SUNDAY 12:15 P.M.
Fredericksburg fire chief Mike Jones issued a statement this afternoon about last night’s CSX freight train derailment behind the Cobblestone neighborhood.
“CSX was notified to stop all freight and commuter rail traffic in both directions, and property maintenance for Cobblestone was contacted,” Jones wrote. “Units confirmed there were no injuries on scene. Command met with the train conductor who advised none of the derailed cars were carrying hazardous goods. A total of five cars were derailed.”
A section of the concrete sound wall surrounding the Cobblestone neighborhood was knocked down, which damaged four garages. One garage was completely flattened, and two vehicles and a motorcycle were damaged.
Fire command staff were onsite again on Sunday morning, Jones said. Two of the five derailed train cars have been removed and the other three “should be removed today,” he said.
“The City of Fredericksburg has been in contact with CSX, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the property management of Cobblestone, and will continue to monitor and evaluate the incident,” Jones wrote. “A full investigation is expected. Additionally, City Planning and Building officials are committed to quickly assist Cobblestone management as they stabilize, demolish and rebuild from this event.”
Jones thanked the Fredericksburg police department, and mutual aid partners in Stafford and Spotsylvania for assisting with the response.
-Adele Uphaus
SUNDAY 11 A.M.
Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine told the Advance that she is “grateful there were no casualties or hazmat issues last night.”
Devine said the fire department and City Manager’s office get daily updates about the CSX rail tanker cars, which have been stored in a rail yard near the Mayfield neighborhood. She said the cars, which used to contain hazardous and flammable contents, are now empty, but first responders still get periodic training.
“Things are much improved, but clearly it is something that we need to continue to monitor,” Devine said.
-FXBG Advance Team
SUNDAY 9:10 AM
Overnight, Rep. Abigail Spanberger released a statement via X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “My team and I are closely monitoring this situation, the damage, and the cause of this evening’s reported train derailment in Fredericksburg as more information is made available.”
In a press release, Amtrak said that the company expects “no impact on Amtrak operations.”
– FXBG Advance Team
SATURDAY 10:08 PM
According to the Fredericksburg Police Department, the five cars of the CSX Train did not contain any hazardous materials. No injuries. No evacuations. Several garages were damaged but not the apartments. No one displaced. No Roads blocked.
– Hank Silverberg
SATURDAY 9:24 PM
A five-car freight train has derailed behind the Cobblestone neighborhood in Fredericksburg, area police confirmed Saturday evening.
Two garages are suspected to have been affected, but there are no apparent injuries.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
– Adele Uphaus
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