Wednesday afternoon rail news in brief:
Union Pacific has informed customers that its route between Fort Worth, Texas, and El Paso has been disrupted by a derailment near Colorado City, Texas, caused by “a severe-wind weather event.” It is warning that shipments through the area could be delayed by 36 to 48 hours. The National Weather Service office in Midland, Texas, reports on its Facebook page that winds peaking at 80 to 100 mph derailed 86 cars of a train between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening, causing significant track damage.
Lac-Megantic to inaugurate memorial to victims of derailment, fire
Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, will inaugurate a memorial to victims of the 2013 derailment and fire on Monday, the seventh anniversary of the disaster that killed 47 people in the small town about 150 miles east of Montreal. CTV News reports he event unveiling the Espace Memoire at 11 a.m. EDT will be streamed online, since large gatherings are not possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. The town says Canadian Pacific — which now owns the tracks through the community, thanks to its purchase of the Central Maine & Quebec — will not run any trains through Lac-Mégantic on Monday in deference to the event.
AREMA conference will be virtual
AREMA, the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, will hold its 2020 Conference and Expo as a virtual event. The online version of the conference will be held Sept. 13-17, and will include almost 80 technical presentations and two keynote addresses. The Railway Supply Institute had already announced the cancellation of its accompanying Expo and Education Conference, but is also exploring the possibility of some online events. Watch the AREMA website for more information.
