(The Associated Press circulated the following on September 12.)
NEW YORK — Rail traffic came to a halt Friday across portions of the Gulf Coast, as several of the nation’s largest freight railroads prepare for Hurricane Ike to reach land.
Union Pacific Corp., nation’s largest freight railroad, suspended operations in and out of the Houston area this morning, and moved equipment out of the area.
It is also rerouting traffic to Memphis from New Orleans after officials closed a major bridge into the city. The bridge is the point at which the railroad transfers traffic between the two major eastern rail carriers, Norfolk Southern Corp. and CSX Corp.
Union Pacific, based in Omaha, Neb., is still rerouting some traffic to Memphis and St. Louis from New Orleans because of damage to CSX tracks after Hurricane Gustav.
Fort Worth, Texas-based Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., which like Union Pacific operates mainly in the Western U.S., has also stopped transporting in the Houston area.
All traffic headed into both Houston and New Orleans is currently being held, and the railroad expects shipments will be delayed by about two to three days.
The railroad is keeping its New Orleans hub open, but warned that traffic in and out of the area will be affected by the storm. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. closed its two facilities in Houston Thursday.
Fellow railroad Kansas City Southern has also halted shipments in the Texas towns of Beaumont and Port Arthur, as well as several other smaller cities.