Freight railroads have begun informing customers they are returning to business as usual, after halting some operations in preparation for a work stoppage. Commuter operators are returning to normal plans, as well.
A stoppage was averted when railroads and unions reached tentative labor agreements early this morning following a marathon bargaining session [see “Freight railroad strike averted …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 15, 2022].
Norfolk Southern, which had taken the most aggressive approach to preparations — halting acceptance of intermodal and automotive traffic, along with embargoing hazardous materials along with other Class I railroads — informed customers that it has reopened all gates to intermodal traffic “effective immediately.” It also has resumed filling reservations on pool intermodal equipment.
Union Pacific has informed customers it has cancelled its embargoes on hazardous, security-sensitive, and time-sensitive cargo and is “working with customers to address any backlog of their shipments.”
BNSF railway said in a statement that it will “continue normal operations. The actions we had begun to take on a small subset of certain commodities, like hazardous and security-sensitive materials, as well as Temperature-Controlled Intermodal, to ensure the security of your freight, have been lifted. Additionally, pending gate restrictions at certain intermodal and automotive facilities will not go into effect.”
Chicago’s Metra, in a message to passengers, says all scheduled services will continue. “Please accept our apologies for this week of uncertainty and anxiety, and our thanks for your patience and understanding. The late Thursday evening trains that had been cancelled by BNSF and Union Pacific in anticipation of a strike will now run as scheduled.” A similar message was posted by Metrolink in Los Angeles.
— Updated at 12:37 p.m. CDT with BNSF statement.
