Train derailment is happening all over the country. What we know.
How often do trains derail in the US? This is what we know.
Just a FAQ, USA TODAY
The emergency crew said that on August 12, the train derailed in northern Texas, several cars carried potential hazardous materials off track and lit local grass fires.
The incident occurred around 2pm local time across the Coleville Road railroad bridge about two miles east of Gordon, a small city about 71 miles in Fort Worth. The derailment involves around 35 Union Pacific Railway train cars, the company told USA Today.
Paramedics were on the scene, including Union Pacific Hazmat staff and the Palo Pinto Fire Station. Authorities confirmed that there were no hazardous material leaks in the area, and noted that Union Pacific is currently undergoing cleaning efforts.
“All staff are being considered and no injuries have been reported,” Palopinto County Emergency Services said in a statement on social media. “The situation is stable right now, but it’s not fully controlled yet.”
Firefighters were responding to a small grass fire caused by the derailment, according to Palopinto County Emergency Services. They were not threatened and evacuation was not ordered, officials said.
Footage from a local television station showed mangled train cars stacked up on one another, with heavy smoke in the area.
Authorities have not said that the trains were carrying them, but before August 12, authorities urged residents to avoid the area as their first responders investigated “potentially dangerous situations.”
Palopinto County Emergency Services said crews on the scene are assessing the damage and danger. According to Union Pacific, the incident is under investigation.
How common is derailment on trains?
Train derailment is already common in the US, but a series of prominent incidents in 2023 renewed scrutiny of rail operations and safety, including the derailment of Ohio’s fiery East Palestine, a dangerous chemical leak and burned for several days.
Federal data for 2021 and 2022 showed an average of three trains derailed in the US every day. Experts often previously switch trains between trucks to USA Today, so most derailments occur in the freight yards.
According to the American Railroad Association, an industrial and trade group, about 74% of the derailment in 2024 occurred in slow railway yards, with an average train speed of around 5 mph. The group noted that most of the derailment does not occur on mainline tracks running across the country.
Citing data from the Federal Railroad Administration, the American Railroad Association had 793 major freight rail derailments in 2024, with about 26% of those incidents on the mainline tracks, including six derailments that resulted in four injuries and six injuries.
Escapes that require evacuation due to potential explosions or toxic smoke are rare. A USA Today analysis of the 2023 federal incident report reveals that dangerous material has been leaked or leaked from more than 5,000 trains in the United States over the past decade. In comparison, federal records show that 67 dangerous goods were leaked from highway transport for all rail leaks reported in 2023 alone.
In 2022, railway operators reported 337 hazardous material leaks or spills. Only 32 of these were classified as “serious.” Six people were reported to have caused injuries. According to a 2023 analysis by USA Today, the derailment of the railroads counted in one tenth of Hazmat Wrecks and one incident in the past decade, and four of the incidents last year.
The Association of American Railroads previously reported that over 99.9% of all Hazmat cargo reaches unfair destinations. The association also said that since 2005, the hazardous material accident rate has declined by 80%.
Contributions: Trevor Hughes, Tami Abdollah, Jayme Fraser, USA Today
