(The Associated Press circulated the following on October 18.)
STEILACOOM, Wash. — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (BNI) said Thursday that a derailment has blocked both sets of tracks near Steilacoom, south of Tacoma.
Burlington Northern spokesman Gus Melonas said that because of the blockage, Amtrak passengers will have to ride buses between Seattle and Portland Thursday.
Melonas said a 95-car freight train with four locomotives was going less than 45 miles an hour when 13 cars jumped the tracks about 3 a.m. PDT (1000 GMT). No one was injured and the cause of the derailment is under investigation.
He said one of the derailed cars contained a hazardous substance but remained upright and didn’t leak or pose a threat to the environment.
The tracks carry 50 trains a day, including Amtrak and Union Pacific Corp. freight trains.