Service Recovery in Northeast Wyoming and Flooding Restoration Efforts Continue in Parts of Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota

Date
Jun 25, 2024

As reported, last night BNSF experienced a derailment affecting the main track near Clearmont, Wyoming approximately 45 miles east of Sheridan, Wyoming. Engineering and repair teams are on site and the track is estimated to reopen tomorrow morning. With flooding in parts of Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota impacting our ability to reroute impacted traffic, customers with shipments designated to move in or out of the Pacific Northwest, to or through the Denver or Kansas City regions should expect delays until operations have normalized.

BNSF teams have made considerable progress with track repair in parts of Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota impacted by record flooding. Continued storms in the region have prevented repair work in some areas. However, water levels have receded in certain locations, and we expect to restore service to the Marshall, Canton and Corson subdivisions later this week.

Repair materials and equipment are staged in multiple locations across the impacted areas and belt trains are moving both north and south around the clock to bring in ballast, the main components for the tracks on which BNSF trains operate, to repair the track. Some locations, including the bridge repair in North Sioux City, South Dakota across the Big Sioux River, will require more extensive repair work before service can be restored.

Flooding on the BNSF Madison Subdivision near Chester, South Dakota approximately 30 miles northwest of Sioux Falls.

While BNSF operating teams are re-routing some trains, we have issued some temporary embargoes to proactively manage traffic flows through this impacted area. Additional information on these embargoes can be found on the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Embargo Railinc website here (enter "BNSF" in the Issuing Road field to view active embargoes). Customers can submit permit requests for permitted embargoes, as well as obtain more information through this online form. 

If you have questions regarding a shipment(s), please utilize the Message Us feature on the BNSF Customer Portal (must be registered/logged in to access) or contact BNSF Customer Support at 1-888-428-2673.

As always, BNSF teams continue to work around the clock to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. We will continue to provide customers with further updates.