Amtrak’s Empire Builder has been re-routed along the KO Subdivision line between Fargo and Minot, often referred to as “The Surrey Cutoff”, due to flooding in the Fargo area, affecting Burlington Northern-Santa Fe’s main line which runs near the Red River.

As a result, Wednesday, March 25 will be the final day the eastbound and westbound trains will serve Rugby – for awhile. It could be up to three weeks before full service is restored in Rugby as well as in Devils Lake and Grand Forks.

In the meantime, the depot agent office in Rugby will be temporarily closed, beginning this Monday, March 30, said Duane Veach, Rugby depot agent.

Veach will likely work at another station, possibly Minot, for the time being. Area residents will have to go to Minot to board the train.

This is the first time since 2003 that regular train service has been interrupted due to flooding. That year rising Devils Lake waters forced the Empire Builder to change its route until the track could be raised and repaired.

Freight traffic along the BNSF could also be down over the next few weeks as trains are re-routed away from flood conditions in the Red River Valley.