A freight train carrying trash and recycling materials derailed in Ayer, Massachusetts, on Thursday, prompting local firefighters to urge the public to avoid the area.
The derailment took place around noon near Sculley Road, the Ayer Fire Department said. They added in a Facebook post that, "The railroad cars involved do NOT contain hazardous materials."
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Footage from the scene showed five train cars turned over, with the shipping containers they appeared to be carrying spilled onto the side of the tracks. Most of the cars remained on the tracks; Norfolk Southern engines were attached to the train.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency originally said train 10 cars had derailed, but Ayer fire officials later provided an update that only five cars had derailed and another two were leaning. The train was parked at the time and not in motion when the derailment took place.
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Transportation company CSX said its personnel were responding to the incident, as the line on which occurred is jointly owned with Norfolk Southern. The derailed train was operated by Springfield Terminals, and the incident didn't result in any injuries or impacts to the environment — nothing leaked or spilled, according to CSX.
"We are working closely with local first responders to assess the situation and develop a recovery plan," a statement said, noting that the cause of the derailment remained under investigation.
No one was hurt, confirmed Carly Antonellis, an assistant town manager for Ayer, which is about 30 miles northwest of Boston.
Trains on part of the Fitchburg Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail were being replaced by shuttle buses Thursday evening because of the derailment.
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The train line passes right through a neighborhood with several homes on either side of the tracks. John Ford lives along the tracks and heard the train cars going down one by one: "boom, boom, boom."
MEMA said around 1 p.m. that they had been notified of the derailment but there were no requests for state assistance.
Norfolk Southern was the rail operator at the center of a fiery derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in early February in which abut 50 cars derailed, spilling hazardous materials and forcing evacuations of area residents.
Norfolk Southern did not immediately respond to voice and email messages.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More photos of the derailment below:
