TRAIN TRAFFIC THROUGH AREA WILL INCREASE; TRAINS TO BE REROUTED WHILE TRACK REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE

Train traffic through Southeast Missouri will triple through the end of June as tracks undergo repairs.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad trains usually run from Springfield, Mo., to Jonesboro, Ark., and on to Memphis, Tenn. Tracks along that route are scheduled for major repairs, so trains are being rerouted from Springfield to St. Louis and on to Memphis, said Richard Graviett of the railroad.

People in Ste. Genevieve, St. Mary, Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Portageville, Steele and smaller towns in between will notice the increased train traffic Monday through June 30.

The trains will travel through downtown Cape Girardeau. Cape Girardeau police said they don't anticipate any problems from the increased train traffic.

Typically, about eight trains a day travel the tracks from St. Louis to Memphis. During the repairs traffic will increase to 20 to 25 trains daily.

"We are asking motorists to be more careful at crossings," Graviett said.

Speed limits, other regulations and safety precautions remain the same. Whistles will blow. "We will just have a lot more trains," Graviett said.

"We don't want someone to be walking down a railroad track after a train goes by thinking everything will be fine," he said. "They shouldn't be out there on the tracks anyway."

Trains will be primarily freight trains, piggybacks and some coal trains.

Bridges will be restructured or replaced between Springfield and Memphis, said Graviett. Concrete rails will be laid and longer sidings built.

"There is no way to get all the work done while trains are running on the tracks," he said.

Typically, trains are funneled from the West Coast, Texas, Wyoming and other areas west into Springfield and then directed to Memphis.