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CSX defects found Town overpass OK
By John J. Hopkins Times
Three months after a CSX train derailed on an overpass, sending one of its boxcars crashing onto Union Road and leaving a second teetering on the edge, officials have found nearly 200 serious violations of federal safety regulations systemwide, but none related to the local derailment.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has recommended civil fines against CSX for 199 violations, which is considered a serious case of noncompliance with federal regulations.
The FRA launched a four-day inspection on CSX properties in January and announced its findings on March 27.
FRA inspectors conducted 583 inspections in each of the 23 states where the railroad operates and found 3,518 defects and 199 violations.
Sixty of the inspections were performed in New York State, where there were 376 defects and 13 violations.
"Despite general improvement by CSX, the railroad is still not doing enough to make safety a top priority," FRA Administrator Joseph H. Boardman said in an official statement.
A separate review of the Union Road overpass and other local CSX bridges was conducted by the FRA, at the request of Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) following the December 10, 2006 derailment in Cheektowaga, the second in as many days in Western New York.
Because the incident occurred early on a Sunday when traffic was light, there were no injuries. Still, Union Road was closed for more than 12 hours as the damage was cleaned up.
An earlier derailment occurred on the bridge in October 2006. A derailment also occurred on a Norfolk- Southern line in Buffalo on December 9, 2006.
The local FRA review included field observations and the inspection procedures for both railroads.
"Both bridges were evaluated in this investigation, and neither was found to have any condition that would compromise the safety of train operations or increase risk to the public," Boardman wrote. "None of the three train accidents that occurred on these bridges was the result of conditions related to the bridge."
Higgins remains unconvinced of the results of the FRA investigations in Erie County.
"I remain skeptical, especially in light of (the March 27) report," Higgins said. "I call on CSX to certify that the overpasses are in top condition, and pose no further threat to Western New Yorkers."
At least four other CSX accidents have occurred in New York State since the Cheektowaga derailment.
+ A CSX employee was struck and killed by a train at a yard crossing in Syracuse on December 14.
+ On December 19 in Selkirk, near Albany, another employee was struck by a train at a yard crossing.
+ A train derailed on January 16 in East Rochester.
+ A 15-car derailment in Oneida caused seven cars carrying liquid propane to explode, forcing the evacuation of a neighborhood and closing two schools. That train likely passed through Cheektowaga during its trip from Buffalo to Selkirk.
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