CUSTER, Wash. — A BNSF Railway freight train derailment in the 7700 block of Portal Way on June 4th has preliminarily been deemed the result of gap in a switch after a previous train had passed through it.
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Deputy Director of Public Affairs Warren Flatau told Whatcom News, while the derailment does not meet the criteria for the FRA to investigate, “Railroads must submit their own reports on qualifying events within 30 days after the month in which they occur.” These reports are made public 3 months later by the FRA.
While the railroad’s submission is pending, we learned preliminarily that the derailment involved a 26-car train, with 6 cars derailing. Apparently, the train traversed a previously run through switch when it derailed. It appears the previous train left a gap in the switch points, causing this train to derail. There was no hazmat release, nor was hazmat compromised.
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– Federal Railroad Administration Deputy Director of Public Affairs Warren Flatau (June 12, 2024)
As a result of the derailment, cars containing molten sulfur and crude oil were off the tracks and leaning about 45-degrees. None of the hazardous materials were spilled.
Portal Way was closed in the area the following day so that the cars’ contents could be transferred and the cars set back on the tracks.