The train struck the vehicle's flatbed trailer, which was carrying a load of stone from a nearby quarry, at about 11:45 a.m., police said. The train, along with numerous other stops along the way, makes stops in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Jackson and Kalamazoo. The lack of an action plan to care for Auto Trains marooned passengers during the long delay it took to position a qualified and rested crew prompted a Jan. 18 letter to Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner from four U.S. Enjoy moving trains in breathtaking scenes across the country, all year long. Click the Status icon at the bottom ribbon and youll have two search options: By Train Number or By Station. CN reaches paid sick time agreements with four unions in U.S. 2023 National Garden Railway Convention is in Santa Clara, Second Vancouver, B.C., Cascades round trip set to roll Monday. Senator with a huge fat blue D next to his name, Charles Schumer. The Business Roundtable declared that a strike would be an economic catastrophe.. Ive given up on using my Guest Rewards credit card because I doubt that I will ever use Amtrak LD trains again. Around quarter to midnight the train started moving again, and Danovich was soon at Union Station. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. As a mode of transportation, its great, Danovich said of trains. But this was not an awesome time.. You can get the cheapest train tickets for this route for as low as $27 (24 . Reply News & Reviews News Wire Weather leads to cancellations for Southwest Chief, Empire Builder, Other trains experiencing significant delays. (MLive file photo)Joel Bissell | MLive.com. Other trains on these routes will continue to operate, though many are already sold out both Thursday and Friday. Please enter a valid station, city, or address. Doesn't look like a scam. -To what extent were the worst possible decisions to reduce schedules and buy-out or lay-off seasoned operational/maintenance employees attributable to the basic lack of railroad experience in the corporate management and Board; how the dearth of competent and correct decision-making has caused the inordinate delay in conducting scheduled maintenance on equipment; cancelling trains; reducing consists; for the lack of experienced T&E crews, on-board staff, and maintenance/repair; what has been the dollar cost for recruitment and training? Where are we? Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. Empire Service Train 280 will originate in Albany (ALB) on 7/29, due to a potential safety concern with a non-Amtrak building west of Albany (ALB). We are officially a third-world country because a snowstorm shuts down all railroad operations. Seriously, We have no transportation policy in this country other than build more freeways, and even that is now past improvement. This what happens when the nation depends solely on just one form of transportation to get peopleto where they need to go. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Chicago-St. Louis: Trains 301 and 305 (7:15 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. from Chicago); trains 300 and 306 (4:30 a.m. and 5:40 p.m. from St. Louis), Chicago-Milwaukee: Trains 329, 333, and 337 (6:10 a.m., 11:05 a.m., and 3:15 p.m. from Chicago); trains 332, 336, and 340 (8:05 a.m., 1:05 p.m., and 5:45 p.m. from Milwaukee), The National Weather Service forecast for Chicago as of 5 p.m. Monday calls for heavy snow, strong winds, and bitterly cold temperatures beginning Thursday and says the worst conditions will develop Thursday evening into Friday evening, with a full-fledged blizzard possible accompanied by dangerously cold temperatures.. Additionally, Amtrak has cancelled Empire Builder departures from Chicago and the West Coast on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and Wednesday, Dec. 21. Tove Danovich got into Union Station around midnight Wednesday, nearly three hours later than scheduled. An Amtrak Northeast Regional train heading north from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station in 2021. Ya we are suppose to get a big snow storm later this week here in chicago.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. And it only takes a few dominoes to make the rest to start falling. House Republicans probing if COVID funds were used for cri Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after brain aneurysm, How Ariana Madix discovered Tom Sandoval was cheating on her with Raquel Leviss, Raquel Leviss, Tom Sandoval affair allegedly pre-dated Tom Schwartz hookup, Max Scherzer's first look at the new pitch clock, Chris Rock Jokes About Watching Emancipation to See Will Smith Getting Whipped In Advance of Netflix Special: Report, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. Yep, do that every day, and just checked again. and Mr. Landey, I live 50 miles from the nearest commercial airport and there are a couple of options for getting home from