1:30 p.m. Update: The tracks have been cleared and all crossings are open.
Marfans awoke early this morning to a loud pop, which sent many to look to social media for the source. The City of Marfa posted shortly after that a train had decoupled, leaving cars blocking all crossings in Marfa except at Golf Course Road to the east.
For a short period of time, crossings at Austin and Highland streets opened up, but then they promptly shut down.
The latest city update on Facebook stated: “9:25am: We received word that the train will begin trying to re-link its cars soon. This will again block ALL crossings for up to 5 hours. The crossings that are currently open will no longer be open. Golf Course Rd (beer can alley) crossing will be open. *this is a steep incline crossing with a rough road. And the crossing under the bridge near Sal si puedes / Dollar General can be utilized. *this is an off-road path. Please use caution if using the route under the bridge.”
The Marfa Police Department posted at 10:42: “The train will be blocking all North/South bound crossings for approximately 4/5 hours. Only crossings will be at Golf Course Road, or under the bridge off of Oak Street. We ask if you cross under the bridge to use caution as there is no traffic control. Golf Course Road is NOT accessible for low crossing vehicles.”
Marfa Police Chief Gilberto Carrillo said city crews added some dirt on the underpass crossing near Dollar General and from Oak Street to try and shore it up and make it more accessible, but that pathway is still very narrow. All semi trucks are being rerouted by police, he said.
Carrillo said the cause of the decoupling is still uncertain, as is the number of cars that actually split apart. Union Pacific has dispatched repair crews from El Paso and other locations for a fix.
