Monday morning rail news in brief:
Investigations begin into UP derailment, explosion, fire
Investigators from the Federal Railroad Administration, Union Pacific, and Wyoming Department of Transportation have all begun work to determine the cause of Saturday’s derailment, explosion, and fire involving a Union Pacific train near Rock Springs, Wyo. SweetwaterNow.com reports the fire involving cars carrying ethanol and alcohol was finally extinguished about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, more than 12 hours after the derailment and subsequent explosion. About 25 acres burned in the resulting fire, and two deputies who received second-degree burns were treated and released from Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. One track of Union Pacific’s main line was returned to service Sunday, with the second expected to be reopened today.
Metro-North begins increased service
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad begins significantly increased service today, going from 54 trains on weekdays to 116. Metro-North says the new schedule represents a 115% increase in peak-hour service. More details are available here, with the full schedule here.
MBTA closure of Red Line subway to begin Thursday
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will begin a 14-day closure of its Red Line subway on Thursday, June 18, to allow accelerated infrastructure work. The line will be closed between the Braintree and Quincy Center stations, with shuttle buses providing alternative transportation. “The work accomplished during these 14 days allows for numerous improvements, including increased safety as a result of track work and enhanced accessibility through elevator work to take place at Quincy Adams,” MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said in a press release. “… We understand that these diversions can be inconvenient, but this service suspension allows us to expedite critical work, completing it over a month faster than planned.”
