(The Everett, Wash., Herald published the following on January 26.)
EVERETT — A mudslide Friday morning north of Karkeek Park in Seattle shut down Amtrak service to and from Everett.
Spokesman Gus Melonas said Saturday that rain and saturated soils on a steep slope contributed to the slide.
During the shutdown, Amtrak passengers are being bused between Seattle and Everett.
Freight service was able to continue because a second parallel track was not covered by the 3-foot deep, 30-foot wide swath of mud and debris that fell across one track.
Maintenance crews were the first to find the mudslide, so trains were stopped without incident or injury, Melonas said.
Inspectors from Burlington-Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. expect Amtrak to be running again today, Melonas said.