Biden says Norfolk Southern must be held accountable for Ohio derailment but won't declare disaster
President Joe Biden ordered federal agencies to continue holding Norfolk Southern accountable for its February derailment in eastern Ohio and appoint a FEMA official to oversee East Palestine's recovery, but he stopped short of declaring a disaster.
Norfolk Southern announces details of plan to pay for lost home values because of Ohio derailment
Norfolk Southern announced new details Monday about its plan to compensate East Palestine residents for lost home values since the fiery derailment disrupted life in the eastern Ohio town in February.
Norfolk Southern CEO promises to keep improving safety on the railroad based on consultant's report
Norfolk Southern's CEO pledged to continue working to improve safety after the consultant the railroad hired after the fiery Ohio derailment in February recommended making sure that safety is truly a priority at all levels and continuing many of the efforts it has already begun.
EPA weighs formal review of vinyl chloride, the toxic chemical that burned in Ohio train derailment
The Biden administration says it could soon launch a formal evaluation of risks posed by vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a towering plume of toxic smoke following the fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Norfolk Southern says cost of fiery Ohio derailment doubles to $803 million as cleanup continues
The costs associated with Norfolk Southern's fiery February derailment in Ohio have more than doubled to $803 million as the railroad works to clean up the mess and moves forward with all the related lawsuits.
Safety concerns dominate Norfolk Southern railroad CEO's job since Ohio derailment
Norfolk Southern’s CEO has spoken often of safety and better service since he took the job over a year ago, but it’s safety that has dominated discussions after one of his trains derailed and caught fire in February in Ohio.
Response to fiery Ohio derailment frustrated by poor communication and incomplete information
Officials say firefighters who responded to February’s fiery train derailment in Ohio struggled to immediately identify the hazardous chemicals the train was hauling due to poor communication from the railroad.
UP becomes second railroad to drop push for one-person crews
Union Pacific has become the second major freight railroad in the past week to back away from the industry's longstanding push to cut train crews down to one person as lawmakers and regulators increasingly focus on rail safety following last month's fiery derailment in Ohio.
Ohio senators introduce rail safety bill after fiery crash
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has proposed legislation that would make railroads, like the one involved in last month’s fiery crash and toxic chemical release in Ohio, subject to a series of new federal safety regulations and financial consequences.
Railroads urged to examine track detectors after Ohio crash
Federal regulators are urging freight railroads to reexamine the way they use and maintain the detectors along the tracks that are supposed to spot overheating bearings in the wake of the fiery Ohio derailment and several other recent crashes where faulty bearings are suspected to be the cause.
EPA orders Norfolk Southern to clean up toxic derailment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern on Tuesday to pay for the cleanup of the East Palestine, Ohio train wreck and chemical release as federal regulators took charge of long-term recovery efforts and promised worried residents they wouldn’t be forgotten.
Buttigieg urges safety changes after fiery Ohio derailment
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wants the nation’s freight railroads to immediately act to improve safety while regulators try to strengthen safety rules in the wake of a fiery derailment in Ohio that forced evacuations when toxic chemicals were released and burned.
US economy grew 3.2% in Q3, an upgrade from earlier estimate
Shrugging off rampant inflation and rising interest rates, the U.S. economy grew at an unexpectedly strong 3.2% annual pace from July through September, the government reported Thursday in a healthy upgrade from its earlier estimate of third-quarter growth.
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What’s News Today: Schools reopening, road work
Last month, the school board voted to bring students back to class four days a week with one day online. The school board was split four to three on the decision. The Bedford County Board of Supervisors will hold a work session today. The Welcoming Roanoke Plan is the city’s immigrant integration plan, highlighting and enhancing the economic contributions they make to the community. AdThe Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will receive comments today about tuition and fees for the upcoming school year.
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Judge says railroad talks should be included in lawsuits
FILE- In this July 31, 2018, file photo a Union Pacific train travels through Union, Neb. – A federal judge has ruled that the details of conversations between the nation's four largest railroads should be included in lawsuits challenging billions of dollars of charges the railroads imposed in the past. The lawsuits say the railroads conspired to boost prices starting in 2003 by imposing coordinated fuel surcharges and pocketing billions of dollars in profits. In the lawsuits, the railroads have argued that their fuel surcharges were legal and were simply designed to recover the skyrocketing cost of fuel at the time. Union Pacific, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska, plans to continue “vigorously defending itself against the allegations in these lawsuits,” spokeswoman Elizabeth Graham said.
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Norfolk Southern could face fines after train derailment in Roanoke late last year
ROANOKE, Va – Norfolk Southern could be facing environmental violations after a train derailment spilled coal into the Roanoke River late last year. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a notice to Norfolk Southern after tons of coal sat in the river potentially causing environmental impacts to the area. Norfolk Southern is collecting daily samples from the river and the first sample results are expected Tuesday. (Roanoke County Fire & EMS)According to the document, coal was visible in the river at least six miles away from the derailment. DEQ issuing the notice could mean that Norfolk Southern could be facing fines down the road.
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Norfolk Southern announces furloughs in mechanical department
Some employees who work in Norfolk Southern’s mechanical department will be furloughed, the company announced on Wednesday. Employees who were furloughed may be able to apply for other positions at Norfolk Southern, according to the company representative. Norfolk Southern announced a round of furloughs for employees in early January 2020. READ THE FULL STATEMENT FROM NORFOLK SOUTHERN:“Norfolk Southern informed employees of furloughs within our mechanical department that are needed to align our operations with the current economy. Furloughed employees may have the opportunity to apply for positions, as available, elsewhere on the NS system.”
