Amtrak 'Capitol Limited' schedule modified after Sand Patch grade derailment

A CSX Transportation freight train derailed at least 32 cars near Hyndman, Pa. on Wednesday morning impacting both freight and passenger railroads. MP208 HYNDMAN, Pa. — Amtrak’s Capitol Limited between Washington and Chicago will be running on a modified schedule for the next four days after a CSX Transportation freight train derailed more than 30 cars east of Sand Patch near Hyndman, Pa., on Wednesday morning.

Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods tells Trains News Wire eastbound train No. 30 will terminate in Pittsburgh for the next four days, while its counterpart, westbound train No. 29, will have it passengers bused from Washington to Pittsburgh to meet up with the train consist. Passengers trying to get to Washington from points west will be bused from No. 30’s terminating point in Pittsburgh.

On Wednesday morning at around 5 a.m., at least 32 cars of a 178-car eastbound CSX freight train derailed and caught fire near Hyndman on the railroad’s Keystone Subdivision. The incident is affecting both freight and passenger operations on the railroad’s famed Sand Patch grade route.

Fires were still burning and evacuations were still in place for a half-mile radius as of Wednesday evening.

The cause of the derailment remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.