there. Sign-up for email today! The cancellation of todays eastbound Chief comes after the westbound Chief that left Chicago on Monday, Feb. 20 the train that would be turned for todays departure arrived in Los Angeles at 4:13 p.m., 8 hours, 13 minutes late and less than two hours ahead of its scheduled 5:55 p.m. departure. Earlier this year, I was stuck at Denver because a United plane was taken out of service in Houston for mechanical reasons. Or not. @yvr1 do you have a number for the refunds department by any chance? When it wasnt safe at all to drive and roads and airports were all shut down, the passenger trains struggled through. What does it take for politicians and officials to realize that running one frequently late train a day makes no sense. To be notified of service disruptions on the Northeast Corridor follow @AmtrakNECAlerts on Twitter. Who has more info about the LSL route cancellation somewhere west of Albany. To modify a reservation, log in to your account, go to 'Modify Trip' on Amtrak.com, or find your reservation from your account on the home screen in the Amtrak app. Checked baggage not claimed by airline passengers will likely be shipped to a retail outlet named Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama which is 50 miles east of Huntsville, Alabama and west of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Of course no one at Amtrak ever anticipates the arrival of winter. Each class is set to see upgrades from coach to sleeper cars, as . A month later, Amtrak sweetened the offer to $200. The Biden Administration has been pressuring the unions and freight companies to come to an agreement to avoid a strike and are working on a plan to ship goods via trucks and plan if workers walkout Friday. When canceling an Amtrak Sleeper Accommodation you'll get a full refund to the original form of payment if it is more than 120 days until departure. @RescueTeam It was booked for April 18 (SF departure). 2022? News & Reviews News Wire Amtrak suffers more long-distance cancellations, delays: Analysis, Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Capitol Limited routes hurt by weather, mechanical setbacks. Get great snapshots of railroading history in Art Petersons newest book. As stated above, they appear to be being proactive due to another bad storm and sub-zero temps. There seems to be some discussion on another list that the Empire Builder has been canceled "later this week." Amtrak says that it will "only operate trains this week that we can ensure will have enough time to reach their final destinations by 12:01 a.m. on Friday . 301 and 319; the westbound Illinois Zephyr to Quincy, Ill.; and Wolverine Nos. Statement by Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner January 31, 2023. Ticket Changes and/or Cancellations. You have to speak directly to the refund department. The Zephyr that left Emeryville on Sunday was about 7 hours late before it even turned a wheel. Other commuter railways such as Chicagos Metra have also announced they will be forced to begin cutting service on Thursday. So maybe it's not quite the ripoff that it used to be.) Though Empire Builder passengers werent victimized by the cancellations that occurred around the Christmas holidays [see Weather cancellations impact Amtrak , Trains News Wire, Jan 6, 2023], the train did have issues this week. @evilpoodle No, I do not have a number for the refunds department. Only the federal government screwed up and kept running trains.. This includes reservations booked with points. Welcome to our Third World transportation network. The affected routes include some trains in the Northeast Corridor and a New Orleans route. Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership! Look at the caption above. Metrolink and Amtrak have suspended train services linking San Diego to Los Angeles - along with the rest of the US - because ground underneath a stretch of seaside track in southern California. WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak will cancel trips on three long-distance routes starting Tuesday because of a potential freight rail strike later this week, and. News & Reviews News Wire Amtrak cancellations, long departure delays continue, Not just weather cited in some cases; Western New York disruptions ongoing. I called back and the next agent suggested I speak directly to the refund department, I was transfered to them. Amtrak has suspended some of its most storied and picturesque routes this week in preparation for an impending rail worker strike that could further upend supply chains and damage the US economy.. damaged a portion of the Union Pacific . All not aboard! What kind of snow plows will it use ? Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. Train Cancellations- 3/04/2023. 