NTSB: Improper coupling, excessive in-train force caused March 2023 NS train derailment

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable cause of a March 2023 train derailment of a Norfolk Southern Railway train in Alabama was the combination of the coupling together of two revenue waybill locomotives without alignment control couplers and excessive in-train forces created due to the build of the train.

Contributing to the accident was the misidentification of couplers without alignment control during the NS' inspection process, according to an NTSB report issued Sept. 22.

On the morning of March 9, 2023, a westbound NS freight train derailed two locomotives and 37 rail cars on the Alabama East End District of its Gulf Division near Anniston. The derailment involved two sections of the train, resulting in two derailment sites.

The first derailment site was located at the front of the train and where two locomotives and 29 rail cars derailed. At the second site, located near the rear of the train, eight rail cars derailed. Three of those cars were tank cars carrying hazardous materials. The tank cars remained intact and did not release hazardous materials, according to the NTSB report.

There were no reported injuries or fatalities. NS estimated damages to equipment, track, and signal infrastructure to be $2.9 million. The complete report can be read here.