Amtrak announces full restoration of rail services

[Updated at 4:38 p.m. ET Friday]

Amtrak has confirmed the complete restoration of its rail services following the cancellation of several trains, which was prompted by concerns over an impending freight rail worker strike that was later avoided.

“All services have been fully resumed, and every train will depart as scheduled from their stations today [Friday],” Amtrak stated in an official release.

“There may still be some disruptions for passengers at intermediate stations. Travelers are encouraged to check the Amtrak website or app for the latest updates on their journeys,” the statement continued.

Amtrak had previously canceled all long-distance trains across the country, along with certain state-funded routes.

[This was the earlier version of the story]

With a tentative agreement reached to avert a freight rail strike, Amtrak is now working to resume its full schedule.

“Amtrak is working swiftly to reinstate canceled trains and is contacting affected customers to rebook them on the next available departures,” Amtrak stated in a release on Thursday morning.

The agreement between railroad unions and management was announced shortly after 5 a.m. ET Thursday, according to a statement from the White House.

Although the negotiations did not directly involve Amtrak or its workforce, passenger rail services were modified on routes that could have been impacted by the dispute.

By Wednesday, Amtrak had already announced the suspension of all long-distance trains set to begin Thursday. Later that evening, Amtrak confirmed that some state-supported routes, such as those in Virginia, would also be suspended starting Thursday evening.

Further updates are expected soon on whether the resolution of the dispute will lead to any changes in these cancellations.

Here’s everything Amtrak passengers need to know about the current situation:

Is Amtrak on strike?

No. “The negotiations do not involve Amtrak or its workforce,” Amtrak stated earlier this week in an official announcement.

So why is Amtrak suspending service?

Amtrak is proactively halting certain services as its tracks may be impacted if freight rail workers proceed with a strike.

“Amtrak operates nearly all of our 21,000 miles of track outside the Northeast Corridor (NEC) on lines owned, maintained, and operated by freight railroads,” said Marc Magliari, a spokesman for Amtrak.

The rail service provider announced it would only run trains this week that it could ensure would reach their destinations by 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 16.

Will Acela service be impacted?

No. Amtrak confirmed that travel within the Northeast Corridor (Boston, New York, Washington) would largely remain unaffected, with Acela continuing its full schedule. Branch lines to Albany, New York; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Springfield, Massachusetts, will also operate as usual.

Amtrak anticipates only minor changes to Northeast Regional services.

Which routes are impacted?

Amtrak announced that all long-distance train services would be canceled starting Thursday, with some routes already suspended earlier in the week.

Additional state-supported routes were included in the cancellations starting Thursday evening. These routes include: Capitol Corridor, Amtrak Cascades, Heartland Flyer, Illinois Service, Michigan Service, partial Pacific Surfliner, Piedmont, San Joaquins, Springfield Service (north of Springfield), and Virginia Service.

For specific train details, visit Amtrak.com for the latest updates.

Here’s a list of the suspended long-distance services:

Services suspended starting Tuesday, September 13:

• Southwest Chief
• Empire Builder
• California Zephyr
• Train #421 section of the Texas Eagle

Services suspended starting Wednesday, September 14:

• City of New Orleans
• Coast Starlight
• Crescent
• Lake Shore Limited
• Silver Star
• Sunset Limited
• Texas Eagle

Services suspended starting Thursday, September 15:

• Auto Train
• Capitol Limited
• Cardinal
• Palmetto (south of Washington)

Amtrak stated it would make efforts to notify passengers of canceled trains at least 24 hours before their scheduled departure.

Can I modify my ticket?

Yes. Amtrak will reach out to affected passengers with options to change their travel dates. Any fare differences will be waived for departures through October 31.

Am I eligible for a refund?

Yes. Affected customers who are contacted by Amtrak may be eligible for a full refund without any cancellation fees.

Will commuter rail services be impacted?

Yes, commuter rail services not operated by Amtrak may be disrupted due to a freight rail strike. Several passenger rail services, including Metra in Chicago and MARC trains in Maryland, rely on tracks owned by freight railroads. More details here. For updates, check with your local rail service providers directly for potential delays or cancellations.