The possibility of a nationwide rail strike impacts Amtrak long distance rail passenger service including two passenger trains that serve Nebraska and Iowa.
In a statement, Amtrak says it's suspending service for the "California Zephyr" and "Southwest Chief."
The Zephyr runs between Chicago and the Bay Area crossing southern Nebraska and southern Iowa on the tracks of the BNSF Railroad.
Omaha/Council Bluffs, and Lincoln are among its stops in Nebraska; Creston, Ottumwa and Burlington are among its Iowa stations;
The "Southwest Chief" from Chicago to Southern California cuts across a piece of southeast Iowa at Fort Madison.
The negotiations do not involve Amtrak, but the issue is most of their passenger trains run over the tracks of the private freight or "host" railroads, and Amtrak does not want their trains stranded outside a terminal by a walkout.
(Picture from Getty Images)