DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some residents in a suburban Des Moines neighborhood say they can’t access schools, work or emergency services for hours at a time because of idling railroad trains. Wayne and Rita Brasel live near Avon Lake, between Des Moines and Carlisle. Wayne Brasel tells the Des Moines Register that they’re among about 25 residents who become stranded when workers load and unload wind blades and turbine parts onto Union Pacific Railroad cars.

The Brasels say Union Pacific trains have blocked road access in the past, but the problem worsened when the Nebraska-based railroad built the Wind 2 Rail distribution center in 2017.
Union Pacific spokeswoman Kristen South says the company was unaware of the issue with the distribution center. South says the railroad will work with residents and businesses to find a solution.