On June 24, 2023, Enivironmental Protection Agency (EPA) received a report of a rail car incident located near Reed Point, MT, approximately 40 miles west of Billings, MT. Montana Rail Link reported the Twin Bridges bridge collapse. The rail line includes 52 total cars; 17 cars were derailed. 10 cars entered the Yellowstone River under the Twin Bridges bridge. The 17 affected rail cars contained sodium hydrosulfide, asphalt liquified petroleum, molten sulfur, and scrap metal. The quantity of the contents in the rail cars varies but is typically in the thousands of gallons.

Representatives from the Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), local Law Enforcement, Fire Department, Fish & Wildlife Services (FWS) and Montana Disaster & Emergency Services (DES) arrived on scene. EPA deployed an On Scene Coordinator, along with technical (START) contractors who provided additional support and helped coordinate environmental assessment and response activities with State and local officials.  (Information courtesy EPA)

Regarding passenger trains that once used this bridge - Between St Paul, MN and Logan, MT, as well as between Garrison, MT and Pasco, WA, the North Coast Limited and the Mainstreeter used the same routes.  So the now-collapsed bridge east of Reed Point, MT would have carried both the Mainstreeter and the North Coast Limited across the Yellowstone River. 

Routes for the two trains diverged between Logan, MT and Garrison, MT; with the NCL traveling over Homestake Pass through Butte, and the Mainstreeter traveling through Helena and over Mullan Pass.  West of Pasco, WA, both trains split into two sections that traveled to/from Seattle, WA and Portland, OR.