Additional Friday morning rail news:
NTSB releases initial report on October CSX employee death at Richmond’s Acca Yard
A CSX employee killed in an October accident in Richmond, Va., died when the train he was operating by remote control struck three standing cars on an adjacent track, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The report says the fatality occurred at 2:17 a.m. on Oct. 12 while the employee was riding on the outside platform of a string of 18 cars being shoved by a locomotive at CSX’s Acca Yard, and that the train was traveling about 4 mph at the time. Because the investigation is ongoing, no probable cause was offered.
Montreal rail transit to see little impact from new curfew order
Montreal’s major public transit agencies say they’ll see little impact from new curfews announced Thursday in an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The website Daily Hive reports the Société de transport de Montreal says its subways and buses will continue to operate during the 8-p.m.-to-5-a.m. curfew period to provide service for essential workers, while commuter rail operator Exo says it has “already adjusted according to the pandemic and no major changes are planned at this time.” The curfew begins Saturday and is scheduled to be in effect through Feb. 8.
MBTA closes station because of structural problems
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Winchester Center commuter rail station has been closed suddenly because of “deteriorating structural conditions,” the Boston Globe reports. The agency announced the closure this morning. Trains will no longer stop at the station on the Lowell Line; passengers are being advised to use the Wedgemere Station, about a half-mile to the south, as an alternative.
