CHICAGO — “Impassible conditions” on BNSF Railway’s Southern Transcon west of La Plata, Mo., has led to a detour and cancellations of the Southwest Chief.
The eastbound Chief was detoured today (Wednesday, June 17), while the westbound train departing Chicago today, and Thursday’s eastbound train from Los Angeles were canceled. Chiefs on the day after the abrupt cancellations were listed as “sold out” to allow for passenger rebooking.
More than one incident may have been involved in Amtrak’s decisions. WQAD-TV reports that the Chief cancellations followed the weather-related derailment of a BNSF train near Monmouth, Ill. Images on the station website show a tangle of derailed intermodal cars. Monmouth is about 15 miles west of Galesburg…