The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating the May 23 CSX train derailment in Chattanooga, and officials also may look at the steadily rising number of accidents here.
“I know we are investigating at least one (accident in Chattanooga),” said Warren Flatau, spokesman of the Federal Railroad Administration. “I am confident (the increase) is something they have looked at and will continue to look at.”
The derailment, which happened at about 4:30 p.m. near the 3200 block of Broad Street, was at least the third in Chattanooga in 2010. A fourth happened this year in Rossville, Ga. Additionally, a train and car collided Thursday morning at 4600 Sanabel Lane in Hamilton County.
There have been at least the seven train accidents, including derailments, in Hamilton County this year.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s train accident database, which is online but only complete through Feb. 28, 2010, records five accidents just in the first two months of this year.