GAINESVILLE - When a Norfolk Southern train derailed near Atlanta, it meant an unplanned delay in Gainesville for passengers on board the AMTRAK Southern Crescent.
AMTRAK's Karina Romero said that the southbound Crescent was carrying 231 passengers en route to New Orleans. She did not have details on the derailment, but she did not believe weather was the reason for the accident.
"Norfolk Southern will complete the investigation to determine the cause of the derailment," said Romero. "It's unlikely that weather was the cause, but it might be a contributing factor."
Meanwhile, a Norfolk Southern spokeswoman in Virginia said the cause of the derailment is being investigated, and the tracks are expected to re-open around 8:00 Sunday morning. She noted that the derailment happened around 6:15 a.m. Saturday when two locomotives carrying 44 cars jumped the tracks northeast of the AMTRAK station in Atlanta. Nine cars were derailed, seven of them empty and two of them carrying paper products.
Rather than wait until Sunday morning to route the Crescent through Atlanta, AMTRAK opted to send buses to Gainesville to transport the passengers to their various destinations.
Romero said AMTRAK officials made sure the passengers were fed and comfortable during their wait. The weather did cause some delay in getting the buses to Gainesville.
One passenger, who identified herself only as Viola from Queens, New York, told WDUN, "Everybody's been really cooperative the whole time. I don't see anybody in disarray or anything right now."
Thursday
May 2nd, 2024
2:38AM
