HARLINGEN — Rio Valley Switching Company crew members were working all day yesterday to realign train tracks that were damaged after three train cars derailed late Wednesday afternoon.
The derailment at Wilson Road and Commerce Avenue forced officials to close the Wilson Road crossing.
By 6 p.m. last night, the road crossing had reopened. But the crew was still working on the tracks.
At approximately 5 p.m. Wednesday, the Harlingen Police Department was notified by Union Pacific Railroad about a three-car derailment near Wilson and North Commerce.
The report advised that all cargo was “dry cargo” and that there were no hazardous materials on board. There also were no injuries or other damage reported.
Wilson Road from North Commerce to T Street had to be closed off.
No further information was available about the accident.
Officials at Rio Valley Switching Company were not immediately available for comment.
One nearby resident said he was walking his dog close to where the train cars derailed.
He said he had not noticed the accident, and did not find out about it until friends and family began calling him about the train derailed near his home.
However, between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. there were traffic delays and drivers had to find alternate routes around the train tracks as crews worked to clear the damaged area and clear train traffic stops as far south as New Hampshire Avenue.
