate service on the two lines that we own, operate and control — the Metra Electric and Rock Island lines," Metra said. "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."

Four of Metra's lines — the BNSF and Union Pacific North, Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West— are owned by and directly operated by freight railroads, according to the news release. If work stoppage occurs, Metra expects there will not be service on those lines.

Meanwhile, Chicago Tribune is reporting Amtrak has begun canceling trips scheduled out of Chicago due to the potential work stoppage. A spokesperson for the passenger rail agency said beginning Tuesday, service on routes between Chicago and San Francisco, the Pacific Northwest and Los Angeles have been suspended. Amtrak also said service will be suspended along part of a fourth route out of Chicago, between Los Angeles and San Antonio.