Freight Train Derailment: Importance of Investigations & Rail Inspections

July 5, 2013 | A recent train derailment in upstate New York points out the importance of accident investigations.  According to reports, a CSX cargo train derailed on Thursday, June 27 2013 leaving minor injuries to the train’s conductor and engineer causing other rail interstate shipments to venture to alternate routes.

Reports from Montgomery County Police indicate that the cargo was not believed to be hazardous as indicated in the original WNYT story. The County’s Emergency Management Director explained, “We have the manifest from both trains and everything that appears hazardous, they’ve checked those cars and they’re not leaking and at this point don’t present a problem.”

TCA’s rail analysts view this as an opportunity to point out the need for investigations and accountability for making rail shipments. Every car involved in derailment – whether hazardous or not – is pulled aside and inspected regardless of how insignificant the damage. That car cannot be released for movement until it passes inspection. Rail is the safest mode of transporting a hazardous material.

Want to learn more about our rail programs or rail car tracking and tracing? Visit our Rail Department here!