Freight train derails just south of Wenatchee

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — A freight train has derailed just south of Wenatchee, shutting down a major east-west train route through the state of Washington for nearly five hours on Wednesday morning.

BNSF Railway spokesman Gus Melonas says three extra-large cars carrying multiple containers of general freight derailed at 5:30 a.m. as the train traveling from Seattle to Chicago was leaving the Wenatchee rail yard. The rail line reopened around 10 a.m.

Melonas says some of the containers fell on their sides off the train, but nothing hazardous was being transported so the derailment does not pose a health threat to the public.

About 20 trains travel on this route daily, include two Amtrak trains. Engineers are still determining the cause of the derailment. No injuries have been reported.