HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A week after making the official announcement that it was curtailing service on long-distance trains, Amtrak announced it will furlough approximately 1,950 of its unionized workers as part of cutbacks for fiscal 2021. Additionally, approximately 100 managerial positions will be eliminated.
The largest portion of those, 698 employees, will come from onboard staff represented by the Amtrak Service Workers Council.
The two locations that will take the largest hits are Los Angeles and Chicago, where 368 onboard employees will be laid off. It’s those onboard employees that serve many of Amtrak's long-distance trains including the Southwest Chief.
In a story Hutch Post brought you in June, Amtrak said it would cut service on long-distance trains including the Chief to three days per week. At the same time, the passenger carrier hinted it would reduce its workforce by 20%.
The Chief is set to go to three days per week in October. The railroad said it would consider putting it back on a full-time schedule if business picked up again after the usual winter slowdown.