(The following story by Lynn Zerschling appeared on the Sioux City Journal website on June 14.)
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Watch out for trains.
That warning was issued by Mayor Mike Hobart today who announced that Union Pacific is increasing the number of trains traveling through Sioux City due to the flooding in central and eastern Iowa.
“These trains are being rerouted through Sioux City on the north-south Union Pacific line,” City Engineer Chris Payer explained. ‘Unit trains are several car trains shipped from one destination to another. This will not increase the shipping operations in Sioux City, but with more trains passing through, there will be a greater opportunity for delays coursing the UP Line.”
Motorists will encounter longer waits at the following crossings: 46th, 41st, 28th, 18th and 11th streets and at Dace Street and Singing Hills Boulevard.
“We are asking citizens to be patient,” Hobart said.
Hobart said he would expect more engines to sound whistles as warnings.
Union Pacific did not say how long the extra trains would be rerouted through the city.
“It depends upon the weather and however long it takes for the water to recede in eastern Iowa.”