SEATTLE — Sounder commuter rail service, already operating at a reduced level because of equipment issues, has been further disrupted by a landslide that has also halted Amtrak Cascades operations between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.
The landslide west of Everett, Wash., has triggered a 48-hour moratorium on passenger moves that is standard BNSF policy for the area. That has shut down the Sounder N line; a Sound Transit alert says service is expected to resume the afternoon on Thursday, Feb. 27, if no further slides occur.
An Amtrak service advisory indicates passengers who were scheduled to travel on northbound Cascades trains 516 and 518 on Wednesday, Feb. 28, will be provided with alternate bus transportation. As of 6 p.m. ET, Amtrak said it was still finalizing alternate transportation for southbound trains 517 and 519. The advisory will be updated when information is available. Current expectations are that normal Amtrak operations can resume as of 9:30 a.m. PT on Thursday.
The Sounder N line has been cut from four to two daily round trips since Feb. 13 because of certification issues regarding contract equipment maintenance performed by Amtrak for Sound Transit. The S Line, from Seattle to Tacoma and Lakewood, Wash., is not affected by the slide and continues to operate, although it also has seen two round trips suspended because of the equipment issue.
