Photo submitted by a Richmond Standard reader
Here’s what we know so far about the derailed train off Richmond Parkway
December 3, 2014 by Mike Aldax
Richmond Standard reader Koa Phan sent us the above photo of a derailed train off Richmond Parkway, an incident that hasn’t been publicly reported.
The reader said the derailment occurred where Pennsylvania Avenue ends near Peres Elementary School.
After calling various agencies, we learned from a BNSF Railway official on Tuesday that the train had derailed on Friday. The official declined to comment further, saying we needed to talk to his general manager who wasn’t immediately available. We’ll try him again.
Richmond police learned about the derailment on Sunday, after BNSF called to report that people had apparently entered the train car without authorization, spokesperson Sgt. Nicole Abetkov said.
RPD did not respond to that call for service, however, as the railway property is not in its jurisdiction, Abetkov said.
“[BNSF] handled it on their own,” she said.
Richmond Fire Chief Michael Banks said his department did not receive any calls about the derailment, adding dispatch was not aware of any calls.
Phan said it was lucky the derailed train wasn’t flammable.
“It could have been a bad situation,” he said.
Richmond residents and city official have been on heightened awareness about train derailments after a media investigation in February exposed transports of highly flammable Bakken crude oil to the Kinder Morgan facility in Point Richmond. The public at the time was unaware the highly volatile crude oil was being shipped through the community.
Such transports have been linked to recent explosions and derailments, including one in a small town in Quebec that killed 47 people and destroying the downtown.
Last month, Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay called on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to revoke permits allowing the transports.
Check back for updates.