FORT WORTH, Texas — Extreme cold has hobbled BNSF Railway’s operations on its Northern Transcon in North Dakota and Montana.
“The extreme cold affecting the Northern Transcon route through Montana and North Dakota, with temperatures plunging over 20 degrees below zero in some areas overnight, has hindered normal train operations,” BNSF said in a customer advisory on Tuesday (Feb. 11). “We have also experienced reduced productivity at terminals in the region due to multiple switch and air flow issues across rail yards.”
BNSF noted that additional locomotives are required to produce proper air flow for trains’ brake systems.
“Train length restrictions have been implemented to support train braking performance in the impacted areas and will remain in effect until conditions improve. Some trains have been re-routed on a more southerly route to help minimize this disruption as much as possible,” BNSF said.
Amtrak cancelled the Empire Builder’s departures from Chicago and Seattle/Portland on Tuesday, and in an updated advisory says that today’s eastbound train has been cancelled as well.
Temperatures are expected to rise in the next few days, but BNSF said that “challenging operating conditions will persist for the next 72 hours and customers should anticipate some delays for shipments destined to move through the region.”
How on earth did the Great Northern, Milwaukee Road and Northern Pacific manage? Hints: no 3 mile long freights and plenty of people!
45 years ago working on PC and Conrail in Syracuse, trains almost NEVER stopped. Now they do.