EVERETT – Damage from a freight train derailment that knocked out commuter rail service from Everett to Seattle this morning will not be repaired soon enough for trains to roll during this afternoon’s commute.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe estimates it will reopen one track at 1 a.m. Tuesday with the second track opening some time after that.
A decision on when to resume Sounder and Amtrak service won’t be made until this afternoon, said Gus Melonas, a spokesman for the railway.
There were no injuries in the accident. Ten rail cars loaded with wood products derailed early this morning, he said. One car was partially submerged in Puget Sound.
The derailment happened just before 2 a.m. about 3/4 of a mile from the old Everett train station. The train, originating in Everett, was headed south to Portland, Ore. The incident happened as the train was crossing one main line to a second main track, Melonas said.
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation. The train was traveling about 19 mph in a 25-mph zone, Melonas said. Train handler error has been ruled out as a cause for the train jumping the tracks, he said.
Sound Transit is running two extra buses to Everett this afternoon to make up for the lack of train service.
“We’ve got special buses that we brought into service this morning and we’ll do it again this evening,” said Geoff Patrick, Sound Transit spokesman.
Sounder regulars heading for Everett this afternoon should look for Sound Transit Route 510 buses. They can also take Community Transit Route 416 buses.
Sounder riders heading to Edmonds should look for Community Transit Route 404 buses.
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