[Archived] City of Alexandria Responds to Freight Train Derailment

For Immediate Release: May 19, 2018

The Alexandria Fire Department is on the scene of a CSX freight train derailment in the Eisenhower corridor, in which approximately 30 train cars came off the tracks shortly after 7 a.m.  Preliminary findings by CSX and the National Transportation Safety Board include a partial railway bridge collapse.  All crew members are accounted for, and there are no reported injuries to anyone on or off the train. The train was not carrying ethanol.  The derailed train cars did not contain hazardous cargo, and public safety personnel have not identified any spills or leaks at this time.

There will be an extensive operation to resolve the derailment and investigate the cause.  Wheeler Avenue is closed between Early and Gordon Streets for emergency vehicle staging, but there is no direct impact from the derailment on area roads.

The City will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

For media inquiries regarding the City’s emergency response, contact Raytevia Evans, Senior Public Information Officer, at raytevia.evans@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5190.

For media inquiries regarding the train or rail operations, contact CSX at 855-955-6397.

Note: This news release was updated on May 19 at 11:30 a.m. to clarify that the derailed cars were not carrying hazardous materials, and to add the CSX media contact information.  This news release was further updated on May 19 at 1 p.m. to add that CSX and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating.