Crime & Safety

Train Stopped In Its Tracks Near Jessup After Hazmat Scare

Railroad officials investigated a possible leak on a freight train in Jessup on Tuesday afternoon after workers on the tracks reported symptoms of respiratory illness.

What was thought to possibly be a hazardous materials incident involving a freight train near Jessup drew some 30 fire and police personnel from Anne Arundel and Howard counties to the scene on Tuesday afternoon, according to Anne Arundel County Fire Division Chief Michael Cox.

At 1:40 p.m., officials were alerted to potential leakage of hazardous materials coming from a train crossing the Anacostia Bridge outside Washington, D.C., said Cox.

The concern came after several contractors working on the tracks outside Washington, D.C., had begun to exhibit "respiratory symptoms," said Cox.

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Coincidentally, he said, the same symptoms arose last week as well.

As a result, officials decided to stop the 98-car train, which was en route to Philadelphia.

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"CSX officials decided to stop the train in a nonpopulated area to ensure there was no leak of any type," Cox said.

CSX is the transportation company responsible for the tracks.

The area officials chose was on the section of the railroad near Montevideo Road and Montevideo Court, straddling the Howard and Anne Arundel county lines.

Fourteen of the 98 cars contained hazardous materials, Cox reported, and none of them had been leaking.

"After approximately two hours, our investigation proved negative for any leak," concluded Cox, who noted that hazardous materials crews from Fort Meade and Anne Arundel went through each and every car.

"At no time was the public or nearby businesses in any danger," Cox said. "There was no indication that there was a leak."

The incident occurred in the middle of the day, so it was not anticipated that it would cause delays to other trains, said a railroad official on the scene.

However, the Maryland Transit Administration reported a mid-afternoon interruption in service between Washington, D.C., and Savage. The MARC train is among those operating on CSX railways.

Earlier report, from Jan. 18 at 3:22 p.m. 

Police on the border of Howard and Anne Arundel Counties were at the scene of a train incident that was first reported by police to be a derailment.

Officials later said there was no derailment but that rail workers had complained of respiratory symptoms so an investigation ensued.

Police and fire responders from several communities in both counties were on the scene, near the tracks at Montevideo Road and Montevideo Court. The train tracks were blocked as officials investigated.


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