If NWA won't fly, other means in short supply

Most train, bus seats already sold

BY CHARLES LASZEWSKI

Pioneer Press


If Northwest Airlines mechanics go out on strike tonight, it could be tough for passengers wanting to avoid the airline and jump on another mode of transportation.

This is the travel season and those train and bus seats already have someone sitting in them.

"We are in the peak season and the Empire Builder is nearly sold out,'' said Marc Magliari, Amtrak spokesman in Chicago. "Nationally, we are seeing a surge and we think it's the gas prices. If people are looking to us to relieve concerns over another carrier, we suggest they do it quickly.''

Magliari said that the last time Northwest workers went on strike, Amtrak added train cars to handle an increase in riders. But that strike, by pilots, was in November 1998 during the off-peak travel time. This time around, Amtrak has already added extra cars to handle the extra travelers climbing aboard and it would be difficult to add any more, he said.

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TravelerJim