A freight train derailment along the Montgomery-Schenectady County line has prompted a law enforcement response and halted passenger train service.
It happened along State Highway 5 on Friday morning. CSX says one of its trains with "around 17 rail cars hauling mixed freight" derailed in Scotia just before 8 a.m.
"Preliminary reports indicate that nine empty tank cars were involved in the incident," a CSX statement read. "There is no indication of any leaks or spills of hazardous materials and there are no injuries to the crew of the train."
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said no train cars or debris reached the highway, and that the train cars involved in the derailment "were empty of any hazardous materials, except for possible residual material left over after offloading."
The sheriff's office says State Highway 5 is closed in the town of Amsterdam from Swart Hill Road to the county line eastbound, but is now open to traffic westbound. The eastbound lanes are expected to "remain closed for at least a day or two."
An Amtrak spokesman tells Spectrum News 1 that "Amtrak customers traveling to and from points Albany will be impacted. Trains currently enroute are stopped in stations."
Still no word on when the trains going west will resume. Some of the people here at the Rensselaer Rail station realize it could be a while, so they’re making other plans, including renting cars. @SpecNews1Albany pic.twitter.com/4JfCkW9ndi
— Marisa Jacques (@MarisaJacquesTV) August 4, 2023
Gov. Kathy Hochul said on social media that she has been briefed on the situation, and that state Homeland Security and Department of Transportation officials are also on-site.
"The New York State Police, Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Department of Transportation officials are onsite to monitor the situation, assist with the response and manage traffic," Hochul said in a statement. "Our top priority is ensuring all railroad workers and nearby motorists are safe and that Amtrak service is restored as quickly as possible."