Continue.Washout cancels some passenger train service
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Southbound passenger train service from Anchorage has been canceled after high water caused a 80-foot washout of the track near Portage.
The Alaska Railroad says in a release that the washout is at Skookum Creek, located between Luebner Lake and Portage.
Alaska RR: Washout cancels some passenger train service
Started by
CNJRoss
, Jun 18 2014 09:44 AM
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#1
CNJRoss
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Posted 18 June 2014 - 09:44 AM
AP via SFGate.com, 6/17:
#2
CNJRoss
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Posted 18 June 2014 - 10:02 AM
Alaska RR news release, 6/17:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Railroad (ARRC) passenger train traffic southbound from Anchorage was interrupted today due to high water damage to the track at Skookum Creek (ARRC milepost 59.7), located between Luebner Lake and Portage. The 80-foot-long washout prompted cancellation of the Coastal Classic train today and tomorrow. Scheduled passengers are provided alternate motorcoach transportation between Anchorage and Seward. The daily Glacier Discovery train is also impacted, with the route shortened to stop at Whittier, instead of proceeding on to Spencer and Grandview whistlestop sites south of Portage. Freight train traffic is not impacted at this time.
The high water incident began about 7:30 a.m. when creek waters began eating away at the trackbed, and then quickly washed under and over the track, leaving the structure suspended over the water (see photo on the next page). Alaska Railroad maintenance-of-way (MOW) department responded immediately, sending repair crews, heavy equipment and a work train to the site. A D6 bulldozer, two excavators and a locomotive-transported crane are on site, placing rock and gravel material from nearby sources in Portage. Powered by a GP-40 locomotive, a work train is ferrying loads of rip-rap and other rock material via several hoppers and side-dump railcars.
Crews expect to repair the track by tomorrow and to restore train service by Thursday. “The safety of our passengers and employees are our primary concern at this time,” said Chief Operating Officer Doug Engebretson. “We will re-open the line once our field teams determine that it is safe to do so.”
To reschedule or cancel their train tickets, or to take advantage of the motorcoach option, passengers who have reserved seats on tomorrow’s Coastal Classic or Glacier Discovery trains can call the ARRC Reservations Line between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily at (907) 265-2494. Updates will be posted on the Alaska Railroad Facebook page www.facebook.com/AlaskaRailroad.
Media Note: This area is only accessible by rail.
Track Washout halts southbound passenger trains
Railroad maintenance crews anticipate track restoration by Thursday
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Railroad (ARRC) passenger train traffic southbound from Anchorage was interrupted today due to high water damage to the track at Skookum Creek (ARRC milepost 59.7), located between Luebner Lake and Portage. The 80-foot-long washout prompted cancellation of the Coastal Classic train today and tomorrow. Scheduled passengers are provided alternate motorcoach transportation between Anchorage and Seward. The daily Glacier Discovery train is also impacted, with the route shortened to stop at Whittier, instead of proceeding on to Spencer and Grandview whistlestop sites south of Portage. Freight train traffic is not impacted at this time.
The high water incident began about 7:30 a.m. when creek waters began eating away at the trackbed, and then quickly washed under and over the track, leaving the structure suspended over the water (see photo on the next page). Alaska Railroad maintenance-of-way (MOW) department responded immediately, sending repair crews, heavy equipment and a work train to the site. A D6 bulldozer, two excavators and a locomotive-transported crane are on site, placing rock and gravel material from nearby sources in Portage. Powered by a GP-40 locomotive, a work train is ferrying loads of rip-rap and other rock material via several hoppers and side-dump railcars.
Crews expect to repair the track by tomorrow and to restore train service by Thursday. “The safety of our passengers and employees are our primary concern at this time,” said Chief Operating Officer Doug Engebretson. “We will re-open the line once our field teams determine that it is safe to do so.”
To reschedule or cancel their train tickets, or to take advantage of the motorcoach option, passengers who have reserved seats on tomorrow’s Coastal Classic or Glacier Discovery trains can call the ARRC Reservations Line between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily at (907) 265-2494. Updates will be posted on the Alaska Railroad Facebook page www.facebook.com/AlaskaRailroad.
Media Note: This area is only accessible by rail.
