Rail Service Restored After Coloma Washout Disrupts CSX Freight, Amtrak Line

Crews work around the clock to repair flood-damaged track, allowing trains to resume operations.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:20pm

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A bold, geometric illustration depicting towering railroad tracks and bridges in sweeping, airbrushed gradients, capturing the grand scale and importance of the rail corridor's restoration after a weather-related disruption.The restoration of rail service through Coloma after a weekend washout underscores the vital role of transportation infrastructure in connecting communities and commerce.Chicago Today

Rail service between Chicago and Grand Rapids is beginning to return to normal after emergency repairs to a flood-damaged section of track near Coloma. Crews working for CSX Transportation have been on site since the weekend washout, and by late Monday, the line was repaired and reopened—at least on a temporary basis.

Why it matters

The quick restoration of rail service limits the longer-term economic impact of the shutdown, but the incident underscores the vulnerability of key transportation infrastructure to heavy weather events.

The details

Rains over the weekend washed out the ground beneath the tracks, leaving sections of rail unsupported and forcing a full shutdown of both freight and passenger service. CSX crews and contractors worked around the clock to stabilize and rebuild the track bed, including restoring the underlying foundation and addressing drainage issues. Freight service has now resumed on the CSX line, and Amtrak service on the Pere Marquette line is expected to restart as track access is restored, though some residual delays or schedule adjustments are likely as operations normalize.

  • Over the weekend, heavy rains washed out the ground beneath the tracks near Coloma.
  • On Monday, the line was repaired and temporarily reopened.

The players

CSX Transportation

The freight railroad company that owns and operates the tracks that were damaged by the washout.

Amtrak

The national passenger rail service that operates the Pere Marquette line, which was disrupted by the track damage.

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What’s next

Freight and passenger rail service is expected to continue normalizing over the next few days as the backlog of shipments and schedule adjustments are cleared.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of maintaining and investing in critical transportation infrastructure, as even temporary disruptions can have significant economic impacts. The quick response and repair work by CSX crews helped to minimize the longer-term effects of the washout.