BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Several cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed Friday afternoon under the Hill-to-Hill Bridge in South Bethlehem, marking the second derailment in the area this year.
Four or five cars on a 125-car train left their tracks while on a bridge crossing the Lehigh River about 2:41 p.m., according to the Bethlehem Fire Department.
All of the derailed cars were empty at the time of the incident, fire officials said, though two other cars on the train were carrying hazardous materials, according to a news release.
There were no reported injuries, and the Lehigh River was not involved or affected in the derailment, according to the news release.
Norfolk Southern's media relations team confirmed the details of the crash but did not provide additional comment.
"My ancestors were railroaders. Derailments happen but the industry generally has a good safety record." Joe Hart, of Fountain Hill
Onlookers Joe and Kathy Hart live nearby in Fountain Hill and said they heard nothing unusual but walked down to "rubberneck" at the scene when they read about it online.
Joe Hart said they did the same thing when empty automobile carriers derailed in the exact same spot on Sept. 28, 2022.
"Honestly, we don't give it much thought," he said of living near the railroad. "My ancestors were railroaders. Derailments happen but the industry generally has a good safety record."
Friday afternoon's derailment is the second incident this year where a Norfolk Southern train has left their rails in or around the Christmas City.
In March, a three-train crash near Steel City in Lower Saucon Township sent two locomotives and six train cars into the river.
Three of those cars had been hauling hazardous materials earlier but were empty at the time of the crash, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The crashes have come as Norfolk Southern has undergone increased scrutiny over its safety record.
Last month, the NTSB published a report that found a faulty wheel bearing led a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic materials to derail in East Palestine, Ohio.
The report found officials unnecessarily incinerated the toxic chemicals despite the potential negative side effects to public health.
In addition, the NTSB said that Norfolk Southern abused its role to interfere in the investigation.