– end –
#3
CNJRoss
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Posted 19 June 2014 - 01:04 PM
Alaska RR news release, 6/18:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Railroad (ARRC) passenger train traffic southbound from Anchorage will continue to be interrupted at least through tomorrow due to high water damage to the track at Skookum Creek (ARRC milepost 59.7), located between Luebner Lake and Portage. While maintenance crews made solid progress on plugging an 80-foot-long washout, considerable water volume is hampering a complete restoration of the track infrastructure. As a result, the Coastal Classic train was cancelled yesterday, today, and at least through tomorrow. Scheduled passengers are provided alternate motorcoach transportation between Anchorage and Seward. The daily Glacier Discovery train is also impacted, with the route shortened to stop at Whittier, instead of proceeding on to Spencer and Grandview whistlestop sites south of Portage. On the freight side, one train scheduled to haul coal from Healy to Seward will be delayed.
The incident began about 7:30 a.m. June 17, when high water eroded the trackbed, leaving the track suspended over the water (see photos on the next page). The Alaska Railroad maintenance-of-way (MOW) department responded immediately, sending repair crews, heavy equipment and a work train to the site. A D6 bulldozer, two excavators and a locomotive-transported crane remain on site, placing rock and gravel material from nearby sources in Portage. Powered by a GP-40 locomotive, a work train continues to ferry loads of rip-rap and other rock material to the site.
To reschedule or cancel their train tickets, or to take advantage of the motorcoach option, passengers who have reserved seats on tomorrow’s Coastal Classic or Glacier Discovery trains can call the ARRC Reservations Line between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily at (907) 265-2494. Updates, including links to video of heavy equipment and crews working on site, will be posted on the Alaska Railroad Facebook page www.facebook.com/AlaskaRailroad .
(Media Note: direct YouTube links to videos:
http://youtu.be/rVbt_hKZx18; )
Crews hope to repair the track and restore service by Friday, although the track may remain closed into the weekend. “This area experienced significant isolated rainfall that measured as much as a half inch every 10-15 minutes for a sustained period,” said ARRC VP Engineering Clark Hopp. “We are essentially dealing with a new river channel that did not previously exist.”
From 300 to 400 passengers per day are impacted by the track outage. The railroad has not yet determined the final financial impact. However, revenue losses are expected to reach tens of thousands of dollars due to refunds and cancellations. Track repair expenses will also be considerable, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Online release includes 4 photos.
Track washout continues to halt passenger trains
High water volume hampers track repair efforts
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Railroad (ARRC) passenger train traffic southbound from Anchorage will continue to be interrupted at least through tomorrow due to high water damage to the track at Skookum Creek (ARRC milepost 59.7), located between Luebner Lake and Portage. While maintenance crews made solid progress on plugging an 80-foot-long washout, considerable water volume is hampering a complete restoration of the track infrastructure. As a result, the Coastal Classic train was cancelled yesterday, today, and at least through tomorrow. Scheduled passengers are provided alternate motorcoach transportation between Anchorage and Seward. The daily Glacier Discovery train is also impacted, with the route shortened to stop at Whittier, instead of proceeding on to Spencer and Grandview whistlestop sites south of Portage. On the freight side, one train scheduled to haul coal from Healy to Seward will be delayed.
The incident began about 7:30 a.m. June 17, when high water eroded the trackbed, leaving the track suspended over the water (see photos on the next page). The Alaska Railroad maintenance-of-way (MOW) department responded immediately, sending repair crews, heavy equipment and a work train to the site. A D6 bulldozer, two excavators and a locomotive-transported crane remain on site, placing rock and gravel material from nearby sources in Portage. Powered by a GP-40 locomotive, a work train continues to ferry loads of rip-rap and other rock material to the site.
To reschedule or cancel their train tickets, or to take advantage of the motorcoach option, passengers who have reserved seats on tomorrow’s Coastal Classic or Glacier Discovery trains can call the ARRC Reservations Line between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily at (907) 265-2494. Updates, including links to video of heavy equipment and crews working on site, will be posted on the Alaska Railroad Facebook page www.facebook.com/AlaskaRailroad .
(Media Note: direct YouTube links to videos:
http://youtu.be/rVbt_hKZx18; )
Crews hope to repair the track and restore service by Friday, although the track may remain closed into the weekend. “This area experienced significant isolated rainfall that measured as much as a half inch every 10-15 minutes for a sustained period,” said ARRC VP Engineering Clark Hopp. “We are essentially dealing with a new river channel that did not previously exist.”
From 300 to 400 passengers per day are impacted by the track outage. The railroad has not yet determined the final financial impact. However, revenue losses are expected to reach tens of thousands of dollars due to refunds and cancellations. Track repair expenses will also be considerable, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
-end-
Online release includes 4 photos.
