Norfolk Southern: Broken rail caused derailment over summer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Investigators say a broken rail caused a freight train derailment in Pittsburgh over the summer that disrupted service for weeks.

Norfolk Southern issued the findings Wednesday in a report to the Federal Railroad Administration.

The report says the Aug. 5 ordeal caused the railroad about $853,000 in damages to equipment and track.

Norfolk Southern says the company doesn’t know how the rail damage occurred.

A railroad agency spokeswoman says the organization is still investigating.

Seven freight cars loaded with household products and appliances tumbled off tracks above the Station Square stop in the derailment.

Falling debris just missed the light rail station and the Port Authority credited a worker with quickly directing several passengers to evacuate.

It took weeks for the Port Authority to replace the track and electric lines, rebuild a concrete retaining wall and reinstall a power line.