9/15/22 7:37 a.m. UPDATE: Amtrak Public Relations Manager Marc Magliari tells WGIL, “Amtrak is working to quickly restore canceled trains and reaching out to impacted customers to accommodate on first available departures.”
9/15/22 5:12 a.m. UPDATE: The Associated Press is reporting that President Joe Biden says a tentative railway labor agreement has been reached, averting a potentially devastating strike before the midterm elections.
Biden said Thursday the tentative deal will keep the “critical rail system” working and avoid economic disruption.
The president says it’s “an important win” for the economy, the American people and tens of thousands of rail workers.
The Democratic president says the rail workers will get better pay, improved working conditions and “peace of mind around their health care costs.”
Biden calls the agreement “a victory for railway companies.” A strike starting Friday could’ve shut rail lines across the country. The tentative agreement will go to union members for a vote.
ORIGINAL STORY: The threat of a possible freight rail service interruption later this week is continuing to squeeze passenger train service options in and out of Galesburg.
For today, all Amtrak long-distance trains are canceled, including the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief lines with service in and out of Galesburg.
Additionally, Amtrak has announced state-supported routes – including some Illinois services – will be canceled for this evening. Already canceled is the Illinois Zephyr which was scheduled to depart Chicago Union Station at 5:55 this evening and arrive in Galesburg at 8:36.
Currently, the Carl Sandburg is still scheduled to depart Galesburg at 6:55 this evening with an arrival time in Chicago at 9:51.
Labor negotiations are ongoing between unions and freight railroad companies. If an agreement is not reached, the first national rail strike in 30 years could start early Friday. The negotiations do not involve Amtrak or the Amtrak workforce.
Amtrak says the adjustments are necessary to ensure trains can reach their terminals before freight railroad service interruption if a resolution in negotiations is not reached.
Amtrak will notify impacted and potentially impacted customers about this situation, and will change customer’s reservation to another travel date, waiving any difference in fare for departures through Oct. 31, or provide a full refund without cancelation fees, upon request.
Service updates for Friday will be announced today.
