Freight rail workers are threatening to strike for higher pay, more generous paid leave and a renegotiation of strict attendance policies and broader working conditions.
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Railroad workers first threatened to strike in July after more than three years of failed contract negotiations. The unions have generally pushed for a pay increase, better working conditions, relaxed attendance rules, and additional paid time off without fear of punishment.
Amtrak is preemptively suspending some service because its track will be affected if freight rail workers go on strike. “Amtrak operates almost all of our 21,000 route miles outside the Northeast Corridor (NEC) on track owned, maintained, and dispatched by freight railroads,” said Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesman.
The simple answer: your Amtrak trip won't be affected by the government shutdown. As we've seen during previous government shutdowns, Amtrak has enough cash on hand to keep the trains running and workers paid in the near term.
So why is Amtrak canceling service? Amtrak is preemptively suspending some service because its track will be affected if freight rail workers go on strike.
In fiscal year 2022, Amtrak served 22.9 million passengers. That figure was down ten million from 2019 when 33 million people rode Amtrak, a 30% decline.
Our Paid Time Off (PTO) and holiday benefits give you a generous amount of paid time away from work each year. You start with 26 days of PTO, 10 holidays, 2 floating holidays, and 1 community service day. Generally, most employees enjoy a hybrid work schedule, with some days in the office and some working from home.
RMT (the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union) and ASLEF (The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) members are striking in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
In the coming years, Amtrak will invest over $50 billion into modern trains, enhanced stations and facilities, new tunnels and bridges, and other critical infrastructure upgrades. These generational investments mean we're no longer only a passenger rail operator.
Total Operating Revenue1: $2.8 billion, increased 47.8% over FY21, and only 15% below Amtrak's FY19 pre-pandemic revenue levels. Adjusted Operating Earnings2: ($884.9 million), an 18.2% improvement over FY21, and $145 million ahead of Amtrak's FY22 plan due to strong ticket-revenue growth.
If you miss your Amtrak train due to a cancellation, Amtrak will try to accommodate you on the next available train. If there are no available trains, you may be eligible for a refund or credit towards a future trip.
A rail strike could have frozen almost 30% of U.S. cargo shipments by weight, stoked already surging inflation, cost the American economy as much as $2 billion a day, and stranded millions of rail passengers.
The new Acela will operate at top speeds of 160 mph vs. today's fleet, which operates at top speeds of 150 mph. Amtrak's new Acela fleet is scheduled to enter service on the NEC in 2024.
Train travel is much simpler, as there is no TSA PreCheck® or CLEAR equivalent for Amtrak. Amtrak trains offer private rooms, more legroom, more space from your fellow passengers, more comfortable seats, and more food & beverage options.
As part of the Amtrak Cascades service, customers can travel between Seattle and Bellingham on a single charge. WASHINGTON – The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Amtrak are replacing a diesel-powered bus with an electric vehicle (EV) on the Amtrak Cascades route.
As of Sep 26, 2023, the average hourly pay for an Amtrak in the United States is $22.05 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $36.54 and as low as $9.62, the majority of Amtrak wages currently range between $17.07 (25th percentile) to $25.00 (75th percentile) across the United States.
Amtrak Salary FAQsThe average salary for a Train Driver is $54,013 per year in United States, which is 0% higher than the average Amtrak salary of $53,873 per year for this job. What is the salary trajectory of a Train Driver? The salary trajectory of a Train Driver ranges between locations and employers.