‘City of Beaumont, Rep. Ruiz Pressure Union Pacific Over Stopped Train’

BEAUMONT, CA — The Pass Area's congressional representative is requesting an immediate response from the CEO of Union Pacific Railroad about the June 15 train incident in Beaumont that turned the city into a giant parking lot. The city is also pushing for answers.

In his June 21 letter to CEO Lance M. Fritz, Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Coachella Valley) requested "an immediate response" outlining the actions the Union Pacific leader is taking "to prevent such an incident from occurring again and to ensure better communication with affected communities."

In the letter, Ruiz told Fritz that the lack of communication surrounding Union Pacific's stopped train was "unacceptable."

For more than six hours on June 15, the immobile train on Union Pacific Railroad tracks delayed Pass Area motorists by blocking three of Beaumont's thoroughfares from the city's southern border to the northern part of town. During the stoppage, Beaumont police and city officials were scrambling to get word from the company, but succinct answers were scarce, according to local leaders.

Union Pacific has not publicly explained what happened. On June 16, Patch received this emailed response from Union Pacific spokesperson Robynn Tysver, despite direct questions about the stoppage: "We apologize for the wait times residents experienced yesterday near Beaumont, California. We continuously work to minimize blocked crossings caused by stopped trains. Our goal is to keep trains moving and we are working to move rail shipments more efficiently. Drivers and pedestrians can report blocked crossings on Union Pacific tracks by calling our 24/7 Response Management Communications Center at 1 (888) 877-7267. They can also call the phone number posted near railroad crossings. Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience."

Apparent mechanical issues and a train car tampering were to blame for the long stop in Beaumont, according to a statement from an exasperated Beaumont Police Department.

In his letter to Fritz, Ruiz wrote, "Massive traffic blockages are not merely an inconvenience, they can delay emergency responders, cause cars to run out of fuel and strand drivers in hot weather without air conditioning, make vehicles ... overheat, and otherwise put people in danger. A lack of communication about what is causing the problem, and when relief can be expected, only makes this issue worse."

Via the letter, Ruiz asked Fritz to answer the following questions: 1) What internal investigations are Union Pacific pursuing to understand the cause of the stopped train and the delay in moving it? 2) What are Union Pacific's standard operating procedures when a train is stopped on the tracks? 3) Does Union Pacific have internal best practices for handling stopped vehicles on its tracks? 4) Does Union Pacific track or compile similar incidents involving stopped trains? and 5) How does Union Pacific schedule its shifts to account for potential delays on its tracks?

Ruiz asked for a response no later than July 5.

Ruiz also requested a meeting with Union Pacific leadership to discuss the June 15 incident and proactive steps the company is taking to ensure the incident is never repeated.

During its June 21 meeting, Beaumont City Council voted to draft letters to the California Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Railroad Administration that include a request to investigate Union Pacific's actions as they related to "the hazardous situation caused by the immobile train."

The city also requested a meeting with Union Pacific to discuss how the company intends to ensure the problem never happens again, and how the city can effectively communicate with railroad emergency employees when necessary.

During the June 21 City Council meeting, Mayor Lloyd White said what was most concerning about the June 15 incident was the lack of information coming from Union Pacific officials.

Some local residents called on the city to be more proactive. One local resident told the Beaumont City Council that if her family needed emergency medical care, first responders could not have reached her home due to the traffic jam. She called the June 15 incident a "perfect storm" and added, "we need to do better."