From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — A train blocking a local road here caused concern among residents on Saturday morning as South Chalkville Road was cut off overnight.
The crew of the train had to shut down because they had “timed out” and could no longer work.
“This particular stop was due to the crew reaching their mandatory rest period,” Norfolk Southern spokesperson Connor Spielmaker responded. “Once that happened, we dispatched the earliest available relief crew.”
Residents reported that the train blocked the roadway for somewhere between 17 to 24 hours. While the train did block the road, alternate routes around the stoppage were available to motorists.
“We never want to inconvenience any member of the community with a stopped train,” Norfolk Southern said via a prepared statement. “Because of mandated rest periods, sometimes trains do have to make these unscheduled stops to comply with federal regulations and ensure the safe operation of a train. Our scheduling teams make every effort to minimize these impacts and we prioritize getting and keeping trains moving safely.”
The replacement crew has arrived and the train has now moved on down the line.