An I-5 bridge over the Skigit river just north of the Amtrak Mount Vernon station fell in about 7:00 PM local time. Few people hurt no deaths so far. This bridge was a "deficient" bridge built some time ago. There are 2 - 2 lane roads that go past this collaspe but as heavily travelled as I-5 is they probably will get quickly overloaded.
This is a good news bad news situation for Amtrak. The only Us Amtrak station north of Mount Vernon is Bellingham, Wa. Amtrak has 2 trains a day from Vancouver , BC both which have already filled the business class for Friday. Unfortunately the morning train is not scheduled to leave BEL until 8:45 in the morning and scheduled SEA 11:05 with the standard arrival padding. Leaves SEA 6:50 PM northboun. Kind of hard for it to be availale for commuters ?t
Amtrak also has 4 daily thruway buses from Canada and one bus from BEL daily but they will also be delayed causing missed connections in SEA fo especially the coast Starlight Even if there is demand for an early Amtraker for commuters the equipment shortage and lack of qualified crews would be an impediment. Sounder might have some equipment but no crews as they only go to Eveerete and no qualified crews. For either case how many crews could BNSF spare if extra trains were to be scheduled ? I'll leave that to you NW Pacific guys to comment..
I believe that there has been talk of other station(s) north and south of BEL but that has only been preliminart ?
http://news.yahoo.com/no-fatalities-5-bridge-collapse-nw-wash-045838024.html
Amtrak begins temporary service Fri May 31 leaving SEA 0815 & BEL 1715 ( 515 PM )
http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/824/20/Additional-Amtrak-Cascades-Trains-Begin-May-31-ATK-13-152.pdf
EDIT #1 --- Add temp service
some pictures
http://news.yahoo.com/5-bridge-collapse-survivor-hold-084110788.html
reports are an oversized load hit the bridge. If a real heavy load hit one of the trusses ----------- ?
The collapsed bridge is well north of Seattle and very few north of the Skagit River commute to Seattle (though I suppose some do to Boeing-Everett). I seriously Amtrak will even consider running any extra trains. The line is single track and there is quite a bit of freight traffic on it. And as you mention, lack of equipment and crews. There is preliminary talk of an Amtrak stop at Blaine, on the US side of the border.
sassafras The collapsed bridge is well north of Seattle and very few north of the Skagit River commute to Seattle (though I suppose some do to Boeing-Everett). I seriously Amtrak will even consider running any extra trains. The line is single track and there is quite a bit of freight traffic on it. And as you mention, lack of equipment and crews. There is preliminary talk of an Amtrak stop at Blaine, on the US side of the border.
OLYMPIA – To assist travelers affected by yesterday’s I-5 highway bridge collapse in Skagit County, Amtrak Cascades, Washington State's intercity passenger rail service, is adding one round trip route between Seattle and Bellingham in the coming weeks.
Amtrak, the Washington State Department of Transportation, BNSF Railway and Sound Transit are working together to add this service, a morning departure from Seattle to Bellingham with an early evening return, to help those who normally drive this route. More details will be released as they become available.
Amtrak Cascades provides four trips each day over the Skagit River Rail Bridge, which is fully functional. Amtrak Cascades Thruway Buses add ten more trips through the area. For schedules, reservations and tickets, visit www.AmtrakCascades.com or call 800-USA-RAIL.
Effort underway to add an Amtrak train SEA - Bellingham trip. The ideal solution would be round up enough cars that have 60 -- 80 car capacity such as California cars, Surfliners, or superliners. if 10 cars 600 - 800 passengers and a 18 car train 1000+ passengers. If one lounge car in consist it might actually make money ?
One problem is boardings at BEL WaDOT may be have to build temporary platform to extensions. Another will be many passengers completely unfamiliar with how to ride the train ? Would need temp agents at BEL to sell tickets and direct passengers. The biggest problem may have will be parking both auto & trains. Some one familiar with the lay out of BEL can give us more insight-
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2013/05/24/state-to-add-amtrak-cascades-service.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search
Present trains appear to sell out about a day in advance as persons become familiar with driving problems.
