Lynchburg gets back to normal as NTSB investigates derailed train

Lynchburg gets back to normal as NTSB investigates derailed train (Image 1) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

On Friday, streets in downtown Lynchburg remained blocked off as crews continued to investigate a train derailment. However, it was business as usual on Main Street as music played and families celebrated the start of the weekend. It was an unexpected seen considering that a train derailed just a few blocks away.

Two days after the incident, CSX worked to pull two train cars out of the James river. A third car was already removed and NTSB plans to investigate why it spilled crude oil into the James River. After conducting interviews and examining the brakes, tracks as well as other equipment, investigators determined the conductor and crew handled the train properly. NTSB continues to look through data recorders and other information to help determine if weather or other factors may have caused the train to derail.

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According to a press release, CSX is also in the process of rebuilding the road bed and railway, with debris removal, excavation of the road bed and preliminary work to re-lay the track underway. Additionally, CSX, in coordination with federal, state, and local environmental authorities, continues its comprehensive environmental assessment and protection effort, which includes land-, air- and water-based assessments of potential impacts from the derailment.

Resources available to anyone who needs information or assistance related to the derailment include 1-877-TELL CSX (1-877-835-5279), the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (434-442-4642) and the CSX Community Outreach Center at the Wingate Hotel, 3777 Candlers Mountain Road. The community-outreach center will close at 4 p.m. Friday, May 2.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the cause of the derailment on-scene. CSX is cooperating in this investigation.