NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. — Amtrak service to parts of Virginia has been canceled after a CSX freight train carrying coal derailed in rural New Kent County on Saturday afternoon, according to officials.
Officials said Sunday that two locomotives and 53 cars carrying coal derailed into the wetlands around 3:10 p.m. between Roxbury and South Mountcastle roads, officials with the New Kent County Sheriff’s Office posted.
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Officials previously said that at least 15 coal cars had derailed. However, a source told Jon Burkett that it may be closer to 30 cars that derailed in the incident. A bridge was also “taken out” in the crash, according to those sources.
As a result, there has been no word on how long the CSX and Amtrak trains that use those tracks, which continue through James City County and then Williamsburg before ending at the coal piers in Newport News, will be impacted.
No one was injured when the train went off the tracks, officials said.
Officials with CSX said Saturday there were no hazardous materials on the cars that derailed and that there was “no danger to the surrounding community.”
On Sunday, officials with the railroad company said the two locomotives “lost an unknown quantity of diesel fuel.”
“Environmental containment measures were immediately deployed and we will work to recover the lost diesel fuel,” CSX officials said. “CSX is coordinating closely with US Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on the response efforts.”
CSX officials credited the “swift response” of area first responders.
“Safety has been our top priority as crews worked through the night, rerailing and removing nine of the cars involved,” CSX officials said. “Our efforts are now focused on recovering the remaining equipment and product, repairing our infrastructure, and completely restoring the area.”
Officials said the cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
The derailment caused Amtrak trains 65, 99 and 124, which provide service between Newport News and Richmond, to be canceled until further notice. Additional trains on Sunday were also canceled.
“Alternate bus transportation is being sourced,” Amtrak posted at 4:50 p.m. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Updates to come!”
Other Amtrak trains to Norfolk and points south have not been impacted.
Itinerary Change^Due to a freight train incident blocking the tracks, Train 124 is canceled between Newport News (NPN) and Richmond (RVR) . Alternate bus transportation is being sourced. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Updates to come!
In addition to the Amtrak cancellations, Barnetts Road in Charles City County was closed to drivers.
“Residents are urged to avoid the area and allow emergency crews and railroad officials to safely conduct recovery operations,” deputies said.
Fire crews from Charles City, James City and New Kent, as well as deputies with the Charles City County and New Kent County sheriff’s offices, responded to the scene.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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