GILPIN COUNTY, Colo. — There were no injuries reported after a 78-car freight train derailed near Pines Cliff in Gilpin County Sunday, but passenger rail service through the corridor has been significantly impacted.
Union Pacific will be leading the cleanup effort and determining when the tracks will reopen, according to a BNSF spokesperson.
"We anticipate the tracks through Gilpin, County Colorado reopening later today," Mike Jaixen, the senior manager of communications for Union Pacific told Denver7 Monday morning.
No roads were closed due to the incident.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) cars that derailed contained diesel fuel oil and liquid. But the sheriff’s office said there was no leakage or fumes from the cars and they don’t anticipate issuing any evacuations. BNSF said no hazmat was compromised.
The cause remains under investigation.
The Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office asked the public to avoid the area near Colo. 72 (Coal Creek Canyon Road) and S. Beaver Creek Road while crews work to clear the 15 rail cars that derailed—which was expected to take at least 36 hours.
The derailment caused delays for Amtrak service Sunday, which uses the Union Pacific tracks to operate the California Zephyr. Trains were stuck in Grand Junction and Denver, anticipating a lengthy delay, according to a notice on Amtrak's website.
A California Zephyr passenger told Denver7 that Amtrak was busing some passengers from Grand Junction to Denver, which he said was "one of the most enjoyable sections of the train trip."
