Red River could swamp some track as it moves into Canada

Canadian Pacific Railway is getting ready for the Red River flood to move north and possibly disrupt freight traffic there as it has in North Dakota.

“So far we’re not having any operational impact” from the flooding that has ravaged Fargo, N.D., and other parts of that state, CP spokesman Mike LoVecchio said March 31.

But he said that could change as early as April 1, depending on how fast the flood waters rise as the Red River approaches CP tracks at Emerson, Manitoba, on its way to Winnipeg.

LoVecchio said if floods get back enough “emergency authorities may dike over our track,” which has been done before. And to prepare against the flood pressure on vulnerable track structures, he said “we’ll move ballasted cars onto all bridges and culverts” to help anchor them in place.

But he also said CP is already planning to divert trains around affected areas, to keep traffic moving.