Amtrak service to destinations west of St. Paul’s Union Depot on the Empire Builder line was canceled Monday because of heavy snowfall and an avalanche in the Rocky Mountains, blocking rail traffic.

Passengers on their way to Spokane, Seattle and Portland were returned to Chicago by bus on Monday or else made alternative travel plans, according to Amtrak officials. The service departs St. Paul westward daily.

“Those passengers who were booked on that train are being offered refunds,” said Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesman based in Chicago. Related Articles Met Council gets final $928.8 million from feds to extend Green Line into southwest suburbs

Metro Transit trims some routes, expands others in coronavirus response

Road restrictions on I-94 Wednesday as beams installed in Dale Street Bridge in St. Paul

Metro Transit to resume near-normal local bus, light rail schedule, but express bus and Northstar remain clipped

Motorists on southbound I-694 in Oakdale should expect delays due to resurfacing project

Passengers with questions can call 1-800-USA-RAIL for updates.

Heavy snowfall halted rail traffic through the Marias Pass in the Rocky Mountains in northwestern Montana. Several feet of snow fell in the area.

Magliari said BNSF Railway keeps avalanche experts on retainer to clear tracks in cases such as this. Amtrak operates on tracks owned by the railroad.

However, Magliari said it wasn’t known Monday when the tracks would re-open.

“This could last for a day or more,” he said.

In a statement, BNSF officials said their crews are working on the problem.

“BNSF crews were prepared for and are actively working to mitigate avalanche debris and blowing snow that has reached the rail grade,” according to the statement. “While we currently have no estimated time for reopening both main tracks, we will resume operations through the corridor when conditions allow for the safe movement of trains.”

The eastbound train from St. Paul to Chicago will operate as normal starting with Tuesday’s 8 a.m. departure, according to Deborah Carter McCoy with the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority. The RCRRA operates Union Depot.

Empire Builder trains were stopped at Whitefish and Shelby in Montana, according to the Billings Gazette. Each carried about 90 passengers. And Amtrak could not bus those passengers around the blocked line because the highway was closed.

On the West Coast, the eastbound Empire Builder was unable to leave Seattle or Portland.