(The following appeared on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer website on March 15, 2011.)
SEATTLE — Mudslides triggered by heavy rain forced passenger trains between Seattle and Everett to be canceled Tuesday in what’s been a remarkably tough winter to keep the tracks clear.
Tuesday’s closure, which affected Sound Transit commuter rail and Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver, B.C., was the third disruption in less than a week due to mudslides.
Mudslides have become increasingly problematic. In just three months, 20 mudslides stopped passenger train service in Washington state. The average is about 10 mudslides for a typical rainy season between October and March, state rail officials say.
WSDOT, which operates Amtrak Cascades in a partnership with Amtrak, is working with BNSF on shoring up slopes.
Meanwhile, state rail officials are seeking $10 million for an environmental impact study as a precursor to construction on mudslide-prevention measures.
The full story is at www.seattlepi.com.