Multiple derailed train cars close street in Fort Worth, down power lines

Multiple derailed train cars blocking North Main Street and knocked out power to 92 customers, including Meacham Airport, early Wednesday morning had been cleared by the late afternoon, according to Fort Worth police.

Fort Worth police reported that the derailment had been cleared at 5 p.m., but heavy machinery was still at the scene until crews could reopen the corridor later on Wednesday night.

The cars took down power lines and created a minor hazardous materials situation, Fort Worth fire officials said. The fire department initially estimated that 25 cars had derailed. Burlington Northern, which operated the train, said 19 had gone off the tracks.

The fire department announced the derailment at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. It happened in the 4200 block of North Main Street, just north of Terminal Road.

The road could remain closed into Wednesday night, said fire Capt. Kyle Falkner.

The cars became derailed during a switching maneuver, in which trains are disassembled and reassembled into new trains, said BNSF spokesman Joe Faust.

No injuries were reported, Faust said.

He said that heavy equipment companies were moving to the site of the accident to help clear the road.

Power was knocked out to 92 customers, Oncor spokesperson Ashley Webb said.

She said power was restored to most of them by 7:40 a.m. but that crews were still waiting for a go-ahead from the fire department to restore power to an administration building at Meacham.

This story was originally published May 2, 2018 at 7:14 AM with the headline "Multiple derailed train cars close street in Fort Worth, down power lines."