Seattle-Everett passenger train line re-opened

January 12, 2013 @ 11:19 am

SEATTLE (AP) - A Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman says the passenger train line between Seattle and Everett has reopened.

Gus Melonas says engineers have the go-ahead on Saturday in what they hope is a long-term clearing of the lines.

Pounding rain, mudslides and debris over the last few weeks has closed the line to Amtrak and Sound Transit trains. Melonas says that since Dec. 17, the line had been open only two days for passenger trains.

Melonas says crews are using the dry spell to continue working on short-term remedies, such as ditching and cutting trees that are leaning. He says BNSF is considering enhancing drainage along the line near Everett later on.

Nearly 80 slides have happened along the line since the rains started and about 40 reached the track.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • Ted Bundi wrote...
    And I was told when my taxes went up
    December 1, 2012 4:13 pm
    Rail is not delayed by traffic, it's always on time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    It's BNSF's right of way....
    December 2, 2012 1:50 pm
    ...and they can't/won't fix their problem, as long as freight moves thru, and it still does. All Sound Transit can do is wring their hands, as leasees. Who's paying for the clean-up w/o creating some prevention of sorts? Your name and mine, as always.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    throw more tax money at . . . .
    December 2, 2012 3:03 pm
    it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Just go around the mudslides...
    January 3, 2013 2:55 pm
    Oh wait, trains only go from point A to point B will zero deviation in between. Wave of the future? How about archaic money pit...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    summer is not far off . . . .
    January 3, 2013 5:49 pm
    just stay home.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Mudslides prevent passenger rail north of Seattle . . . .
    January 10, 2013 12:14 pm
    go west young man, go west!!! I'm telling you girls 'tunnel'. drill baby drill right into the taxpayer's wallets.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    hey Ted how are things in prison? . . . .
    January 10, 2013 5:05 pm
    are they treating you ok? sorry to hear that. I told you not to pick up the soap.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ted Bundi wrote...
    they hope is a long-term clearing of the line
    January 12, 2013 11:33 am
    Yep, right when it stops raining...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }