Landslide near White Rock blocks Amtrak between Vancouver and U.S.

Amtrak passenger train service has been halted between Vancouver and Bellingham, Wash., until Friday after landslides hit the tracks near White Rock early Wednesday.

“There were three slides in close proximity just four miles (6.5 kilometres) north of White Rock from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.,” said Gus Melonas, spokesman for BNSF Railway, which owns and operates the track.

“Two (slides) were lesser, but one was significant enough to trigger an engineering-determined suspension of Amtrak service for 48 hours.”

Melonas said two Amtrak passenger trains a day will be affected by the slide.

Amtrak was offering alternative transportation and said passengers could contact them for further assistance.

Melonas said ground saturation from heavy rain caused the slide, which sent mud, rocks, debris and trees down onto the track from 30 metres above. Freight service resumed at Wednesday. Melonas said a crane was brought in Wednesday to remove debris. Inspectors were on site studying the slope’s stability and keeping a close eye on conditions to ensure the safe movement of trains.

“It’s the fifth slide in B.C. over the last three years that triggered a suspension,” said Melonas, adding that Wednesday’s slide was the first in the White Rock area for BNSF.

Amtrak’s route from Vancouver travels east through Burnaby and New Westminster, then south through Surrey along the shore of Boundary Bay and through White Rock to the U.S. border.