More Seattle-Everett passenger train runs halted
SEATTLE (AP) - Runs of passenger trains between Seattle and Everett will be canceled until Tuesday morning after more mudslides fell this weekend, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway spokesman said.
Closing the tracks all say Monday marks at least the seventh day of closures for Amtrak and Sound Transit trains along this corridor since Thanksgiving, spokesman Gus Melonas said. Passenger train service is now scheduled to restart at 4 a.m. Tuesday, he said.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway had estimated the closure of tracks to Amtrak and Sound Transit trains would end on Monday, but more mudslide damaged occurred overnight Saturday as heavy rain soaked the Puget Sound region, pushing mud, rocks, trees and debris onto the tracks.
The downpours have soaked loosened dirt on the slopes - some as high as 150 feet - along the track that runs between the two cities.
BNSF crews have been mobilized to clean up debris, Melonas said. During the dry season, the railroad company built ditches, enhanced culverts and slide sensors, he added.
Freight trains will continue operating because their sturdier build, flexible schedule and don't carry passengers, Melonas said.
"The major difference between passenger trains as opposed to rail car full of lumber is the human factor. We're not going to put the public in harm's way," he said.
Commuters can check soundtransit.org for updates. Sound Transit announced Sunday it will have buses running from the two cities to make up for the lack of train service.
Closing the tracks all say Monday marks at least the seventh day of closures for Amtrak and Sound Transit trains along this corridor since Thanksgiving, spokesman Gus Melonas said. Passenger train service is now scheduled to restart at 4 a.m. Tuesday, he said.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway had estimated the closure of tracks to Amtrak and Sound Transit trains would end on Monday, but more mudslide damaged occurred overnight Saturday as heavy rain soaked the Puget Sound region, pushing mud, rocks, trees and debris onto the tracks.
The downpours have soaked loosened dirt on the slopes - some as high as 150 feet - along the track that runs between the two cities.
BNSF crews have been mobilized to clean up debris, Melonas said. During the dry season, the railroad company built ditches, enhanced culverts and slide sensors, he added.
Freight trains will continue operating because their sturdier build, flexible schedule and don't carry passengers, Melonas said.
"The major difference between passenger trains as opposed to rail car full of lumber is the human factor. We're not going to put the public in harm's way," he said.
Commuters can check soundtransit.org for updates. Sound Transit announced Sunday it will have buses running from the two cities to make up for the lack of train service.
Seems to me that this happens quite often after a storm event. If I commuted on this I would be quite angry about how often it closes. Fix it and fix it for good. Otherwise, locate the track elsewhere.Â
It is time that our do-nothing legislature got off their fatty acids and condemned this track and totally forbid ANY train movement, freight or passenger, until the slides are permanently dealt with. Maybe then BNSF will fix it once and for all.
The ONLY way BNSF will fix this problem is if they start losing revenue from freight traffic.
Crapola!!! I am supposed to be taking my grandson on the XMas train to Leavenworth next Saturday. They use the same tracks. He is going to be devastated if they cancel the trip.
these tracks may be in the wrong place or something....doesn't this happen after just about every decent rainy patch? (which is numerous times per winter)
@SwampThing Thses tracks have been there for over 100 years and 50 years ago they carried many more trains, including passenger trains, than they do today... without current technology. The GN didnt cancel passenger trains, they fixed the track & had slow orders through the effected area. The trains kept running. If that worked then, why not now?
i guess thats what i'm saying in a round-about way.
It is time the voters of King and Snohomish counties contact their leaders at both the local and state issue to force BNSF to abandon this ridiculous policy of the 48 hour passenger train moritorium. THEY USE IT ONLY HERE IN WASHINGTON! They do not use this policy in California or in the Rocky Mountains or along the upper Mississippi River. This policy has one purpose and one purpose only, and it is NOT to safegard human life. It is to get state and local governments to pay for improvements to the railiroad's physical plant. BNSF DOES NOT want passenger traffic on the Seattle/Everett line, but there is no physical alternative. So their alternative is to get the local governments to pay for improvements to their line that will benefit their movement of freight traffic. To do so they enact these moratoriums so frequently that they hope commuters will get fed up and pressure their local governments into paying for BNSF's plant upgrade. It is time we tell our governments the opposite. BNSF needs to honor their contracts and committments already in place and knock off the strong arm tactic of trying to get something for nothing.