Latest news with #train derailment
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Confusion on sensor plane's abilities delayed response in Ohio train derailment, report says
A specialized plane equipped with advanced sensors that the government deploys to chemical disasters could have helped authorities avoid needlessly blowing open five rail tank cars and burning their toxic contents after the disastrous 2023 East Palestine train derailment, a new report says. The report released Tuesday found the single-engine Cessna wasn't called into action until the night before the rail cars filled with vinyl chloride were blown open because officials with the Environmental Protection Agency on the ground didn't fully understand the plane's sophisticated capabilities. The report by the EPA's Inspector General said the agency's on-scene coordinator mistakenly thought the so-called ASPECT plane could only measure 20- to 30-degree differences in temperature. In reality, the report noted, the sensors can measure slight temperature differences of less than 1 degree. That information could have helped first responders avoid the key mistake the National Transportation Safety Board identified of blowing open the tank cars filled with the toxic plastic ingredient. The on-scene coordinator's 'limited awareness or use of the full range of ASPECT capabilities could negatively impact emergency response decision-making,' the report said. The towering plume of black smoke The explosion and fire generated a massive plume of black smoke over East Palestine that billowed eastward over the nearby Ohio- Pennsylvania border three days after the derailment. State and local officials in charge of the response feared those tank cars would explode even though the limited temperature information they had showed the cars were starting to cool off. The National Transportation Safety Board had previously faulted the Norfolk Southern railroad for not sharing the opinion of the chemical maker that the vinyl chloride wasn't going to explode with decisionmakers. Norfolk Southern has said OxyVinyls officials offered conflicting information that left the railroad's experts worried about a dangerous chemical reaction. Much of the small town of East Palestine had to be evacuated for days because of the toxic chemical fire. Many residents still complain of lingering health symptoms, fearful of potential long-term health consequences. The EPA has maintained that dangerous levels of chemicals were never found after the evacuation order was lifted five days after the Feb. 3, 2023, derailment. Some have questioned whether the agency did enough to detect the chemicals in the aftermath and doctors are still trying to determine what prolonged exposure to low levels of the chemicals might mean. Recently released records show officials with the Federal Emergency Management Administration have acknowledged residents' fears that cancer clusters could develop years from now in local residents despite the EPA's assurances. Robert Kroutil, the man who wrote the software and helped interpret the data from the plane's advanced radiological and infrared sensors, has said having accurate temperature data from the plane could have helped avoid the vent-and-burn operation. 'The report noted that EPA officials believe that the on-ground monitoring equipment provided superior detection capabilities, which is incorrect,' Kroutil said. "This demonstrates EPA's complete lack of understanding of the ASPECT technology and how it works to protect chemically impacted sites.' EPA updates its policies The East Palestine derailment was the worst rail disaster in a decade. It prompted a national reckoning with rail safety and calls for reform — although proposals for new industry rules stalled in Congress. The railroad's contractors who led the response to the derailment told the NTSB they had difficulty getting accurate temperature readings on the cars because the fire surrounding them made it especially dangerous. Kroutil's concerns prompted the IG investigation. The EPA said in its official response to the report that it has developed a detailed fact sheet and plans to train its emergency responders about the plane's capabilities and when it should be deployed over the next year. But the agency didn't immediately respond Tuesday to questions about the delayed response in East Palestine. Lingering questions about the flights The Government Accountability Project watchdog group that helped Kroutil document his concerns questioned why the Inspector General didn't look into other aspects like Kroutil's concerns that the plane's sensors were intentionally shut off over the creeks around East Palestine and that the final report on the flights was changed to overlook the incomplete data that was generated in just two flights before the plane was sent home. GAP's Senior Environmental Officer Lesley Pacey said 'the investigation's scope was too narrow, failing to address the most serious allegations.' The EPA didn't even call for the sensor plane until two nights after the derailment when officials were already contemplating the vent-and-burn operation. The plane took off from its Texas base within a half hour of getting the call, but it didn't make a pass over the derailment as it flew into the area that night, and then weather conditions kept it from flying during the controversial burn operation the next day. It didn't gather any data until the following day after most of the chemicals had already been distributed by the wind. The Inspector General said the emails and documents it reviewed showed that officials followed existing practices on deploying the plane, but those procedures lacked the clarity needed to help them decide when to deploy the plane.