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One train route reopens after nine cars derailed in downtown Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. – UPDATE - Dec. 17 at 10:00 a.m.All nine of the derailed train cars have been cleared from the tracks as of Thursday morning, according to a Norfolk Southern spokesperson. UPDATE - Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m.Norfolk Southern Spokesperson Jeff DeGraff tells 10 News the 145 car-long train was heading east when nine cars derailed and some of the cars were carrying automobiles. On June 7, a train derailment was caused by human error in handling cars. However, the cause for another train derailment on Oct. 31 has yet to be determined as the investigation continues. ORIGINAL STORYCrews are currently working to clean up after a train leaving the Roanoke rail yard derailed nine cars, according to Norfolk Southern.
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Crews continue clean up following Roanoke County train derailment
ROANOKE, Va. – Crews removed 22 rail cars from the Roanoke River following a train derailment on Friday. The train derailed after a bridge collapsed in Roanoke County Friday night. The water supply and water quality is not currently affected, according to officials. The Salem Water Treatment Plant is currently withdrawing from groundwater wells and not from the river at this time. Soon after the spill occurred, the water treatment plant switched to back-up water sources, which prevented possible impacts from coal contamination.
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Train derails in Roanoke County after bridge collapsed releasing 2000 tons of coal in river
ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – UPDATERoanoke County officials responded to the train derailment incident in a press release Saturday night. Officials said that a Norfolk Southern Corp. bridge collapsed in Roanoke County near Barley Drive Friday night around 11:15 p.m. The bridge collapsed while a train carrying coal was crossing the Roanoke River, and a dozen of 22 rail cars that derailed fell into the river, causing about 2000 tons of coal to fall out. ORIGINAL STORYA Norfolk Southern train derailed in Roanoke County late Friday night, according to emergency dispatch. Norfolk Southern train derailment in Roanoke County.
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Train history society builds structure to speed up rail car restorations
ROANOKE, Va. – A new addition to a Roanoke rail yard will help keep the city’s train history alive. Roanoke’s chapter of the National Railway Historical Society built a structure on its property to protect both train cars and volunteers from the weather. The structure will soon house Norfolk & Western car 512, a formerly segregated passenger car, as volunteers work to restore it. Chapter vice president Gary Gray said volunteers have often been interrupted in their restoration work by the weather. "It’s going to be great to be able to not get wet.”According to Gray, the new shelter costs $50,000 to construct, which the chapter paid for themselves.
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Plans for Potomac River train bridges, which could lead to expanded Roanoke Amtrak service, move forward
ARLINGTON, Va. A major piece in potentially bringing more Amtrak service to Roanoke passed a crucial step on Wednesday. The Long Bridge project would alleviate train traffic between Arlington and Washington with two new train bridges over the Potomac River. Virginia Department of Public Rail and Transportation director Jennifer Mitchell said the current bridge over the Potomac River is at 98% capacity, making it impossible to expand Amtrak service. She said the Long Bridge project will not only open up new Amtrak possibilities, but take freight traffic away from Interstate 81. We know people are looking for an alternative to I-81, so we hope we can continue to expand passenger service.The Long Bridge project is in its early stages.
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‘If it’s life and death, can they make it?‘: Aging bridge stands between Franklin County residents and first responders
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – More than two dozen Franklin County residents are asking for help after being cut off from emergency services because of a bridge in disrepair. With a letter in 2016, Franklin County Public Safety cut residents off from emergency vehicle access. Norfolk Southern has performed maintenance on the bridge from time to time to protect the track underneath and to prevent interference with railroad operations. However, Norfolk Southern is prepared to cooperate in any state or local efforts to provide alternative access.”“It’s their bridge, it’s their responsibility. 10 News reached out to Franklin County Public Safety and the Franklin County Board of Supervisors for comment, but had not heard back as of Monday afternoon.
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Virginia Museum of Transportation reopening date pays homage to ‘The Queen of Steam’
ROANOKE, Va. – The Virginia Museum of Transportation reopens on Thursday. The date, 6-11, is the same number as the famous Norfolk Southern steam engine in Roanoke, known as “The Queen of Steam.”When the museum reopens, the price of admission will be reduced because not all features are usable due to coronavirus restrictions. “6-11 seemed like the appropriate day to move forward, so we’ve been in here this week doing final cleaning and hanging the appropriate signs that we’re required to hang,” museum interim director Don Moser said. “We’re looking forward to having our VMT community back.”All of the features that are currently unusable are expected to be back once the state enters phase three of the governor’s reopening plan.
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Historic steam engine leaves Roanoke after five years
ROANOKE, Va. – It’s the end of an era in Roanoke as one of what are known as “The Big Three” class of Norfolk Southern steam engines leaves. Engine 2156 left Wednesday afternoon for the transportation museum in St. Louis. It had been loaned to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke for the past five years to be with engines from the other two classes. “We did work with the museum in St. Louis to try to come to an agreement on possibly keeping it. He said the museum may try to get it back in the future.
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BREAKING: Train derailed in downtown Roanoke under 5th street bridge
A train has derailed in downtown Roanoke under 5th street bridge. According to Roanoke City dispatchers, the crash happened before 4:30 a.m. Norfolk Southern is on the scene of the crash. A city engineer was called to the scene to inspect the 5th street bridge. The bridge is closed to traffic at this time. 10 News is working to gather more information and has a news crew on scene.