Repost from the Mercury, Pottstown PA

Train derailment at Norfolk Southern Abrams Yard in Upper Merion under investigation

UPPER MERION >> Five tanker cars on a train carrying heavy crude oil bound for New Jersey derailed near the Norfolk Southern Abrams Yard in King of Prussia Friday.

No one was injured and no oil was spilled.

The derailment occurred around 4:30 a.m. during switching operations at the yard while the train was traveling less than 5 mph.

According to Norfolk Southern Resident Vice President of Governmental Relations Rudy Husband, there has been no disruption to rail line operations and the derailment poses no risk to public safety. Husband said he anticipates it will take several hours to re-rail the cars and assess the damage to the tracks.

Service on the affected segment of track will resume after repairs are made.

This past May, emergency responders from Montgomery and Chester counties put into practice techniques that were learned over a three-day training course on containing an oil spill in the event of an oil train derailment. The exercise was one in a series of trainings and seminars on behalf of the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety to help municipal first responders prepare for a catastrophic oil train derailment.

In August, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf released a series of recommendations meant to reduce the risk of a catastrophic derailment, including reduced speeds through cities, beefed-up track inspections and a call for trackside communities to plan for an emergency.

The cause of the derailment at Norfolk Southern Abrams Yard remains under investigation.