BNSF has reopened the main lines involved in both its derailments on Saturday, July 20, the railroad reports.
The first of those incidents occurred about 12:45 a.m. near Ottawa, Kan., on the railroad’s Emporia Subdivision [see “BNSF deals with two derailments,” Trains News Wire, July 20, 2024]. One main line there was reopened at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 21, and the other at 12:30 p.m., the railroad reports.
The line on the Staples Subdivision near Big Lake, Minn., was the site of a derailment at approximately 3:16 a.m. Saturday. One main track was opened there at 6:45 a.m. Sunday and the other reopened at 7:30 p.m., BNSF said in a customer advisory. That derailment had led to rerouting of Amtrak’s Empire Builder, as well as cancellation of special trains by the Northstar commuter rail service for weekend Minnesota Twins games.
Did the BUILDER run over a part of the former GN west of Minneapolis, rather than the usual operation west to Fargo on the former NP?
Yes. It ran via Wilmar, Minn. Lost about 3 hours on detour, now 7 hours late and will be short-turned with connecting buses to and from Seattle and Portland at Spokane