Just found out Amtrak is going to use a Sounder train set. I imagine it will be one of several traiin sets that comes from Tacoma and will just continue a morning train on to Bellingham. Then originate a afternoon train in BEL and that train set continue train set on to Tacoma as a Sounder. Do not know the capacity or number of cars on each train set. If traffic requires maybe Sounder can juggle cars and maybe take some from Sounder's extra train set. Now just get extra crews qualified on route and equipment. I believe Sounder trains are operated by Amtrak ?. If train makes several stops SEA - BEL that will give for first time revrse commuter service ? Here is Amtrak's anouncement. This capacity much better than using Talgos.
BNSF doing some good PR by immediately approving extra service. Anyone with idea of how many freights a day on this portion of trackage ?
http://bbjtoday.com/blog/bnsf-to-allow-more-passenger-trains-between-seattle-bellingham/23235#.UaASQEAp-4J
The platform at BEL is about 430 feet long, about 5 85 foot long passenger cars, like the Sounder cars. There are roads at both ends of the platforms, so platform extensions wouldn't really work. There is extra parking around the station. About 16 freights use the line a day. Sounder Cars in Bellingham will be a once in a lifetime event! I crossed the Skagit bridge an hour before it collapsed, and was stuck in traffic two hours later returning. Memorial Day weekend is a bad time for this to happen, as the Ski to Sea race is going on today, bringing hundreds of people north from Seattle. Looking forward to seeing the Sounder trainsets in Bellingham!
Coordinates: 48°43'14.13"N, 122°30'40.07W
NorthWest The platform at BEL is about 430 feet long, about 5 85 foot long passenger cars, like the Sounder cars. There are roads at both ends of the platforms, so platform extensions wouldn't really work. There is extra parking around the station.
The platform at BEL is about 430 feet long, about 5 85 foot long passenger cars, like the Sounder cars. There are roads at both ends of the platforms, so platform extensions wouldn't really work. There is extra parking around the station.
NorthWest : Thanks for that description. Glad BEL has good parking. Questions
1. Is there a convenient siding preferabley north to store train set during layover ?
2. At present when Cascades stops at BEL do the gates at each road go up or maybe only the rear of train ?
3. Are the roads at BEL very busy during present train times ?
4. If passenger demand becomes great could an enhanced sounder set be used if ---
a. Platform length at SEA and other stations would allow ?
b. At BEL could a temporary wooden platform at rail track level be built beyound either road ? I realize that would definitely block one or both roads. I assume that present platforms do not make a level connection to either road which would enable maybe 2 more Sounder cars?
5. What if anything in the past has been proposed by Wa DOT for extension of Amtrak permanent service beyond Everette by using the new Talgos or other equipment ?
6. Any calls now for extensions that obviously would require some or all double tracking and any cost estimates.? I know the 71 miles of double tracking of TriRail cost about $370M but would be more expensive per mile for the 61 miles north of Everette. How many bridges would be involved?
7. And then there is the ~ 25 miles on from BEL - Blaine as well ?- The 120 miles Blaine -- Sea compares favorablely with the 187 miles Wa DOT is improving for SEA -- PDX ? The 187 miles will be reduced by the implemention of the Nelson-Bennette tunnel bypass.
