Portland Officials Urge Union Pacific to Halt Freight Service Amid Fire Concerns
Portland city officials are urging Union Pacific to stop freight service through the city. This comes after the railroad announced plans to resume operations on Monday, following a fire at the Centennial Mills warehouse. Officials are concerned about the potential…
Portland, OR, August 10, 2026 —
PORTLAND, Ore. – City officials in Portland have formally requested that Union Pacific cease freight train operations through the city. The appeal comes as the railroad company prepares to restart services on Monday, following a fire that affected the Centennial Mills warehouse.
The decision by Union Pacific to resume operations has raised concerns among city leaders regarding the potential impact on the site of the recent fire. Details regarding the specific nature of these concerns or any stated risks associated with the resumed service were not immediately available.
The fire at the Centennial Mills warehouse prompted the temporary suspension of train services. Union Pacific’s announcement to resume these services on Monday marks a return to normal operations for the company, but not without apprehension from local government representatives.
The specific timing of the request by Portland city officials in relation to Union Pacific’s announcement was not provided. The contractor involved in any cleanup or assessment of the Centennial Mills site was not named, nor were the outcomes of any inspections related to the fire or its aftermath.
Further details on the city’s specific objections or Union Pacific’s response to the request for a halt in freight service were not disclosed. The timeline for how long the city hopes freight service will be suspended was also not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Tarek Anthony on www.oregonlive.com, see more information here.
