Cause of Freight Train Derailment East of Lordsburg Remains Under Investigation; Strong Winds Suspected

Nearly 50 freight cars derailed Saturday evening near Interstate 10 east of Lordsburg, with local officials saying strong winds from a passing storm are believed to have been a contributing factor. However, the official cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

Hidalgo County Fire Rescue District 1 reported crews were dispatched to the derailment near the Interstate 10 corridor at mile marker 34. Officials said there was no immediate threat to the public, and emergency personnel remained on scene until the area was secured.

Photos Courtesy Hidalgo County Fire Rescue District 1 (via Facebook)

The rail line is part of Union Pacific’s east-west freight corridor across southern New Mexico and is also used by Amtrak’s Sunset Limited and the through cars of the Texas Eagle. Amtrak identifies Trains 421 and 422 as Texas Eagle service continuing between Chicago and Los Angeles via the Sunset Limited west of San Antonio.

As of the preparation of this article, searches of Union Pacific’s public newsroom, Amtrak’s media and service-alert channels, and the Federal Railroad Administration’s newsroom and accident-report library produced no public statements regarding the derailment. Amtrak continued to list its scheduled service over the route, although published schedules do not necessarily reflect temporary service disruptions. Passengers are encouraged to check Amtrak’s real-time train status before traveling.

If the rail line cannot reopen before passenger service reaches the affected area, Amtrak may delay or reroute trains, cancel portions of a trip, or establish what the railroad industry refers to as a bus bridge. Under a bus bridge, passengers are transported by highway around an impassable section of track before reconnecting with rail service farther along the route. During major service disruptions, Amtrak may also arrange alternative transportation using chartered buses, automobiles or, in some cases, commercial air service.

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The absence of a federal finding at this stage is not unusual. Railroads are required to report qualifying accidents to the Federal Railroad Administration, with certain incidents requiring immediate notification through the National Response Center. FRA personnel continuously monitor railroad accidents and determine whether a formal federal investigation is warranted. The agency’s published criteria include major derailments, significant property damage, passenger train involvement, hazardous-material releases and other incidents with substantial public safety implications.

Should the FRA conduct a formal investigation, a final public report would likely not be available for several months. The agency has said major accident investigations commonly require six to nine months to complete before findings are released.