KEENESBURG, Colo. – BNSF Railway’s main line northeast of Denver is expected to reopen late Friday after a freight train collided with a truck and derailed near Keenesburg Thursday evening.
Media outlets originally reported that multiple locomotives and upwards of 100 freight cars derailed in the incident, however, BNSF spokesman Joe Sloan confirms with Trains News Wire that one locomotive and 28 cars derailed after a freight train collided with a semi truck at a county grade crossing near Keenesburg.
Sloan says all railcars remained upright and crews have since re-railed the cars that are road worthy. Maintenance-of-way crews are repairing track and the railroad anticipates the line will reopen sometime Friday.
The derailment did prompt Amtrak to detour eastbound California Zephyr train No. 6 between Denver and Omaha on Union Pacific tracks. Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods says a return to the regular route depends on when BNSF will re-open the tracks.
Keenesburg is located about 40 miles northeast of Denver on BNSF’s former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Brush Subdivision.