So the train hit a mud slide. It derailed, slid off the embankment into the creek where its partially submerged. Heavy equipment is about 100 yards away removing railcars one by one transporting them away. It will take much of the day today to get to that dangling railcar and once they do, crews will drag the car back up the hill, set it on either the tracks or another flatbed and haul it away. This all happened a 7 30 last night on ace train 10 from san jose to stockton. Here is Francisco Castillo with Union Pacific to talk about the cleanup effort. I dont think any derailment is an easy cleanup i think every derailment has its different, you know, variables to determine whether or not how quick they can actually get that cleared up. But we have the equipment in place to be able to get the tracks clear as soon as possible. Reporter now, a spokesman for ace is telling us that not only is this line canceled today but all Ace Train Service is canceled today, as well. Frank and michelle,
The front part of the train. The engine was actually in the back of the series of railcars pushing the train so the engine was not in the front. So Union Pacific now says that their preliminary report says that the front of the train hit a mud slide, not a tree like that was initially reported. It then derailed and then slid off down into Alameda Creek where its submerged. You can hear heavy equipment up the tracks. They are slowly removing the engine and then the rear railcars one by one transporting them away. It will take much of the day to get to this dackelling railcar here. Once they do, crews will have to drag the car back up the hill, set it back on tracks or flatbed and remove it. This is the ace train number 10 that was heading from san jose to stockton. This line is closed today and here is up spokesman Francisco Castillo to talk about the mess they have to clean up. I dont think any derailment is easy to clean up. I think every derailment has its variables to determine whet
We do know a mud slide caused the derailment but at this point we dont know whether the mud flowed on the tracks before the train got to that spot in the canyon or whether it actually struck the lead car as the train rolled past. This afternoon, crews cleared trees and debris around the mud slide area. I asked Union Pacific the question on most everyones mind. Whats being done to make sure this doesnt happen again, that the hillside is secure, that we dont have more mud slides . We can only do so much. We have individuals inspecking the right of way to ensure that things are stable. We inspect it twice a week. Reporter crews are looking at the hillside and inspecting the track. The goal is to have freight trains on that track. As far as ace train and the commute tomorrow, well hopefully have an update for you by 6 00 tonight. Back to you. Passengers who werent hurt were taken to the alameda fairgrounds and reunited with loved ones. Many we talked with were visibly shaken. Very jarring
Car has been actually righted and towed down the tracks. So now the tracks are clear. And they could be resuming Freight Train service this evening. The ace train will be back up and running tomorrow. But the big question tonight is, how will this be prevented from happening again . Inch by inch, a crane hoisted the 250ton passenger train up the canyon. You can see the damage of the impact. Shattered glass and holes on top of the train. Francisco castillo is with Union Pacific. But was there any concern about this hillside . Was there any red flag in the past . There was no red flag which is why the train i mean, an hour before this incident a train went through with no problems. Reporter ace train 10 heading from san jose to stockton with 214 passengers slammed into the mud slide at 7 30 p. M. Some passengers were soaking wet from the frigid waters of Alameda Creek while they waited for rescue. But everyone survived. This is a miracle in the canyon. Reporter congressman Eric Swalwell