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Multiple bridges collapse across Russia as saboteurs target Putin's rail network
Two bridges have collapsed, causing trains to derail, in separate incidents within Russia, which Vladimir Putin 's officials have blamed on "interference", a likely reference to Ukrainian saboteurs. At least seven people were killed and 30 suffered injuries after a bridge collapsed and a train derailed in Russia 's Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, the authorities there said. A second bridge collapsed hours later, causing a similar derailment, according to a local governor. And a prominent Ukrainian partisan group claimed responsibility for an attack on relay systems in occupied Donetsk oblast that stopped movement on a new Russian rail line. Meanwhile, hundreds of towns were under evacuation orders in Ukraine 's northeastern Sumy region, where Russian forces are focusing their attacks, as Ukrainian officials warned Moscow could be preparing a new offensive there. Ukrainian officials this week warned of a potential new Russian offensive in the northeast. A State Border Guard Service spokesperson said on Thursday that Russia had amassed 'sufficient forces' in the neighbouring Kursk region to launch an incursion, the Kyiv Independent reported. Bryansk bridge collapse was 'sabotage', Russian military blogger says The Bryansk bridge collapse was 'sabotage', according to prominent Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov, who uses the name War Gonzo. The report could not be independently verified. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Tara Cobham1 June 2025 08:34 Among seven killed was locomotive driver, Russia's state news agencies report Among the seven killed in Bryansk was the locomotive driver, Russia's state news agencies reported, citing medics. Social media pictures and videos showed passengers trying to help others climb out of the Bryansk train's damaged carriages in the dark and firefighters looking for ways to reach passengers. Tara Cobham1 June 2025 08:10 Some 180 emergency services staff involved in search and rescue mission in Bryansk Some 180 personnel were involved in efforts to find and rescue victims in the Bryansk incident, according to Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations. It said on Telegram that the operation continued throughout the night. Tara Cobham1 June 2025 07:54 Bridge collapse in Russia's Bryansk caused by explosion, governor says The collapse of the bridge in Russia's Bryansk region was the result of an explosion, the region's acting governor said on Sunday, according to Russia's Interfax agency. "The bridge was blown up while the Klimovo-Moscow train was passing through with 388 passengers on board," Interfax quoted Alexander Bogomaz as telling Russia's public broadcaster. 1 June 2025 07:30 Locomotive driver injured in Kursk derailment The collapse in the Kursk region occurred early on Sunday while a freight train was crossing the bridge, Alexander Khinshtein, acting governor of the region, and Russian Railways said on Telegram. "Part of the train fell onto a road underneath the bridge," Khinshtein said. He added that the locomotive caught fire, which was quickly extinguished. One of the drivers sustained leg injuries, and he and the team operating the train were taken to a local hospital, Khinshtein added. Tara Cobham1 June 2025 07:18 Recap: Two bridges collapse in different Russian border regions, causing train derailments Two bridges collapsed in different Russian regions bordering Ukraine overnight, derailing trains and killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, Russian authorities said early on Sunday. There was no immediate confirmation that the incidents were related, but a Ukrainian partisan group has claimed responsibility for a third incident overnight targeting signalling on a new Russian rail line in occupied Donetsk. Both Kursk and Bryansk, the regions where the two bridges collapsed, have been subject to frequent attacks by Ukraine during the war that Russia started with its full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Seven people were killed and 69 injured when a highway bridge collapsed onto railway tracks, derailing an approaching train in the Bryansk region late on Saturday, Russian emergency ministry and regional officials said. Russia's Railways initially posted on the Telegram messaging app that the Bryansk bridge collapse was the result of an "illegal interference in the operation of transport", but the post was later removed. Prominent Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov, who uses the name War Gonzo, called the Bryansk collapse "sabotage." Bryansk governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram that 47 people were hospitalised. Three children were among those injured with one in serious condition, he said. The collapse in the Kursk region occurred early on Sunday while a freight train was crossing the bridge, Alexander Khinshtein, acting governor of the region, and Russian Railways said on Telegram. "Part of the train fell onto a road underneath the bridge," Khinshtein said. He added that the locomotive caught fire, which was quickly extinguished. One of the drivers sustained leg injuries, and he and the team operating the train were taken to a local hospital, Khinshtein added. He posted a photo of derailed carriages on a damaged bridge over a road. Andrei Klishas, a senior member of the Federation Council, Russia's upper chamber of parliament, said on the Telegram messaging app that the incident in Bryansk shows that "Ukraine has long lost the attributes of a state and has turned into a terrorist enclave." Russia's Baza Telegram channel, which often publishes information from sources in the security services and law enforcement, reported, without providing evidence, that according to