And a freight rail strike could cost the US economy $1 billion in its first week alone, according to a new analysis from the Anderson Economic Group. But that’s nothing compared to what would happen with a prolonged rail strike. CommutingOnly the nation’s freight rail lines face a pending strike, but commuters would likely be affected, too. Many commuter trains travel on tracks maintained and operated by the freight railroads and passenger railroads expect they’ll have to shut down their operations once the freight strike starts. Many commuter railroads also move over freight rail lines and could not operate if a strike was called.

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