PSA: I-5 Skagit River Bridge Has Collapsed

[Bill Anderson]

The I-5 bridge over the Skagit River at Mt. Vernon, WA has collapsed. No reported fatalities as of Thursday night.
http://news.yahoo.com/no-fatalities-5-bridge-collapse-nw-wash-045838024.html

Anyone who had planned on railfanning the BNSF line between Mt. Vernon, WA and Vancouver, BC over Memorial Day weekend might want to change his/her plans. The surface roads are going to be a mess trying to handle the estimated 70,000+ vehicles/day which use that section of I-5.

 

[redlynx]

Maybe the state/Amtrak/BNSF should look at adding that Talgo reported over Stevens yesterday as a temporary extra train between SEattle and BC until that bridge can be repaired.... Nah, too practical. (Then move it to Stampede as a test between Seattle and Tri-Cities)

 

[BNSFEng]

Here, here for more passenger operations. Amtrak should jump at the chance to market a temporary third round trip train!! They'll make a killing. I just check the traffic cams for the back up in Mt. Vernon and it goes on for miles and miles!!!

 

[Pete Sakes]

Here, here for more passenger operations. Amtrak should jump at the chance to market a temporary third round trip train!! They'll make a killing. I just check the traffic cams for the back up in Mt. Vernon and it goes on for miles and miles!!!

I think they heard you! http://www.komonews.com/news/local/After-bridge-collapse-Amtrak-adding-1-daily-round-trip-north-of-Seattle-208906861.html

 

[Bill Anderson]

I think they heard you!

Maybe it will hasten the new Talgo sets being pressed into service. According to one of the posts on this thread, one or two new train sets are just sitting in Seattle.
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43169