New mudslide cancels train service north of Seattle
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MUKILTEO, Wash. - A fresh mudslide has hit tracks north of Seattle, triggering yet another 48-hour moratorium on passenger train service between Seattle and Everett.
Passenger train service in the corridor had just been cleared to resume at about 4 a.m. Sunday following two mudslides that hit the tracks last week. The latest slide hit at about 9:30 p.m. Monday.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas said two freight trains in the area were alerted by a signal system and stopped short of the slide, which hit about two miles south of Mukilteo.
The spokesman says it's the 73rd slide along the rail tracks between Seattle and Everett since Thanksgiving. Sound Transit's Sounder service has had 19 full or partial service cancellations on their 26 service days since Dec. 1.
"The trips that we've had to cancel as a result of mudslides is 134 as of this morning," said Sound Transit spokesperson Kimberly Reason on Tuesday.
By Wednesday morning, the number of canceled trips will surpass 140.
"It has been remarkable," said Reason.
BNSF calls it the worst mudslide season in a generation.
"We have crews positioned to rapidly respond, and we are continuing to look at ways that we can help fight Mother Nature," Melonas said.
A $16 million grant secured by the state Department of Transportation is at work, looking for a better fix.
Sound Transit said the cancellations have not hurt its bottom dollar since it is paid, in large part, by subsidized dollars and most riders are pass holders.
"So in fact, we save money by not operating Sounder, which is not our goal; our goal is to be a reliable service for our passengers," said Reason.
Passenger train service in the corridor had just been cleared to resume at about 4 a.m. Sunday following two mudslides that hit the tracks last week. The latest slide hit at about 9:30 p.m. Monday.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas said two freight trains in the area were alerted by a signal system and stopped short of the slide, which hit about two miles south of Mukilteo.
The spokesman says it's the 73rd slide along the rail tracks between Seattle and Everett since Thanksgiving. Sound Transit's Sounder service has had 19 full or partial service cancellations on their 26 service days since Dec. 1.
"The trips that we've had to cancel as a result of mudslides is 134 as of this morning," said Sound Transit spokesperson Kimberly Reason on Tuesday.
By Wednesday morning, the number of canceled trips will surpass 140.
"It has been remarkable," said Reason.
BNSF calls it the worst mudslide season in a generation.
"We have crews positioned to rapidly respond, and we are continuing to look at ways that we can help fight Mother Nature," Melonas said.
A $16 million grant secured by the state Department of Transportation is at work, looking for a better fix.
Sound Transit said the cancellations have not hurt its bottom dollar since it is paid, in large part, by subsidized dollars and most riders are pass holders.
"So in fact, we save money by not operating Sounder, which is not our goal; our goal is to be a reliable service for our passengers," said Reason.
No more chooo chooo train :( booooooo
What is needed is another rail line away from the Sound. The few pics that have been posted in slide articles appear to show that homes are in danger of sliding down a hill. A slide of that size would not just put some dirt and trees over the tracks; it would take them out altogether.
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Once something like that happens, it becomes a huge problem for BNSF, Amtrak, and Sounder.
Its time for them to get off their lazy butts and fix this area. It wouldn't be that hard or expensive. They wonder why no one uses public transportation around here. Could it be that our transportation planners have their heads so far up their butts they can't see what the region needs.Â
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One of the solutions I have always thought necessary is region wide light rail. Build a track right down the I-5 corridor from Bellingham to Portland. Most of the track could be put in the existing median which would save money.Â
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HOT lanes, Busses, carpool lanes have shown to not be effective in this region. The sound transit light rail is a complete and utter failure. Of course what do you expect when the trains don't go where people want to go. SDOT and WSDOT are poor examples of transportation departments. All I will say is their directors should be thankful that I am not Governor.Â
@seattleemt Take a good look at the Japanese model. In my time in greater Nagoya, Japan I have had the use of the excellently integrated heavy pax rail, light rail, subways and busses. No need for a car 90% of the time...a cab covers most of the remainder...All a vehicle is really needed for is off the beaten path or time sensitive routings.
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Elevated, 2 track system from the Canadian border to Eugene, OR would work wonders. A loop route around Lake Washington that has inter-ties both north and south of the lake, integrated with what light rail we now have and tied to the heavy pax/freight corridor and the sytem would be decent. Then interconnect and TIME the bus departures from rail stations to the outlying areas. Swift busses are a good start...but still are traffic-dependent for timing. Rail is NOT. Japanses rail has priority at the FEW grade-level crossings. NOTHING crosses the Shinkansen tracks at grade...EVERYTHING goes under or over. A 250-300KPH train doesn NOT stop quickly. Still, the platforms are lacking in what the US would consider required safety equipment...yet folks do not get hit or hurt.
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In Japan the rail is run with Swiss-watch precision. The Shinkansen lines stop for 2 minutes at each stop...not 1 minute 50 seconds...not 2 minutes 10 seconds....2 minutes, PERIOD. The local rail is similar. Nagoya station has 2 tracks...one North, one South more or less. It accomodates trains at 2 minute intervals, the doors are open for ONE minute. Car entry and exit lanes are clearly marked and adhered to. When the bell rings...the doors CLOSE...and the train GOES.
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About the Only thing that upsets the schedule is the too frequent "Human accident" to use the JR narative...AKA trainjumpers or those who chose to end their lives by stepping in front of a train.
 @Woodswalker  @seattleemt The best part of the transportation
system in Japan is that it is privately owned and is NOT subsidized by the
government. There was, at one time, a government guarantee of construction
bonds for the land acquisition, and construction phases of their high speed
rail system, but that was paid off by profits from the system.
 @seattleemt The Puget Sound region needs to take a look at Portland. They have a great light rail system supplemented by buses and trolleys in the downtown core. But no Washington has to reinvent the wheel even if it turns out to be square.
You know...they MIGHT consider doing some pre-emptive work in that area....
I wonder at which point this finally becomes ridiculous..
 @Windowseat I would say that it already has.
 @Windowseat about 100 mudslides ago
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