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Metra holds board meeting to address possibility of freight railroad worker strike

CHICAGO (CBS) – Metra held a board meeting Wednesday to address the looming threat of a railroad worker strike. If the strike happens, nine of Metra's 11 lines could be halted Friday. 

Both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad - which own and operate the lines - have said they will begin curtailing service on Thursday after the evening rush in preparation for the stoppage, according to a statement from Metra. 

The following trains will not operate Thursday night:

BNSF  

• Inbound trains 1296, 1298, 1300, and 1302 are canceled (all depart Aurora after 8 p.m.)

• Outbound trains 1289, 1291 1293, and 1295 are canceled (all depart Chicago after 9:30 p.m.)

Union Pacific North

• Inbound trains 372 and 374 are canceled (all depart Waukegan after 10 p.m.)

• Outbound trains 371, 373, 375, and 377 are canceled (all depart Chicago after 9:30 p.m.)

Union Pacific Northwest

• Inbound trains 666 and 668 are canceled (all depart after 9:30 p.m.)

• Outbound trains 661,663,665 and 601 are canceled (all depart Chicago after 9:30 p.m.)

Union Pacific West

• Inbound train 68 is canceled (departs Elburn after 9:15 p.m.)

• Outbound trains 69 and 71 are canceled (all depart Chicago after 9:30 p.m.)

Metra says they're hopeful that a settlement can be reached before the deadline.

A possible strike is forcing Amtrak to cancel service on more routes - including to New Orleans, San Antonio, New York, and Boston.

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On Monday, Amtrak suspended service on three routes out west to make sure trains would arrive before any potential disruptions.

If the possibility of a strike isn't enough, a major infrastructure project could add another snag.

Union Pacific is scheduled to replace about 68,000 rail ties on the UP North north line - between the Ravenswood Metra station and Kenosha.  

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Work is set to begin Tuesday and will be done mostly overnight to lessen the impact - but Metra says some delays are possible.

It is expected to be complete by the end of November.

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