(The following story by Kathleen Baydala appeared on the Clarion Ledger website on October 25.)
JACKSON, Miss. — The Kansas City Southern railway line through west Jackson where two freight trains crashed this week has reopened, but the cause of the mishap still is under investigation.
Two investigators were at the scene Friday, one with expertise in railroad traffic signals and the other with expertise in operating practices, Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Steven Kulm said.
“The signals specialist is concerned with things such as were the signals working as intended and what was showing at the time of the incident,” he said.
“The expert in operating practices is looking more at the control of the train: how fast it was going and were (crew members) calling the signals.”
It could take months before the FRA issues a report on what caused the crash, Kulm said. The agency investigates about 100 railroad accidents each year.
The accident occurred about 4:15 p.m. on Thursday when a manifest train rear-ended an intermodal train that was stopped on the tracks.
An intermodal train transports various kinds of cargo in containers that then go onto ships or 18-wheelers.
As a result of the crash, two engines and six cars derailed along Bullard Street.
“All cars have either been rerailed or cleared from the track,” Kansas City Southern spokeswoman Doniele Kane said Friday.
“Track repairs are complete, and the line has reopened.”
Three train crew members were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Their conditions were not available.
If the FRC investigation yields evidence showing KCS violated any federal regulations, the agency could assess fines or other civil penalties.