Heavy rain and mudslides have closed passenger train traffic between Seattle and Everett and Bellingham to Vancouver, B.C., our online news partner The Seattle Times reported Sunday. In addition, Sound Transit announced that it has canceled its Sounder commuter train service between Everett and Seattle Monday due to a mudslide.
Gus Melonas, a spokesman for the BNSF Railway, said a mudslide about 12:30 a.m. Sunday 11 miles north of Seattle closed the BNSF mainline between Seattle and Everett for several hours. Cranes and other heavy equipment were able to clear the slide, which was about 10 feet deep and 20 feet wide, in a couple of hours. Meanwhile, Melonas said a pair of small slides north of the border closed the tracks briefly, interrupting rail traffic between Bellingham and Vancouver.
Melonas told The Times that the line has been cleared and that freight was moving Sunday. However, Melonas said a BNSF safety protocol requires a 48-hour moratorium on passenger trains in such incidents. As a result, he said all passenger traffic from King Street Station in Seattle to Everett, and all Bellingham to Vancouver traffic, would be canceled through Monday night.
In announcing cancellation of its north line service Monday, Sound Transit said there would be limited special bus service. Riders should take regularly scheduled bus service at times special buses aren’t available, the agency said.
Morning bus service includes:
Edmonds – Seattle: Special buses will depart Edmonds Station in the Amtrak parking lot at 6:11 a.m., 6:41 a.m., and 7:41 a.m. Riders may also board regularly scheduled Community Transit route 416 at Bay 2 departing at 5:45 a.m., 6:15 a.m., 6:34 a.m., 6:55 a.m., and 7:42 a.m.
Everett – Edmonds: Take ST Express 532 to Ash Way Park and Ride and transfer to Community Transit 116
Mukilteo – Edmonds: Take Community Transit route 113 at Hwy 525 and Front Street to Lynnwood Transit Center. Transfer to Community Transit route 116 at Bay C2
If there are no additional mudslide events, Sound Transit Sounder train service is expected to resume Tuesday morning, Feb 6.
Real first and last names — as well as city of residence — are required for all commenters.
This is so we can verify your identity before approving your comment.
By commenting here you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. Please read our code at the bottom of this page before commenting.