14h Palmetto Train 89, which departed New York (NYP) on 3/1, is currently operating approx. but that is looking at the models and knowing nothing about weather. BNSF does not have the personnel to cover any stall. Do the trains have much higher HP / ton.? Amtrak's service cuts will not affect most short-to-medium-distance rail travel along the Northeast Corridor between Boston, New York and Washington. Don't miss this look at the history of America's most influential builder of locomotives. As far as Amtrak and Chicago. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I managed to get a gate attendant at another flight to check my flight. Builders departing Saturday, Dec. 17, suffered extensive delays enroute. Ensure a safe, slow approach from others with this railroad-themed logo mask! Amtrak barely functions on a good day and is hopeless in bad weather. We'll be on train 7 on the 29th and are hoping not to be bumped Actual forecast low temperatures (not windchill) for northern Montana and North Dakota this coming week will be -20 F to -30 F. Amtrak has cancelled Departures from Portland and Settle on 12/21. Find the best deals on Amtrak train tickets and book online directly with Wanderu. On the other hand, two Chief and Empire Builder arrivals were early and one California Zephyr was only 1 hour, 10 minutes late, so on-time performance is possible. They have said that the railroads decision to slash its workforce by one-third over the last six years have made the job even harder. No, the refund form did not ask for a credit card or other method of payment, just asked for train details, booking reference etc. This heat map shows where user-submitted problem reports are concentrated over the past 24 hours. So far, nine have agreed. I have a feeling that evilpoodle may have been a victim of a scam. This was in 2019. If more than 24 hours have passed, the cancellation policy and change . Would that any with authority and interest to change the things you cite take up your cause. CN reaches paid sick time agreements with four unions in U.S. 2023 National Garden Railway Convention is in Santa Clara, Second Vancouver, B.C., Cascades round trip set to roll Monday. Fun times. Amtrak is spending $28 million to upgrade long-distance trains and make journeys more enjoyable. Not all service between Grand Rapids and Chicago has been canceled and Amtrak is still operating some trains between the two destinations, as of Friday morning, Dec. 23 just not on the 370 or 371. Since then I've followed up with further emails but of course there's been nothing from Amtrak. Many people who had been able to secure reservations in the next 2-3 days then left the airport. Or not. BNSF certainly does not have the personnel to extract snow bound trains now. Amtrak on Monday already moved to pre-emptively cancel three long-distance train routes that originate in Chicago, a move that the train operator says would "avoid possible . In addition to Zephyr issue cited above, recent examples are two eastbound Capitol Limiteds leaving Chicago on Jan. 17 (more than 2 hours late) and Jan. 20 (over 5 hours late, after the locomotive broke down just outside the station). Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. I will use my balance on the NEC traveling 1st class on the Acela then no more Amtrak for me. The LOSSAN rail corridor stretches 351 miles from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, with the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, freight, commuter, and long-distance trains sharing the tracks and certain stations. Why Sign In? Ill never forget the greatest line ever in TRAINS magazine, about twenty to thirty years ago, talking about CSXs central dispatch in Jacksonville. Ticketed passengers can book a later train or get a refund. Travel on Amtrak to Virginia Wine Expo at the Main Street Station in Richmond, Va. February 6, 2023. It may not display this or other websites correctly. In both cases the airline got me to my destination. Classic Railroad Scenes: Railroads at Work. Amtrak has also canceled some service from Grand Rapids to Chicago, nixing service on its Pere Marquette 370 train, for Dec. 22-24, and from Chicago to Grand Rapids on the Pere Marquette 371 from Dec. 23-25. True it wasnt the fastest way or the most comfortable way of traveling but the bus got through somehow and cheaper too. Don't miss this look at the history of America's most influential builder of locomotives. Value Fare For Value Fare tickets in Coach and Acela Business Class: Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. CHICAGO None of the individual delays that befell numerous cross-country Amtrak trains during the last week were as lengthy or dramatic as the 37-hour ordeal experienced by more than 500 Auto Train passengers on Jan. 12. No, but even Amtrak in the earlier 2000's would rarely cancel trains or if they did there would always be bussing. All it takes is a pilot to have a flat tire on his way to the airport and the system begins to break down. She settled into her seat after a day at a booksellers conference in Seattle, expecting her husband would pick her up at the train station around 9:45 p.m. And while she says she understands nobodys at fault for the inclement weather that caused delays and cancellations across transit systems, she does feel like Amtrak could have done a better job preparing for the storm or, at the very least, communicating with its passengers. Ive met many really nice SWA employees, whether flight deck, cabin, check-in or gate. Quick answer: Yes, AmTrak and any other train will run in the snow, or when it is snowing & their delays can differ immensly. