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photo courtesy of michael Krasnik

Seven New England Central railroad cars derailed near Station Road in Amherst on June 25, the second derailment at the location in a month.

THE ISSUE: Two train derailments near the Station Road crossing in Amherst occurring within a month of each other.

STORY SO FAR: On May 31 six cars of a 65-car freight train heading south jumped the tracks, tearing up tracks and blocking Station Road. The cars were carrying steel billets. Nothing was spilled and no one was injured. New England Central Railroad, which owns the track, went to work repairing that section of track and launched an investigation. Amtrak's Vermonter began busing passengers to Springfield while repairs were completed. Steven Coomes, general manager of NECR, estimated the cost of repairing the 500 feet of track at close to $125,000. Coomes said it was only the second derailing incident he's been involved in his two and a half years on the job, adding, "It's still two more than I'd like."

Not a month later, he'd have another one. On June 25 seven freight cars carrying lumber and crushed granite derailed about 2,220 feet south of the first incident. Nothing was spilled and Station Road was not closed, but residents and town officials began expressing concern over the condition of the track and the potential for catastrophe, as an aquifer and wetlands are very close to the point of derailment. Many cars that did not derail were carrying liquid carbon dioxide and chlorine.

WHAT'S HAPPENING: New England Central Railroad, which operates 394 miles of railroad from the Quebec border to New London, Conn., is in the midst of its investigation and has not released any information as to the likely cause of the derailments. But Jim Hyslip, an engineer and longtime consultant to the railroad industry, and president of HyGround Engineers of Williamsburg, said that rail safety is better than it ever was.

"The rails are always in good condition, compared to what it once was," said Hyslip. "Railroads are stewards of their infrastructure out of necessity. There is a lot of very good stuff happening."

Hyslip said that the recent derailments could have been caused by either a faulty track, train handling or mechanical failure. He took great exception, he said, to a recent editorial that mentioned a rail bed allowed to degrade as a probable cause.

"That's the area I practice in, " he said. "Freight railroad in the U.S. is the best in the world, with all the heavy haul countries looking to us for guidance. The rails are extremely safe. Obviously, accidents happen, but it's a regulated industry - people can be held liable for covering up things."

VERBATIM: "Sooner or later there will be a chemical spill and the town needs to take a more proactive role. ... It's not the town's responsibility but considering it's so close to the water supply, the town should takes some measures instead of waiting for the railroad to fix itself."

- Michael Krasnik, who lives in Amherst near the Station Road crossing.

WHAT'S AHEAD: After rerouting passengers to Springfield via bus for several weeks, Amtrak was informed on Thursday that that section of track had been fixed. Normal operation of the Vermonter resumed on Friday, according to Cliff Cole, media spokesman for Amtrak.

RESOURCES: New England Central's website: www.railamerica.com