Amtrak released a press statement September 14, announcing a cancellation of intercity passenger transport services out of Carbondale and surrounding areas in preparation for a likely rail worker strike set to take place beginning Friday, Sept. 16.

Starting Wednesday, the following Amtrak routes will be suspended until further notice: City of New Orleans (servicing from Chicago to New Orleans and including Carbondale), Coast Starlight, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited (from Chicago to New York), Silver Star, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle (from Chicago to San Antonio).

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Current services are being fulfilled through a process set to phase down as the strike looms closer, according to the press release. These adjustments are being made to ensure there will be no difficulty in fulfilling planned transport schedules, but will begin by canceling long-distance transport routes.

The strikes are set to come as a result of dissatisfaction with stalled contract negotiations between 12 railroad unions and national railway carriers, according to a Washington Post article.

The strike is expected to cause large-scale disruptions to travel and transportation of goods across the country, as the majority of railways outside the Northeastern U.S. are owned and operated by the rail corporations involved.

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Staff reporter William Box can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @William17455137. To stay up to date with all your southern Illinois news, follow the Daily Egyptian on Facebook and Twitter.

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