Union Pacific derailed several cars blocking access to St. Paul Union Depot from the east on May 28.
Khang Lu
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The derailment of a Union Pacific freight train at the east end of St. Paul Union Depot Tuesday has temporarily turned the station into a stub-end facility. Six cars of sand on a westbound train derailed as it made its way around the east end of the depot headed for the UP’s yard in South St. Paul. At least one car ended up on its side.
The derailment tore up the switch that Amtrak’s Empire Builder uses to access the east end of Union Depot. As a result, train No. 7 on Tuesday evening had to bypass the depot on Canadian Pacific trackage, then back into the depot from the west end. Wednesday morning, train No. 8 headed into the depot as normal from the west end, but then had to back out before proceeding east.
UP says it has expedited delivery of parts to repair the damaged switch but it might not be repaired until May 30, meaning Amtrak will have to continue its short detour moves in and out of the depot until then.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari tells Trains News Wire there is no “significant effect” on operations.
The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
