On the evening of July 20, five cars from a CSX freight train derailed, flattened one building and caused significant damage to a residential complex and personal property in the city of Fredericksburg.
During a briefing held by CSX in Fredericksburg yesterday, the railroad company shared that the derailment and subsequent damage was caused by human error. Specifically, the crew allegedly failed to properly tie down train cars that then reached a split-rail device, which forced the cars off the track.
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia today pressed CSX Transportation for answers. She represents Virginia’s District 7, which includes Fredericksburg.
In a letter sent to Joseph Hinrichs, President & CEO of CSX Transportation, Spanberger pressed the company to further explain the failures which allowed the incident near several residences and share their incident report with the city and the public more broadly. The Congresswoman also requested information on the locations of other split-rail devices across Virginia, requested the timeline for CSX to inspect the devices and their proximity to residences, and pressed CSX to outline their plan to prevent similar derailments in the future. Spanberger also asked how the company is working to rebuild trust in the community, communicate with impacted residents and compensate the Virginians for damages to their property.
“The magnitude of this event — and potential for an even more devastating outcome — has shaken our neighbors, and it is imperative that we address the underlying issues with urgency and transparency,” said Spanberger. “The fact that this incident was followed just two days later by another CSX derailment in Niagara Falls, New York raises pressing concerns about the effectiveness and reliability of CSX’s rail safety measures and protocols. This troubling pattern of incidents underscores the urgent need for a thorough and immediate review, coupled with substantive improvements, to ensure the safety and security of all communities along CSX rail lines.”
Spanberger continued, “The people of Virginia deserve nothing less than the highest standards of safety and accountability from CSX.”
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Rebecca Barnabi