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . Sign-up for email today! Who knows what time they will arrive in Chicago a couple of days later. Somewhere each airline and each railroad has a computer that maximizes every employee and every piece of equipment. Value Fares cancellation policy. Network connectivity has been hurt by flooding-caused bridge damage to the Coast Starlight route south of San Luis Obispo, Calif. [see Union Pacifics line on California coast remains shut down , News Wire, Jan. 18, 2023]. The email had a link to a web page via which I could request a refund. If this is the one cancelation for the year it is no big deal of course. A substitute airplane was found at Houston and flown to Denver, but had to be repaired at the gate at Denver. Amtrak Cancellation Policy. The difference is until very very recently Amtrak felt a responsibilty to get people where they are going once they bought a ticket even if they got there late. Reports are that the consist of #3(21) that was terminated in Albuquerque has now been combined with the consist of #4(21) in Albuquerque and the combined train left eastbound toward Chicago at about 7:30am Mountain Time today. White House announces 'tentative' deal to avert rail strike Christmas is No. Flying naturally is faster and quicker if flying between the major hubs or major cities. Once crew turn patterns are interrupted for an extended duration, adverse effects are likely to last for days. All Amtrak tickets can be cancelled for a full refund within the first 24 hours after purchase. Amtrak Stations: Refunds may be processed at stations with Amtrak ticket offices. _ @ " $ # ,). Two unions ratified agreements and three others are holding out at the bargaining table ahead of Friday when union members are legally allowed to strike per federal guidelines. In my frequent flights over the last ten years or so, Ive been delayed twice. The valuable contents are removed from the bags and sold separately to customers local and national. This is ridiculous. When stuff happens the entire show shuts down. Join Today! Amtrak cancellations, long departure delays continue. While Amtrak workers are not involved in the ongoing labor dispute, over 21,000 of track miles outside of the northeast corridor Boston to Washington D.C. are owned and maintained by freight companies. 1 hour and 10 minutes late from Petersburg (PTB) due to earlier commuter train interference and speed restrictions along the route. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Updated on 1/21/2021. The. According to the Amtrak Alerts Twitter feed, the eastbound Chief scheduled to depart Los Angeles today (Wednesday, Feb. 22) has been cancelled due to severe weather conditions, while the westbound Chief that left Chicago on Tuesday, Feb. 21, will terminate in Albuquerque for the same reason. When I got there the Board showed about a 90 minute delay for the flight which wasnt that bad so I checked my bag. This is the current business model whether airlines, RRs, hospitals, financial, etc maximize profits through bare bones staffing so if one person quits, retires, dies the whole house of cards comes down then they use this as an excuse for the poor or limited svcs. Perhaps Amtrak is being proactive. Only 8 of 53 of the inbound flights werent cancelled and 6 of the 55 outbound ones werent cancelled. As they say, when in a hole, stop digging. Is it not time to finally acknowledge Amtrak is in a hole; and has no traction, no matter how many millions the feds have thrown at it since 2020. And these are having long term economic, social, and political consequences. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. It took over 3 hours but finally my bag appeared in the last batch of bags to come out for the night. That's a good point - when we were on EB during one of the polar vortexes with temperatures about -30F in Minot, we were delayed several times by track fractures that required BNSF to go out in front of us to weld the tracks back together. The email came from http://DoNotReplyATacn.amtrak.com and looks authentic - though I know that can be hard to determine at times. If anything a good faith effort of running the trains Chicago to St Paul or other short turn station stop would show they care about the service more than protecting their image. However. Amtrak announced the additional cancellations of Wednesday after it canceled 10 long-distance trains earlier this week. Winter weather has caused delays and cancellations along Amtrak train routes in the Midwest and Northeast Wednesday and Thursday. We've received your submission. