Update: A White House-brokered deal has seemingly averted a possible freight rail strike or lockout that could have started as early as Friday.

The possibility of the strike had even threatened some passenger rail service, including VRE in Virginia and MARC in Maryland, both of which warned that if a strike happened they would be forced to suspend service on Friday.

Amtrak had preemptively canceled long-distance rail service in many parts of the country, Virginia included, but said Thursday morning it would get trains up and running again as quickly as possible.

“Amtrak is working to quickly restore canceled trains and reaching out to impacted customers to accommodate on first available departures,” a spokesperson said after news that the strike had been averted.

Original: A looming freight train worker strike might snarl commuter rail lines, too, including the Virginia Railway Express and MARC.

Freight workers are negotiating a new contract and have not come to an agreement. They could strike indefinitely, something that hasn’t happened in more than 30 years, according to the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.

The strike could affect two companies whose rails are used by local commuter train lines – VRE uses tracks owned by CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads. MARC uses CSX tracks for two of its lines and CSX dispatches their trains. Both told customers to prepare alternative transportation if the strike does go forward starting Friday.

“Any labor strike would result in the immediate suspension of all VRE train service until a resolution is reached,” the commuter rail wrote on Twitter. “We of course hold out hope for a resolution – by all concerned – before the Friday deadline.”

MARC said it would suspend operation on two commuter lines, the Brunswick line that runs between D.C. and Martinsburg, West Virginia, and the Camden line to Baltimore. The Penn Line would not be affected. They suggest commuter buses, WMATA, and RideOn as alternatives.

But for Virginians already dealing with a Metrorail shutdown, VRE was a viable and free alternative. Kenny Gartner of Lorton decided to try out VRE. He found the commuter train was more convenient for his commute to D.C.

“That’s when it gets interesting,” Gartner said of the potential strike. He said he’ll take Metro’s shuttle service instead. “It’s D.C., I feel like growing up in this area I always have to be prepared for alternatives and disruptions.”

CNN reports about “60,000 union members who work for the railroad are set to go on strike, including the engineers and conductors who make up the two-person crews on each train.”

“Our Unions remain at the bargaining table and have given the rail carriers a proposal that we would be willing to submit to our members for ratification, but it is the rail carriers that refuse to reach an acceptable agreement,” SMART Transportation and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen wrote in a joint statement. “In fact, it was abundantly clear from our negotiations over the past few days that the railroads show no intentions of reaching an agreement with our Unions, but they cannot legally lock out our members until the end of the cooling-off period.”

The union says its members are being “terminated for getting sick or for attending routine medical visits as we crawl our way out of a worldwide pandemic.”

Amtrak also operates on freight rails, but most of the trains heading north out of D.C. will not be affected. Amtrak owns the Northeast Corridor tracks. Other long-haul trains may be affected.

“If your train is canceled, we will attempt to notify you at least 24 hours in advance at the contact information you provided when making a reservation—as well as offer the opportunity to receive a full refund,” Amtrak wrote on its website.