May 17, 2007
North America Intermodal, Weather and Memorial Holiday Update
Southern California: BNSF Southern California rail operations are moderately congested.
Seattle:
BNSF Seattle rail operations are moderately congested.
Vancouver:
At marine terminals Deltaport and Vanterm, Vancouver, vessel discharge and CPR railcar loading operations are normal.
Derailment / Other Delays:
CPR Maintenance of Way employees have issued a strike notice effective midnight Tuesday, May 15, 2007. This employee group maintains the CPR right of way, track and rail structures. CPR has trained management employees to assume Maintenance of Way responsibilities. These management employees have been deployed throughout the CPR rail network. The labor strike does not include any personnel involved in train operations. CPR expects to manage its network on a normal basis, without delay.
Early Sunday morning, April 29, a tank truck hauling gasoline crashed and exploded on Interstate 580 in Oakland, California. The heat resulting from fire caused the roadbed to collapse. The accident area is a consolidation point for three interstate highways: 580, 880 and 80, all main highways through Oakland. Intermodal rail volume to/from Oakland is not affected. Highway traffic will be diverted to alternate routes, including some city streets.
State of California repaired the Interstate 80 to Interstate 880 segment that was damaged, this segment connects southbound traffic from San Francisco and north Bay Area to Oakland and San Jose. The other damaged segment, Interstate 80 to Interstate 580, connecting San Francisco and north Bay Area to the East Bay (Walnut Creek, Livermore, etc) is expected to re-open late-June. Construction contractors are working 24/7 to complete the repairs.
Weather:
Following last week's strong Midwest storms, including the tornado that destroyed Greensburg, KS, the area from north Texas to Missouri has received heavy rainfall, causing several rivers to over-flow their banks and breeching several levees. BNSF rail operations in this region are normal. NS has resumed rail operations between Kansas City and St. Louis.
Forest fires in southern Georgia and northern Florida continue to cause operational delays for all rail shipments moving between Valdosta, GA., to Jacksonville, FL. The Federal Forestry Service has placed periodic holds on all rail transportation, as fire and smoke interfere with the Norfolk Southern right of way. Rail shipments moving in this corridor may experience delays of up to 24 hours until the fires are brought under control. Detour routes are being utilized to route traffic around the affected area as fire/smoke conditions permit. NS has resumed full rail operations, all rail terminals are accepting shipments. Interstate highways 75 and 10 have re-opened.
Holidays:
Memorial Day holiday is observed in the United States on Monday, May 28. Many rail facilities will operate with limited hours during this three-day weekend. Train services may experience moderate delays from Thursday, May 24 through Tuesday, May 29.
