Several cars of a CSX train derailed this morning near Rhode Island Avenue NE, leading Metro to suspend service between the NoMa and Brookland stations. Streets in the area are also closed to traffic.
Red Line: Service suspended btwn NoMa & Brookland due to non-Metro-related fire dept activity near Rhode Island Ave. Use Green Line as alt.
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) May 1, 2016
According to D.C. Fire and EMS, three cars are leaking some sort of hazardous material or materials. Metro is providing shuttle buses to the affected stations.
CSX Train derailment – NE DC – 3 cars leaking some hazardous material(s) — MEDIA – please stage in area of BP Gas Station 4th/Rhode Island
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) May 1, 2016
Train Derailment – Rhode Island Ave NE – CSX train w/ multiple cars derailed & leaking hazardous materials #DCFD
— DC Fire Fighters L36 (@IAFF36) May 1, 2016
If driving, use alternative routes to avoid the area below. pic.twitter.com/3dgUYlyIOL
— Interim Deputy Mayor Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr. (@SafeDC) May 1, 2016
Update, 8:42 a.m.: CSX says no injuries have been reported.
CSX personnel are working with DC first responders on a derailment at 9th and RI Ave NE. No injuries reported. More info to come.
— CSX (@CSX) May 1, 2016
Update, 9:50 a.m.: FEMS says no evacuations have been ordered and only one railcar is leaking sodium hydroxide. D.C. police add that pedestrian access surrounding the area is limited.
So far — only one confirmed derailed car is leaking – & it is leaking sodium hydroxide – NO EVACUATIONS. pic.twitter.com/VcEysBOjmy
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) May 1, 2016
CSX update: • No injuries reported • No evacuations • Avoid RI Ave NE betw/4 & 12 St • No Metro betw/NoMa-Brookland pic.twitter.com/2Sno0sF46K — Public Safety in DC (@SafeDC) May 1, 2016
ADVISORY: Pedestrian and vehicular traffic is restricted from 4th St to Brentwood Rd along Rhode Island Avenue. NE
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) May 1, 2016
Update, 11:20 a.m.: The leak of sodium hydroxide—a chemical similar to bleach or Drano—has been plugged, Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Sunday morning. According to the mayor, the 175-car train derailed around 6:40 a.m. on its way from Maryland to North Carolina: 81 of the railcars were empty and 13 came off the tracks. FEMS determined during its response that other than the leak, “there were no problems,” Deputy Fire Chief John Donnelly explained. He added that while officials don’t yet know the specific amount of sodium hydroxide that leaked, the District is coordinating with CSX.
“We don’t know the cause,” Bowser said, adding that officials would provide an update around 5 p.m.
The Federal Railroad Administration is leading the investigation into the derailment, “unless we hear otherwise from the [National Transportation Safety Board],” Bowser said. Certain Amtrak and MARC service may be affected by the incident, she added. Meanwhile, Metro’s Red Line is still seeing delays:
10:30a Red Line update: service temporarily suspended NoMa-Brookland due to nearby freight rail incident. 11 shuttle buses available #wmata
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) May 1, 2016
Red Line frequency every 15 minutes in 2 segments – (1) Glenmont-Brookland & (2) NoMa-Shady Grove. Use GR/YL as alternate. 10:33a #wmata — Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) May 1, 2016
Red Line: Rhode Island Station is temporarily closed due to fire dept activity near the station. Bus shuttles available.
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) May 1, 2016
Update, 2:11 p.m.: Metro service remains suspended between NoMa and Brookland.
Red Line service remains suspended at Rhode Island Av as @dcfireems continues CSX response. No word yet on time for restoration. 155p #wmata
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) May 1, 2016