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/blog/how-to-check-your-train-status. After servicing and rest for the Chicago-based onboard crew, todays eastbound train No. The Pere Marquette also makes stops in St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, Bangor and Holland. A blizzard is predicted. The 33-year-old newly published author and freelance journalist was happy to return home. At least 20 train services on the Northeast Corridor were canceled or postponed. The cancellations beginning Tuesday impact three routes that run between Chicago and the West Coast along Amtrak's Southwest Chief, California . They sure dont make railroaders and executives like they used to when railroaders and the railroads bravely challenged and ran their trains against the ravages of winter and snow and blizzards to provide service to their customers and people needing to get home for the holidays and visits with family and friends What a shame indeed Union Pacifics line on California coast remains shut down ,. Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. A coordinated balanced that uses ALL forms of transportation to get people to where they need to be is needed and of course requires cooperation and cohesion as well as careful planning for all contiingencies to work. privacy policy. The only good thing in all of this was the SW staff handling all of this were doing their best to try and make things go as smooth as possible. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Amtrak announced that all long-distance passenger trains have been canceled ahead of a looming freight rail worker strike. Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands! Ensure a safe, slow approach from others with this railroad-themed logo mask! Better than sitting around in airports for hours and days waiting for a plane or flight that might never fly or canceled. 353 and 354. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Biden touts NYC-NJ train tunnel that wont be built before 2035, Amtrak train delayed for 37 hours prompts riders to call 911 over hostage fears, Amtrak unveils new trains that will replace aging fleet, Amtrak lets railcar owners hitch a ride to its trains for a price, cost the economy an estimated $2 billion a day. Amtrak cancels Empire Builder, thins Midwest departures in advance of winter storm. And the email from them about the cancellation provided the same number 877-231-9448 for rebooking and refunds. Amtrak has for along time been the canary in the coal mine for rail. Amtrak announced the additional cancellations of Wednesday after it canceled 10 long-distance trains earlier this week. [Note: I got 2 phone messages from SW announcing delays but they were always less than what was already shown at the airport. Why are there no equipment shortage impacting service on the NEC & AutoTrain? Joseph C. Markfelder. the trip has already been cancelled by Amtrak) which I'm afraid to click because it'll probably give Amtrak some reason to delay the refund further, or not process it at all, since it'll look like the trip is being cancelled by the passenger. If I had the time the way to get between the 2 cities would be Chief or Eaglette and Starlight. They also have a number for international customers - though it seems to be a US number, I assume it's just staffed during non US peak hours. There's an option to "cancel trip" on the Manage booking page on Amtrak (why? Chicago-Pontiac, Mich.: Train 352 (2:15 p.m. from Chicago); 353 (8:50 a.m. from Pontiac). Amtrak has also canceled some service from Grand Rapids to Chicago, nixing service on its Pere Marquette 370 train, for Dec. 22-24, and from Chicago to Grand Rapids on the Pere Marquette 371. No matter how bad the weather, trains were on the job Yes with some delays- but on the job. The strike could put additional strain on the already log-jammed supply chains and could escalate already high inflation costs. Cancellations after 24 hours: You will receive an eVoucher worth 75% of the price of your ticket, which you can use to book future Amtrak tickets. Traffic congealed by disabled freight trains or temporarily closed by severe weather play havoc with an operation in which operating personnel are stationed at far-flung bases. Probably a wise decision considering the poor condition this aging equipment is in & the unreliable Siemens units. I just feel it wouldve been so easy for them to communicate things to us.. Since the westbound equipment flips back east the same day, todays Chicago-bound departures were set to run, but on a substantially-delayed schedule, from Seattle and Portland, Ore. In fact if I was BNSF I would tell Amtrak dont operate. