Thursday morning rail news:
Environmental assessment finds no significant damage from BNSF derailment, fire
An initial assessment of the site of Tuesday’s derailment and fire of a BNSF oil train in Custer, Wash., found no significant environmental damage, according to a Washington state official. The Bellingham Herald reports five cars caught fire after the seven-car derailment [see “BNSF oil train derails in Washington …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 22, 2020]. Dave Byers, response section manager for the state Department of Ecology, told a Wednesday press conference that there no significant indications of contamination, although an investigation of possible impact to ground water will take time. Meanwhile, no immediate link has been suggested between the derailment and the recent arrest of two women on terrorism charges for an incident involving BNSF in nearby Bellingham. An FBI spokesman told the Seattle Times “it would be speculative to connect other events with this incident. FBI Seattle encourages anyone with knowledge of the train derailment to contact tips.fbi.gov.” Two women face charges for placing a shunt on BNSF tracks in Bellingham, Wash., in November, disrupting crossing gates and signaling [see “Digest: Women charged with terrorist attack …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 1, 2020. The FBI was among a host of agencies beginning their investigation of the incident. The BNSF main line could be closed for some time because of the investigations.
Twenty cars of NS train derail near Gary, Ind.; South Shore affected
Twenty cars of a 132-car Norfolk Southern train derailed Wednesday near Gary, Ind., an accident which could slow trains on the adjacent South Shore Line commuter rail tracks. The Times of Northwest Indiana reports the train, bound from Chicago to Elkhart, Ind., derailed about 11:30 a.m. No injuries were reported, and although the train included some cars placarded for hazardous material, no release of those materials were reported and no hazmat team responded. The cleanup is expected to take several days.
Metrolink plans double-track project on Ventura County Line
Metrolink is planning an $86.5 million capacity improvement project on its Ventura County Line which will add 2.15 miles of double track in Simi Valley, Calif. The Ventura County Star reports the project will also involve improvements to five grade crossings, allowing the city to apply to the Federal Railroad Administration for Quiet Zone status. The project will also include construction of a second platform and new pedestrian crossing at the Simi Valley station.
