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Tracks reopen for train traffic after derailment

Submitted Photo This was the scene on Sunday between Burlington and Des Lacs of a BNSF railway derailment, shown in this North Dakota Highway Patrol photo. The track was reopened for train traffic Monday.

BURLINGTON – The track at the site of a BNSF derailment between Burlington and Des Lacs was reopened for train traffic at about 2:30 a.m. Monday, said Lena Kent, general director of Public Affairs for BNSF Railway.

On Sunday at about 1 a.m., 15 cars of an eastbound BNSF Railway train derailed. Local fire departments and other first responders responded to a fire in containers carrying paper products and frozen foods.

A North Dakota National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with a 600-gallon water bucket also assisted at the scene. At the request of the Burlington fire chief, Gov. Doug Burgum authorized the National Guard to send the helicopter to the train derailment site Sunday afternoon to assist with fire associated with the derailment. The aircraft distributed over 10,200 gallons of water before returning to Bismarck, according to N.D. National Guard information.

“We appreciate the ongoing assistance of local first responders during this incident,” said Kent.

The Amtrak passenger train uses the same tracks as BNSF.

“We expect to operate the full Chicago-Seattle/Portland route today (Monday), in both directions,” said Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesman in Chicago.

“We are still currently in the process of clearing the site of the damaged equipment,” Kent said. She said the cause of the incident remains under investigation.

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