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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah will see increased train traffic over the next two weeks due to diversions resulting from a railroad tunnel collapse in Oregon, officials said.
Trains are being rerouted through Salt Lake City and other parts of the railroad's network, according to Justin E. Jacobs, Union Pacific director of corporate and media relations. Union Pacific Railroad is also redirecting some train traffic through Ogden, Box Elder County Sheriff’s Department officials said on Facebook.
About 2 p.m. Tuesday, some debris from the ceiling of a Union Pacific train tunnel in Oakridge, Oregon, fell on a track during a tunnel maintenance operation, Jacobs said in an emailed statement.
No one was injured in the collapse, which affected about 50 feet of the tunnel, Jacobs said. The mainline of the Union Pacific Railroad network was affected, he added.
Personnel from the company are repairing the tunnel and plan to have it reopened in 5-7 days, though that could change, he said.
There will be more train traffic than usual in the Salt Lake area while repairs are being made, Jacobs said.
"We sincerely apologize for the disruption, and are working diligently to restore service to the original route," Jacobs said.
Box Elder County Sheriff's Department officials said the area will see more than double the usual amount of rail activity over the next 1-2 weeks.
Blockages at the Forest Street rail crossing on the west side of Brigham City will be more common during this time, sheriff’s department officials said. Officials suggest avoiding the Forest Street crossing area.
