The Metra-Union Pacific dispute
Appalachia’s legendary Hatfields and McCoys seems like close personal friends compared to Chicago commuter operator Metra and the Union Pacific Railroad, fighting a courtroom battle on two fronts, with potential involvement by the Surface Transportation Board waiting in the wings.
Officially, the parties are involved in two separate disputes: One over UP’s operation of Metra service on three UP lines, and one over fare collection on those lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s difficult to believe one isn’t influencing the other.
UP would like to get out of the business of operating trains for Metra, which would allow it to shed personnel and, it says, concentrate on what it does best, moving freight. Its goal is have Metra operate the trains and maintain the equipment, while UP retains ownership of the tracks and control of dispatching. In December 2019, UP sued Metra, at the time, saying involvement of the court was needed to resolve “fundamental issues.” Since, UP has claimed it is losing millions of dollars by operating Metra trains, while Metra has said the freight railroad wants to charge it substantially more while doing substantially less. The issue remains in federal court, after the STB deferred to that court and the court denied Metra’s motion to dismiss the suit.
Meanwhile, as the pandemic took hold, fare collection stopped on all Metra lines in an effort to decrease potential COVID-19 spread among riders and train crews. It resumed in June on all Metra lines except those of Union Pacific, which did nothing to collect fares, citing health concerns, until it began checking tickets for inbound and outbound passenger at its downtown Ogilvie Transportation Center on Oct. 5. Little more than a week later, Metra sued in a Cook County, Ill., court, calling UP’s failure to deploy conductors onboard was “arbitrary and capricious;” UP responded that it was “unwilling to put fare collection ahead of employee an commuter health.”
Additional News Wire reading:
“UP sues Metra over commuter operations,” Dec. 21, 2019
“UP says it will end some support of Metra in August, would quit running trains in 90 days if it wins suit,” July 9, 2020
“UP says it will lose millions operating trains for Metra,” July 22, 2020
“Metra sues Union Pacific over fare collection dispute,” Oct. 14, 2020
Coming Tuesday: Top 10 stories Nos. 8-10.