SEATTLE (AP) — Burlington Northern Santa Fe has cleared Western Washington railroad tracks between Seattle and Everett enough to allow freight trains to operate in that mudslide-plagued area.
However, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas (mel-OWN’-us) says a moratorium on passenger train traffic in that area now extends until mid-afternoon Wednesday.
Melonas said Monday afternoon that Western Washington rail tracks have seen about 25 mudslides in 24 hours, with most on the Seattle-Everett stretch. Recent heavy rains have weakened steep slopes.
Small slides also hit track south of Tacoma and in southwest Washington near Vancouver. Melonas says a passenger train moratorium in the Vancouver area will also last until mid-afternoon Wednesday.
The Kitsap Sun says Bainbridge Island landslides prompted the evacuation Monday of about nine homes along a residential road. No injuries were reported.
