31 train cars derail in North Dakota causing chemical spill

Mar 27, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer)

In North Dakota, a 70-car train carrying hazardous materials derailed Monday, March 27. 31 of the 70 train cars came off the tracks with some of them leaking petroleum used in making asphalt.

The local emergency manager said that the oil that spilled is flammable, but since the rail cars tipped over in the snow, the materials have since solidified. This lowers the risk of a fire starting and makes the derailment cleanup easier. Although, crews expect to be on scene for at least seven to 10 days.

Officials say it was a Canadian Pacific Railway freight train that derailed near Wyndmere, North Dakota. On March 26, another Canadian Pacific train derailed in a Chicago suburb. One of the train cars was carrying wheat and the other was empty, according to the local Fox affiliate.

Rail safety legislation is currently working its way through Congress after several high-profile derailments this year.

Tags: chemical spill, North Dakota, train derailment, Trains

KARAH RUCKER: IN NORTH DAKOTA – A 70-CAR TRAIN CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS DERAILED MONDAY MARCH 27. 31 OF THE 70 TRAIN CARS CAME OFF THE TRACKS – SOME LEAKING PETROLEUM THAT’S USED IN THE MAKING OF ASPHALT.

THE LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGER SAID OIL THAT SPILLED IS FLAMMABLE BUT WITH THE RAIL CARS TIPPING OVER IN THE SNOW – THE MATERIALS HAVE SOLIDIFIED – LOWERING THE RISK OF A FIRE STARTING AND MAKING THE DERAILMENT AN EASIER CLEANUP. ALTHOUGH CREWS EXPECT TO BE ON SCENE FOR AT LEAST 7 TO 10 DAYS.

OFFICIALS SAY IT WAS A CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY FREIGHT TRAIN THAT DERAILED NEAR WYNDMERE, NORTH DAKOTA.

ON MARCH 26, ANOTHER CANADIAN PACIFIC TRAIN DERAILED IN A CHICAGO SUBURB. ONE OF THE TRAIN CARS WAS CARRYING WHEAT AND THE OTHER WAS EMPTY ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL FOX AFFILIATE.

RAIL SAFETY LEGISLATION IS CURRENTLY WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS AFTER SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE DERAILMENTS THIS YEAR.