Could a Pending Amtrak Strike Affect the Mass. Commuter Rail Lines?

When I read this article this morning on Boston.com about a pending Amtrak strike, a pit grew in my stomach. This is actually the first I've read about the subject. I had no idea that Amtrak may be striking.

Please Amtrak, don't go on strike!! This is scary:

A strike would virtually shut down South Station, forcing rail passengers to transfer onto subway lines at the Back Bay, Braintree, and Forest Hills stations. The MBTA would also have to shut down the Providence/Stoughton Line in all likelihood, forcing about 17,000 additional daily commuters to drive into town or to take alternate rail lines. North Station schedules would not be altered, but riders might see picket lines.

Yikes!

Supposedly the MBTA/MBCR are coming up with some contingency plans if Amtrak does strike.

If the Amtrak workers do strike, they have the legal right to start their strike at 12:01 a.m. January 30th. If they started striking on the 30th, they'll start their strike on a Wednesday.

Amtrak workers have been without a contract since 2000. The Amtrak unions have said that they have three options in place - a strike, a negotiated settlement or congressional intervention.

Since Amtrak owns or operates the rails in most East Coast cities, including Washington, DC, NYC, and Boston, a commute would probably bring havoc to the Eastern seaboard.

I absolutely agree with the person quoted in the article:

"It scares the hell out of me," said Roberta Conover, 49, of West Roxbury, who takes the Needham Line to work. "What a mess," she said.

Wow. For those of us who commute into South Station, let's hope Amtrak doesn't choose to strike to resolve their contractual issues.