OHIO DERAILMENT
Update February 20, 2023: Norfolk Southern (NS) continues clean-up efforts in East Palestine, Ohio and remains unclear when this line of track will be operationational again. NS continues to work through their freight backlog estimating delays of 24-hours or greater.
Update February 17, 2023: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and FEMA Regional Administrator Thomas C. Sivak issued the following joint statement, “FEMA and the State of Ohio have been in constant contact regarding emergency operations in East Palestine. U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA have been working together since day one. Tomorrow, FEMA will supplement federal efforts by deploying a Senior Response Official along with a Regional Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to support ongoing operations, including incident coordination and ongoing assessments of potential long term recovery needs.”
On February 3rd, a Norfolk Southern Railroad train traveling from Illinois to Pennsylvania derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Norfolk Southern reported that it is working to restore rail operations and announced that trains rerouted on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Cleveland Line, Susquehanna & Western Railway, Buffalo, and CSX main line can now resume service on the main lines restored on February 7. Efforts continue to reduce traffic backlogs.
TEXAS DERAILMENT
Update February 20, 2023: All Texas main lines are back online. UP is monitoring potential severe weather but reports no current service disruptions.
Another two trains derailed consecutively almost two weeks later Monday, February 13. Emergency crews responded in the morning hours to a train derailment in Montgomery County, Texas along the Eastex Freeway near Midline Road.
Splendora Police and Union Pacific officials announced that Midline Road will be partially open for residents today, Tuesday, February 14. The freeway feeder will remain closed and northbound traffic on the feeder past East River Road must enter the freeway and go to Cleveland to turn around. The first train is expected to transit today, and for the next few days, trains should operate at the slowest speeds. The feeder could be completely open Wednesday morning.
Alternate routes include the construction zone to Cleveland, FM 2090, and the Cleveland bypass.
SOUTH CAROLINA DERAILMENT
Update February 20, 2023: CSX reports no service disruptions on their lines at this time.
Another similar incident occurred in the afternoon hours in Enoree, South Carolina, when officers were called to clean up a train derailment. Authorities reported the accident near Highway 221 and that the investigation is ongoing. No disruptions to mainline rail operations are reported.
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