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Empire Builder cancellations, which began Dec. 21 from both Chicago and Seattle/Portland, Ore., were extended on Christmas Day to Monday, Dec. 26 as a result of manpower issues, according to the Amtrak Alerts Twitter feed and the Service Alerts section of the company website. You can buy using online and offline channels. I don't want to do the SF-Portland-Chicago route (it was mostly about the views through the midwest for me, and spending two days on a train, rather than with a stopover). Here are the Midwest cancellations to and from Chicago for Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, Dec. 22, 24, and 25. But shes not happy her husband had to risk the roads two times, or that Amtrak seemed to keep her and others in the dark for too long about the reasons for the delays, or that Union Station kicked her and several other waiting passengers out into the cold. It now seems like nothing is dependable or reliable or even weather resistant. A few inches of snow is forecast over the next week. Thanks goodness I brought trip insurance! . Just an average joe's guess.. and freezing cold for the holiday around here too. I looked up the weather for SE Wisconsin, as I happen to live there. Between Monday, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 21, the Zephyr, Builder, and Southwest Chief each had at least one train that arrived into Chicago more than 7 hours after their scheduled mid-afternoon arrivals. This *and* running a service in these weather extremes is really creating a potential life safety issue that Amtrak is utterly unprepared to handle. Who really made me feel welcome and important as a frequent flier. Times sure have changed. The carrier. Ian, a reporter with the Washington Post, did some investigating, and here you go. A few inches. Are they rebooking people or offering alternate transportation? The Amtrak Alerts Twitter feed attributes these to mechanical issues; so were both running more than 6 hours late this evening (Monday, Dec. 19). Amtrak's unique travel experience for families, individuals and groups, Tickets & fares, accessible travel service, security & ID requirements, Boarding information, station lounges, baggage & station services, Seating & sleeping, baggage info, train amenities, food & dining, Amtrak travel deals, promotions and other partner offers, Savings for Kids, Seniors, Military, Groups and More, Train vacation packages throughout North America, USA Rail passes, monthly passes and multi-ride tickets, Earn points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades and more, Discover member benefits, ways to earn or redeem points and more, Explore ways to earn points that can quickly add up to great rewards, Get even more benefits with an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card. (No, they don't.). Preview Garden Railways March and April content. Phone: Refunds may be processed by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245). Good thing I didnt, Id be stuck somewhere with no luggage and no hope of getting home. Severe weather is also being cited for the cancellation of the eastbound Empire Builder from Seattle and Portland today through Friday, Feb. 24. Norfolk Southerns Monday-through-Thursday cancellation of the Atlanta-New Orleans portion of the Crescent is the result of an annual route outage. Why it matters: It's the latest disruption stemming from the looming labor strike that could start as soon as Friday, which would lead to a shutdown of most of the country's railway system. Unfortunately, we don't have other transportation available" There goes my snowy train ride across the cold dark northern plains! If they had flown, they would have been in Chicago by lunch time and for far less money if they were travelling by sleeper and less hassle. Bedroom. Passwords are case sensitive, should be at least 10 characters long and should include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. Why Sign In? Click here to learn about the Unlimited Membership! Amtrak said it's canceling three long-distance trips starting on Tuesday amid a looming railway strike that could disrupt the U.S. economy, resulting in lost productivity of $2 billion a day. The westbound Empire Builders today and Thursday have also been cancelled. She told me I couldnt get a trip on SW to Miami or Fort Lauderdale until the 30thI was returning on the 31st! Welcome to a transportation system which has broken down and totally collapsed. Remember when people flocked to passenger trains in bad weather because trains were more reliable even with 25 year old steam heated equipment? Amtrak has suspended service on some long-distance train routes beginning Tuesday as the rail industry braces for a potential strike among railroad freight workers that could begin later this week. I gave some thought to flying to Denver for Christmas. (Thomas Boyd, Thomas Boyd). Even a brief shutdown would dramatically disrupt the shipping of fuel, chemicals, foods, cars, coal and other imported goods and products.