UPDATE: Officials Say One Amtrak Train Traveled On Track Sunday

UPDATE: Pierce County said at least one of the trains that used the BNSF track was an Amtrak train.

---

UPDATE: Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas said authorities reopened one of two rail lines involved in the train derailment around 5 p.m., Sunday night, and trains were moving in both directions.

As of Sunday, trains on the other line were set to begin moving again around midnight.

BNSF still hasn't determined the likely reason the two trains sideswiped each other, nor has it estimated the cost of the damage or cleanup.

---

The U.S. Coast Guard released these up-close photos of  Sunday night.

Crews continue to work to clear the derailed cars. Train traffic has begun to move on the northbound track, and southbound traffic is expected to resume service by tomorrow.

Pierce County released the following statement Sunday:

"The Coast Guard, Department of Ecology, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company and contractors are continuing to respond to a train derailment south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in University Place that occurred Saturday at approximately 8 p.m.

Fourteen rail cars derailed, four of which contain sodium hydroxide. Two separate fittings on one tank car leaked approximately 50 gallons of sodium hydroxide solution onto the shoreline. One leak has been plugged and the other leak is being contained.

At low tide, all 14 rail cars are out of the water.  At high tide, five rail cars are in approximately one foot of water.  The leaking sodium hydroxide solution did not come in contact with the tide.

Photos of the derailed train cars are available here.

Lt. Cmdr. Matt Denning, Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, and Ron Holcomb with the Department of Ecology reported that the threat to public safety and health from the chemical is negligible at this time. Pierce County has closed off trails and a pedestrian bridge near the area due to the on-site activity.

The Coast Guard has issued a broadcast notice to mariners alerting boaters to stay out of the area.  The Coast Guard Cutter Blue Shark is patrolling the area to ensure boaters keep a safe distance from the incident site.  A Coast Guard helicopter flew over the area at 8:40 a.m. and reported that there were no visible signs that the sodium hydroxide solution was leaking into the water.

Each of the four tank cars contains approximately 15,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide solution, which will be pumped out of the tank cars prior to the cars being removed from the shoreline.

Gus Melonas, a representative from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company, said both train lines were expected to be open later Sunday.  The cause of the derailment remained under investigation."