NS removes rail cars from Ohio derailment site

All rail cars where a train derailment occurred Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, have been cleared from the site, Norfolk Southern Railway announced yesterday.

Freight-rail service has been restored to mainline 2, NS officials said in a service alert.

"While this allows for a route through the site, customers should expect availability delays of at least 24 hours on shipments moving between Cleveland and the Northeast via Pittsburgh due to residual congestion and continued efforts to restore service to mainline 1," the alert stated.

Also yesterday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and state, local and federal officials announced that evacuated residents in and around East Palestine can safely return home. Hundreds of residents evacuated after the NS train carrying vinyl chloride derailed in East Palestine near the Ohio-Pennsylvania state border. To avert a possible explosion, NS conducted a controlled release of the chemicals, which discharged toxic and potentially deadly fumes into the air on Monday afternoon.

Air quality samples in the area of the wreckage and in nearby residential neighborhoods consistently showed readings at points below safety screening levels for contaminants of concern. Based on this information, state and local health officials determined that it is now safe for community members to return to their residences, according to a press release issued by DeWine's office.

Air monitoring will be ongoing. In addition, NS has hired an independent contractor to work to work with local law enforcement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state officials to take air quality samples and provide results at no charge to residents. Free testing of water from private wells in the impacted area also will be offered by the independent contractor hired by the railroad.