Local News

No One Injured After Freight Train Derails In Pittsburgh, Crashes Onto Tracks

August 5, 2018 / 8:00 PM EDT / CBS Philadelphia

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Several cars on a Norfolk Southern train derailed near Station Square on Sunday afternoon and crashed onto the light rail tracks.

It happened just after 1 p.m. as a train traveling from North Jersey to Chicago was passing above the Station Square T station.

According to Norfolk Southern officials, seven rail cars on a Norfolk Southern double-stack intermodal train transporting shipping containers derailed.

The cars were transporting consumer goods, including houseware, food and beverages, mouth wash and other common household products. There were no hazardous materials involved.

A few people were standing on the T platform at the time of the derailment, but no one was injured.

ALL INBOUND AND OUTBOUND RAIL SERVICE IS SUSPENDED DUE TO A FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILING DOWN TO STATION SQUARE FROM THE HILL ABOVE.
— Pittsburgh Regional Transit (@PGHtransit) August 5, 2018

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, but officials have ruled out a rock slide as a potential cause.

In a statement, Norfolk Southern said, "Norfolk Southern's top priority is public safety as we coordinate recovery efforts with local first responders. Norfolk Southern has two divisions of a contract company that specializes in rerailing rail cars and derailment cleanup and two additional excavators en route."

Heavy construction cranes will remove the cars and bring them down onto West Carson Street.

"What we're faced with now is train cars hanging onto Carson Street. The cars, for the most part, are stable, however it will take approximately 24 to 72 hours to remove those cars. So until the time that the cars are removed, Carson Street will be closed. The T station will be closed," Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said.

The Smithfield Bridge and portions of Carson Street are closed.

Bus shuttles will be operating along the suspended portions of the light rail system. The Mon Incline is closed.

Train Derailment