Edited #5
The nearest siding north that would possibly work is the Cherry Point spur, north of Ferndale, which services a BP Refinery, a ConocoPhillips Refinery, and an Alcoa Aluminum Smelter. Other options include storing the set in the small yard (about 4 tracks) in Bellingham, or south in Mt. Vernon. In my experience, sometimes the north gates go up, sometimes the south, sometimes none, or sometimes both. It all depends on where the train is parked. These roads can be busy during the loading of the Alaska Marine Highway ferry to Ketchikan, which is loaded across the tracks from the station. Cars load through the north crossing and unload through the south crossing, so blocking either wouldn't work. The road is at about platform level, so Sounder cars could be loaded from the crossings with step boxes. I don't know of any planned northward Sounder extensions. Double tracking has been proposed, as BNSF plans to put 18 more trains on the line if the proposed Gateway Pacific bulk commodity terminal is built at Cherry Point. It would be expensive to double track Mt. Vernon to Bellingham, as there are numerous fills, tunnels and bridges, and the tracks run along the water next to a bluff. There is backlash to this plan, which is why BNSF needs the good PR this is giving them. Here is a link to a picture of the station, looking north. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=224525&nseq=4
How long do they figure it will take for the temporary highway bridges to be built? Will those make extra train service temporary, or will this situation spark some long-term growth in rail travel?
As to #5, I'm not sure if you are referring to Sounder or another Amtrak run. If Sounder, I don't think an extension to Skagit or Whatcom (Bellingham) is even possible as those counties lie outside of the Sound Transit taxing district and have paid nothing into it. I AM hoping an additional Amtrak run only as far as Bellingham will eventually be approved.
sassafras As to #5, I'm not sure if you are referring to Sounder or another Amtrak run. If Sounder,
As to #5, I'm not sure if you are referring to Sounder or another Amtrak run. If Sounder,
Sorry I did not clarify it. I was speaking of Wa DOT adding additional Amtrak service. Edited that post.
I assume that Wa DOT will lease a Sounder set for Amtrak additional service during this bridge collaspe.
A question --- 8. How often and at what times do the Alaska Ferrys arrive and depart BEL ?
Although it is not a bulletin on Amtrak's web site the extra train SEA - BEL trip starts tomorrow May 31. & days to initiate a service probably not too bad ?
Blue Steak- Do you know what time these will be running into BEL?
Thanks,
NorthWest
Amtrak bulletin now out with extra departure SEA 0815 and departure BEL 515 PM ( 1715 )
blue streak 1 Amtrak bulletin now out with extra departure SEA 0815 and departure BEL 515 PM ( 1715 ) http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/824/20/Additional-Amtrak-Cascades-Trains-Begin-May-31-ATK-13-152.pdf
sounder bulleetin saying same things
http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/New-Amtrak-Cascades-Train-530
Thanks-
Found the Sounder trainset today in Bellingham! It was parked in the Wharf Street siding (a half mile long). This was where an Amtrak set was parked overnight before the second Seattle-Vancouver round trip was added. Will try to post pictures soon!
Although it may not be feasible due to equipment availability or crew availability there appears that different times would work better.
1. If BEL departed at 0600 and arrived at 0820 then it would be a better time for workers in SEA. AS a mirror departure leave SEA some where around 1730 -1800. Of course these would have to fit into the Sounder northline schedules and SEA station platform availability..
2. 2 cafe cars ( at least one very soon ) will be coming available from the San Joaquin equipment change. If their door ways match Sounders then placing the cafe car into this extra service might be very desirable especially if the departure times were changed to the #1 schedule.
3. It is too bad that these extra trips cannot go to a temporary station at Blaine.
Anyone know the progress of Blaine's work towards getting a permanent stop ? Is there a siding to layover a train set ?
Newspaper report saying Blaine will not get an Amtrak stop at least before 2017.
http://www.richmondreview.com/news/211049891.html
The temporary bridge is now open, and Amtrak will be ending extra service June 20.
Cool time lapse halfway down page:http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Traffic-returns-to-I-5-bridge-that-collapsed-212133771.html
Reopening in less than 1 month shows what is possible - when the desire is there to make it happen (and the appropriate resources are put to the task).
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I've finally had some time to upload some photos:
The trains were stored north of the station during the day:
Sounder at the station:
From the front:
And the scenic curve:
That concludes the series. Hope you enjoyed these unedited straight-out-of-the-camera shots of a once in a lifetime event!
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