BLAIR, Mont. - Tracks are estimated to reopen today as crews work to clean up after a BNSF Railway train derailment that occurred Tuesday afternoon near the North Dakota-Montana border.
Nine rail cars derailed about 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time near Blair, about 50 miles west of Williston, N.D., and 40 miles east of Wolf Point, Mont., said BNSF spokesman Matt Jones.
The train was not carrying any hazardous materials, but had some empty tank cars with residue of ethyl alcohol and liquefied petroleum gas, Jones said.
The derailed cars remained upright, he said.
The train was carrying a mix of merchandise and was headed east from Pasco, Wash., to Minneapolis, Jones said.
Crews were working to repair about 1 mile of track that was damaged in the derailment, Jones said. BNSF estimates the track will reopen mid-day today.
BNSF is investigating the cause of the derailment, Jones said. No one was hurt.
Amtrak service was disrupted as a result of the derailment. Buses are transporting passengers to stops between Wolf Point and Minot, N.D., said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.
Passengers are experiencing lengthy delays, in some cases as much as 12 hours, Magliari said.
After the tracks reopen, Amtrak will need to adjust equipment before normal service can resume, he said.
