Wednesday morning rail news:
Vancouver rail line averts strike with labor agreement
The Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Line of the SkyTrain rail transit system has averted a strike after workers reached a tentative contract agreement with operator Protrans BC. Global News reports the BC Government & Service Employees Union said the agreement came after more than 40 bargaining sessions, including a marathon 40-hour session that began Sunday. Details of the agreement won’t be released until the 182 workers involved in the deal review and vote on ratification. The Union had issued a 72-hour notice to strike, but continued to work when the deadline arrived Monday as negotiations continued.
Amtrak service resumes on California coast after storm-damaged line is repaired
Amtrak service along California’s Central Coast was restored Tuesday, KSBY-TV reports. Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight service had been interrupted as of Jan. 31 after storm damage washed out tracks near Vandenberg Air Force Base, but Union Pacific has completed repairs
UP derailment spurs brief evacuation in El Centro, Calif.
A Union Pacific derailment in El Centro, Calif., led to the evacuation of 50 homes late Monday and early Tuesday before firefighters determined the tank cars involved were empty. The Desert Review reports 31 cars derailed in the incident reported shortly before 11 p.m., leading to the evacuation order, but the evacuation order was lifted at 2:50 a.m. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
