Texas Border Business
Edinburg Texas– Edinburg Mayor Richard H. Garcia says a train derailment near a neighborhood today is cause for concern. Three hopper cars carrying corn derailed spilling its content all over Canton Road between Jackson and McColl.
The railroad is located in the center of the existing railroad right-of- way which puts the trains within 50 feet of homes.
The railroad system is used to provide services to only four businesses in the community according to Rio Grande Valley Switching Company who leases the tracks from Union Pacific. Two receive supplies continuously and two receive sporadic shipments.
Mayor Garcia says 50 feet is too close for comfort. “The City has grown dramatically; it is no longer safe to have trains going through the center of town where families have relocated. These companies are very important however this is an unsafe situation and the safety of the public comes first.”
The Mayor says, perhaps this is a time to consider relocating the tracks to areas less populated.
While the railroad crossing on Canton/Jackson Roads does have crossing arms, most in Edinburg do not.
Rio Grande Valley Switching Company has crews in route to clear the site and upright the hopper cars. This process along with repairing the railroad track will take a few days.
Canton Road between Jackson and McColl will remain closed during the process, drivers are asked to find alternate routes.
Edinburg Fire Chief Shawn Snider says the corn is non-hazardous and there is no threat to the community and luckily no one was hurt in the incident.
