PASCO, Wash. -- A landslide caused by a flash flood is delaying trains on a BNSF track near Pasco.
Railroad spokesman Gus Melonas says heavy rains caused the slide that buried part of the mainline track and also washed out several feet of track bed.
While crews are working to remove debris and rebuild the track bed, trains are being detoured around the area on other BNSF tracks.
Melonas says about 30 people are working with excavators and other heavy equipment to finish repairs by Sunday evening.
The slide area is west of Pasco and about 150 miles east of Portland, Ore. The line connects Portland with Spokane, but Melonas says the mudslide also affected some train traffic between Seattle and Portland.
Melonas says the slide was detected by track sensors about 7 p.m. Saturday. Up to 35 trains use this route each day.
