Northstar service on the main rail corridor shuddered to an abrupt halt Wednesday during the evening commute after reports of a propane-like odor on the property adjacent to the Fridley rail yard, BNSF Railway officials said.
Service was delayed for passengers and freight beginning around 5:30 p.m. while authorities checked out the area. Traffic resumed about an hour later, after it was deemed safe, a BNSF spokeswoman said.
The interruption of service came just before planned detours for this year's Torchlight Parade took effect in downtown Minneapolis.
Residents may have some relief from clogged traffic Thursday, as Metro Transit has canceled its interruption of the light-rail service.
The interruption, which would replace trains with buses for four hours in the late evening, was originally scheduled for light-rail maintenance work on the Blue and Green Lines.
Officials expect to reschedule the maintenance work.
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