preliminary information, the Bryansk bridge had been blown up. Adam Withnall1 June 2025 06:56 Second Russian bridge collapses as freight train passes over We're getting more detail on the second bridge collapse in Russia's Kursk region – hours after a similar incident in Bryansk. The Kursk bridge collapsed while a freight train was passing over it, the acting governor of the Russian region bordering Ukraine said on the Telegram messaging app. Unlike with the Bryansk incident Russia isn't reporting any deaths in Kursk, but its governor Alexander Khinshtein said one of the freight train's drivers was injured. Adam Withnall1 June 2025 06:38 Saboteurs claim responsibility for disrupting railway in Donetsk A pro-Ukraine partisan group has reportedly claimed responsibility for sabotaging a railway in Donetsk Oblast, which disrupted Russian logistics. The Atesh partisan group issued the statement on Telegram this morning while two bridges collapsed, causing two trains to derail in Russia's border regions. The group said it destroyed a relay box on the new Volnovakha-Mariupol railway, which resulted in the disruption of the railway signalling and traffic control system, The Kyiv Independent reported. The Volnovakha-Mariupol railway, recently built by Russian forces, was used by Vladimir Putin's troops to deliver fuel, equipment, and ammunition directly to the frontline. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 June 2025 06:21 In pics: Russia's renewed offensive in Sumy Oblast Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 June 2025 05:21
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Metra NCS trains delayed after derailment near Antioch, Illinois
Metra said one of its North Central Service trains derailed near Antioch, Illinois, causing rippling delays in the afternoon commute. In a service alert, the transit agency said train #116, which was scheduled to leave Antioch at 3:38 p.m., is not operating due to a derailment near Antioch. The #115 and #117 trains scheduled to depart Chicago at 5:35 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively will operate as a combined train and leave Chicago at 6 p.m. on train #117's schedule, Metra said. Metra did not offer any immediate details about the derailment or how serious it may be. Officials have also not yet commented on whether there were any injuries.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Train derailment closes Pottstown street for hours
A derailment of four cars on a freight train Friday night in Pottstown closed the railroad tracks along the Schuylkill River, as well as a section of Industrial Highway, well into Saturday afternoon. Pottstown Fire Department was dispatched about 8 p.m. Friday to the area of South Hanover Street and College Drive/Industrial Highway. As Norfolk Southern Railroad crews worked to rerail the affected railcars, one car containing butyl acrylate disconnected from recovery equipment and traveled down an embankment, Norfolk Southern said in a statement. 'There are no reports of injuries or leaks, and our teams are working closely with local first responders and the Department of Environmental Protection to remove the car,' the statement said early Saturday afternoon. 'We ask that the public please keep away from the area while this work continues.' Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand said fire department personnel monitored the scene throughout the night and Saturday morning. Norfolk Southern Railroad brought in a crane and other heavy equipment. Industrial Highway remained closed between South Hanover and South Washington streets throughout the recovery operation. As of early afternoon, Norfolk Southern crews were in the process of pumping the contents of the tanker that capsized into another tanker so it can be removed. Hand said the material wasn't believed to be of a volatile nature and stressed there is no danger to the surrounding community. Butyl acrylate, a liquid organic compound, is widely used as a building block in the production of various polymers used in the manufacture of paints, coatings, adhesives, textiles, and plastics.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Train derailment closes Pottstown street for hours
A derailment of four cars on a freight train Friday night in Pottstown closed the railroad tracks along the Schuylkill River, as well as a section of Industrial Highway, well into Saturday afternoon. Pottstown Fire Department was dispatched about 8 p.m. Friday to the area of South Hanover Street and College Drive/Industrial Highway. As Norfolk Southern Railroad crews worked to rerail the affected railcars, one car containing butyl acrylate disconnected from recovery equipment and traveled down an embankment, Norfolk Southern said in a statement. 'There are no reports of injuries or leaks, and our teams are working closely with local first responders and the Department of Environmental Protection to remove the car,' the statement said early Saturday afternoon. 'We ask that the public please keep away from the area while this work continues.' Pottstown Fire Chief Frank Hand said fire department personnel monitored the scene throughout the night and Saturday morning. Norfolk Southern Railroad brought in a crane and other heavy equipment. Industrial Highway remained closed between South Hanover and South Washington streets throughout the recovery operation. As of early afternoon, Norfolk Southern crews were in the process of pumping the contents of the tanker that capsized into another tanker so it can be removed. Hand said the material wasn't believed to be of a volatile nature and stressed there is no danger to the surrounding community. Butyl acrylate, a liquid organic compound, is widely used as a building block in the production of various polymers used in the manufacture of paints, coatings, adhesives, textiles, and plastics.