#4
Sloan
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Posted 20 June 2014 - 09:57 AM
The Alaska Railroad says it will resume passenger service Friday, after a track washout at Skookum Creek near Portage earlier this week delayed trains for days.
http://www.ktuu.com/...ashout/26581596
#5
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Posted 20 June 2014 - 10:27 AM
Alaska Railroad news release, 6/19:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Railroad (ARRC) track maintenance crews are making good progress on repairing an 80-foot washout that occurred June 17 at Skookum Creek, a roadless area south of Portage. High water damage has prevented trains from progressing south beyond Portage. Beginning Tuesday through today, Coastal Classic train passengers have been offered alternate motorcoach transportation between Anchorage and Seward, while Glacier Discovery train passengers have experienced a route shortened to stop at Whittier, or the option to cancel or reschedule travel to the Spencer or Grandview whistle stops. A decision on whether to resume full train service will be made at 7:00 p.m. tonight, based on the status of track repair efforts.
The Alaska Railroad will post the decision on tomorrow’s southbound passenger train service online at three locations:
www.AlaskaRailroad.com > Transit or Travel > Reservations
www.facebook.com/AlaskaRailroad
www.twitter.com/akrr
The incident began about 7:30 a.m. June 17, when high water eroded the trackbed, leaving the track suspended over the water. Alaska Railroad track maintenance crews, heavy equipment and a rockhauling work train have been working round-the clock for three days to plug the gap and re-route a high volume of water. “Earlier this week, this area experienced significant isolated rainfall that measured as much as a half inch every 10-15 minutes for a sustained period,” said ARRC VP Engineering Clark Hopp.
“We are essentially dealing with a new river channel that did not previously exist.”
For more information, scheduled passengers should call the ARRC Reservations Line between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily at (907) 265-2494; and check the online updates noted above after 8:00 p.m. tonight.
Crews close to restoring track damaged by high water
“Go / No-Go” decision for Friday passenger trains to be made at 7 pm
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Railroad (ARRC) track maintenance crews are making good progress on repairing an 80-foot washout that occurred June 17 at Skookum Creek, a roadless area south of Portage. High water damage has prevented trains from progressing south beyond Portage. Beginning Tuesday through today, Coastal Classic train passengers have been offered alternate motorcoach transportation between Anchorage and Seward, while Glacier Discovery train passengers have experienced a route shortened to stop at Whittier, or the option to cancel or reschedule travel to the Spencer or Grandview whistle stops. A decision on whether to resume full train service will be made at 7:00 p.m. tonight, based on the status of track repair efforts.
The Alaska Railroad will post the decision on tomorrow’s southbound passenger train service online at three locations:
www.AlaskaRailroad.com > Transit or Travel > Reservations
www.facebook.com/AlaskaRailroad
www.twitter.com/akrr
The incident began about 7:30 a.m. June 17, when high water eroded the trackbed, leaving the track suspended over the water. Alaska Railroad track maintenance crews, heavy equipment and a rockhauling work train have been working round-the clock for three days to plug the gap and re-route a high volume of water. “Earlier this week, this area experienced significant isolated rainfall that measured as much as a half inch every 10-15 minutes for a sustained period,” said ARRC VP Engineering Clark Hopp.
“We are essentially dealing with a new river channel that did not previously exist.”
For more information, scheduled passengers should call the ARRC Reservations Line between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily at (907) 265-2494; and check the online updates noted above after 8:00 p.m. tonight.
-end-
#6
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Posted 26 June 2014 - 09:13 PM
The Seward Phoenix (AK) Log, 6/26:
More here.Alaska Railroad averts disaster
Alaska Railroad is taking precautions to avoid another washout like the one that shut down rail service to Seward from June 17-19.
The trackbed washed out at Skookum Creek, leaving the track literally dangling with no support.
The washout area at Skookum Creek, located between Leubner Lake and Portage, has been rebuilt and "fortified," says Stephanie Wheeler, corporate communications officer for Alaska Railroad. The 80-foot washed-out area of the trackbed was addressed with rip-rap, gravel, rock fill material and ballast to create a stable roadbed that can withstand the weight of a train while still providing drainage.
Alaska Railroad fills in the missing trackbed with a variety of support materials
To accommodate the water flow, crews also installed an 8-foot diameter culvert and a 5-foot diameter culvert.
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