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CSX Derailment Affects Commuter Train Service Into Washington

On a normal day, Amtrak has one Capitol Limited train that runs from Washington to Chicago and another that runs from Chicago to Washington. Amtrak says train 29 will start in Pittsburg, Pa. Train 29 will be canceled between D.C. and Pittsburg.

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New surveillance video released by the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority shows the moment 16 CSX train cars derailed in northeast Washington, D.C., Sunday morning.

Five of the derailed cars were tank cars, 10 were empty and one was carrying scrap steel, the Federal Railroad Administration said.

“It would be premature for us to speculate about what the cause might be until the [Federal Railroad Administration] completes its investigation”, CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle said Monday.

CSX said about 750 gallons of sodium hydroxide were spilled as a result of the derailment.

Sodium hydroxide is also known as “caustic soda” or “lye”, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Commuters should expect major delays.

The problems are particularly bad for those who have to commute in from Frederick County, Md., as only three trains were running on the Marc-Brunswick lines Monday morning, according to a WUSA 9 report.

All three morning trains will make all stops and terminate at Silver Spring, and the three evening trains will originate at the Silver Spring station. Passengers continuing into Washington can then transfer to the Metro rail system.

A CSX train derailing in DC.

CSX says 16 cars were involved in a derailment in the nation’s capital over the weekend, not the 15 it originally reported.

CSX updated the number following an assessment of the site.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said no trains will be running on the tracks Monday and CSX couldn’t say how long the cleanup might take.

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The MARC commuter rail system said its Brunswick Line won’t be operating in and out of Washington on Monday. Metro officials had hoped to have Red Line service fully restored by Sunday night. The Metro option will be in effect for Monday – passengers can ride free with their MARC tickets.

A CSX train derailing in DC