NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. — CSX officials say cleanup and recovery efforts are underway after a major train derailment in Providence Forge sent more than 50 coal cars and two locomotives off the tracks Saturday afternoon.
According to CSX, the derailment happened around 3:10 p.m. near South Mountcastle Road and Barnetts Road. In total, 53 coal cars and two locomotives derailed. The company says no one was hurt and no hazardous materials were being transported.
CSX confirmed that the two locomotives lost an unknown amount of diesel fuel, and environmental containment measures were immediately put in place. The company says it is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to recover the spilled fuel and monitor cleanup.
“Safety has been our top priority as crews worked through the night, rerailing and removing nine of the cars involved,” CSX said in a statement. “Our efforts are now focused on recovering the remaining equipment and product, repairing our infrastructure, and completely restoring the area.”
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation by CSX Police.
The derailment is also impacting Amtrak service between Newport News and Richmond. According to Amtrak Northeast Alerts, Train 124 is canceled between Newport News (NPN) and Richmond (RVR), and Train 99 is canceled between Richmond and Newport News. Alternate bus transportation is being arranged for passengers.
Officials continue to urge residents to avoid the area as emergency crews and railroad teams work to clear the site and restore service.
