Canadian Railroads > St Clair Tunnel Derailment

Per a reliable source in Port Huron, MI, CN M383 derailed inside the St. Clair Tunnel. Unsure of what the damages are but emergency crews are on scene on the US side.

https://www.wxyz.com/news/train-derails-in-international-st-clair-river-tunnel-near-port-huron

UPDATE: It has been confirmed that a tank car containing 13,700 gallons of 93% Sulfuric Acid was punctured and the entire contents leaked into the tunnel. The leak is contained to the tunnel and does not pose a risk to the public or the St. Clair River. The exact number of cars that are confirmed derailed is 47 and 1 DPU.

Still trying to figure out why the city thought they needed to notify Homeland Security. (per the news article)
 

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Still trying to figure out why the city thought
> they needed to notify Homeland Security. (per the
> news article)
>  

It's an unguarded 6,000+ foot long international tunnel. They are required to do that any time something happens. I lived in Port Huron for 15 years and they were always keeping an eye on it. Police were always parking on the tunnel approach embankments and watching it. It's not like any normal border crossing because its only a railroad and you can't inspect the train from one point to make sure people don't hop the border when a train goes by. You have to watch both sides of the tunnel, and with so many people and crews going into the tunnel, they have to be extra vigilant.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/19 20:18 by SD80MACfan.

I'm curious of what agency will investigate this accident? NTSB (USA) or the TSB (Canada). Fourtunately the crew was not injured and hopefully not exposed to the acid fumes.
Doug

I would guess both will get their pencils out on this one.

hoggerdoug Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm curious of what agency will investigate this
> accident? NTSB (USA) or the TSB (Canada).
> Fourtunately the crew was not injured and
> hopefully not exposed to the acid fumes.
> Doug

SD80MACfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Still trying to figure out why the city thought
> > they needed to notify Homeland Security. (per
> the
> > news article)
> >  
>
> It's an unguarded 6,000+ mile long international
> tunnel. They are required to do that any time
> something happens. I lived in Port Huron for 15
> years and they were always keeping an eye on it.
> Police were always parking on the tunnel approach
> embankments and watching it. It's not like any
> normal border crossing because its only a railroad
> and you can't inspect the train from one point to
> make sure people don't hop the border when a train
> goes by. You have to watch both sides of the
> tunnel, and with so many people and crews going
> into the tunnel, they have to be extra vigilant.

6000+ mile long tunnel. I hope it's electrified!

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SD80MACfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > PHall Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Still trying to figure out why the city
> thought
> > > they needed to notify Homeland Security. (per
> > the
> > > news article)
> > >  
> >
> > It's an unguarded 6,000+ mile long
> international
> > tunnel. They are required to do that any time
> > something happens. I lived in Port Huron for 15
> > years and they were always keeping an eye on
> it.
> > Police were always parking on the tunnel
> approach
> > embankments and watching it. It's not like any
> > normal border crossing because its only a
> railroad
> > and you can't inspect the train from one point
> to
> > make sure people don't hop the border when a
> train
> > goes by. You have to watch both sides of the
> > tunnel, and with so many people and crews going
> > into the tunnel, they have to be extra
> vigilant.
>
> 6000+ mile long tunnel. I hope it's electrified!


My mistake, it's fixed.

Any update on damage and service restoration?

That sounds like it's going to take a while to clean up.  It's probably safe to say the tunnel between Detroit and Windsor is going to get busier.  

Roadbed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Any update on damage and service restoration?


They've pulled up track on the Canadian approach and there is a pile of debris on the embankment/old tunnel approach next to it. The American side has track panels, cement ties, rails and ballast ready to be laid. People even saw what looked like a welded rail layer go through Durand, headed to Port Huron, via the webcams. I haven't heard if the DPU had been pulled out yet.

All the roads around the construction site in Michigan are being heavily guarded and anyone that tries to drive through the construction area is getting ticketed. Even some traffic coming to and from the Amtrak station is getting pulled over. They're taking security on this seriously.

The sulfuric acid was being pumped out last night. Once the hasmat team is sure that the spill is cleaned up, they will fully turn the site over to the contractors and investigation team.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/19 04:58 by SD80MACfan.

CA_Sou_MA_Agent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That sounds like it's going to take a while to
> clean up.  It's probably safe to say the tunnel
> between Detroit and Windsor is going to get
> busier.  


Actually, traffic is getting rerouted via Buffalo and only a limited ammount is getting rerouted through Windsor. Apparently it has to do with the size of the tunnel in Detroit. I guess it can't handle double stacks but it can handle autoracks just fine.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/19 05:10 by SD80MACfan.

The DPU was pulled out of the hole on Tuesday, 7/2. Which of the two federal safety boards is the lead in the investigation will depend on the precise location where the derailment started. Latest estimates I've heard for reopening are 7/6 to 7/8, but I think that's all still in play.

As for detours, it sounds to me as if the majority are running through the Detroit River Tunnel, but CSX has been handling one daily doublestack train in each direction -- which is all CN runs between Chicago and Toronto for intermodal anyway -- and NS has been handling a manifest-freight detour. The tunnel being blocked may also be altering where CN interchanges certain traffic with NS and CSX.