New Information Released About Train Derailment, Chemical Spill in Bartow, Georgia

BARTOW, GA. – According to a news story reported online at wrdw.com, new information is being released about a train derailment and resulting chemical spill that occurred early in 2019 in Bartow, Georgia. It appears that a broken rail on the track might have caused the incident.* 

The incident happened in January 2019, when a Norfolk Southern Railway Company Train derailed while traveling through Bartow. The train was carrying a load of chemicals, which spilled out after the crash. Residents of more than 500 homes in the area were evacuated after the accident, as officials were concerned about their safety being exposed to the chemicals. 

The cause of the accident has been unclear for some time. When it occurred, the federal government was in the midst of a shutdown, which meant that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a federal agency, was not able to send anyone to the site to launch an investigation. However, the rail company told the public that it would be conducting its own investigation to determine what happened.

In a report recently released by Norfolk Southern, it appears the train encountered a broken rail, which caused it to run off the track. The report highlights the need for maintenance on the railway and the importance of such maintenance. CSX Transportation is now beginning an effort to replace railroad ties at more than 50 spots in the area where the derailment occurred. 

It is unclear if NTSB or the Federal Railroad Administration opened investigations into the accident when the shutdown ended. No further information was reported.

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Source:https://www.wrdw.com/content/news/Cause-of-train-derailment-in-Jefferson-County-released-6-months-later-512149802.html