Amtrak cancels Fort Madison service as railroad strike looms

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Chicago, Ill.- A potential freight railroad strike has resulted in the cancellation of Amtrak services on long-distance routes out of Chicago.

The Pen City Current reports that a pending freight railroad workers strike would leave lines used by Amtrak unattended.

Amtrak said that, starting Tuesday, service would be suspended on the Southwest Chief, Empire Builder, California Zephyr, and the Los Angeles to San Antonio portion of the Texas Eagle routes.

The Southwest Chief runs through Fort Madison, and the Zephyr runs through both Burlington and Ottumwa.

Amtrak said in a statement that the cancellations were necessary to ensure that passengers didn’t get stuck mid-route.

So far, the Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandberg routes remain unaffected.