Metrolink commuters throughout Southern California could see a complete or partial service cancellation starting this Friday, pending a possible freight rail strike over pay and working conditions. Freight rail workers unions are currently negotiating with freight rail operators, who have until Thursday night to make a deal.  

Metrolink is a regional commuter rail service that operates 134 trains and serves more than 16,000 passengers every weekday in Southern California. Five of its seven commuter lines run on tracks owned by freight railroads that could make them unavailable for passenger trains if the workers strike.

Metrolink’s Orange County, Inland Empire-Orange County, 91/Perris Valley, Riverside and Ventura County lines all use tracks that are “directly operated by parties involved in the labor negotiation,” according to a Metrolink statement posted on its website last week. The agency’s Antelope Valley and San Bernardino lines would be unaffected.

“We remain optimistic that a settlement will be reached, and regular passenger rail service will continue,” the statement said, adding that passengers should consider alternate plans for travel. If trains are canceled, Metrolink will not be able to provide an alternative way of getting travelers to their destinations.

Metrolink spokesperson Scott Johnson told the Washington Post this week that “there simply are not enough buses to provide alternative service,” as the agency would ordinarily do when the agency cancels trains. Johnson said the potential strike would affect too many trains to be able to replace them with buses.

The possible freight rail strike is already affecting Amtrak, which began scaling back trips on three of its long-distance routes on Tuesday, including the California Zephyr connecting Chicago and San Francisco.