AYER — A freight train derailed in Ayer early Thursday morning, prompting a response from the Ayer Fire Department, police, and public works. The freight train that derailed is owned and operated by CSX Transportation.
According to a press release from the Ayer Fire Department, the incident took place around 9:19 a.m. at the rail yard near the train depot at Bligh and Faulkner Streets. Upon arrival, emergency crews found nine rail cars derailed, all of which were unloaded lumber cars.
The cars were not carrying any hazardous materials at the time of the derailment, and no injuries were reported.
The derailment impacted the grade crossing at Groton Harvard Road, making it impassable for a brief period. (According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, a railroad grade crossing, also called a highway-rail grade crossing or level crossing, is where a roadway and railroad tracks intersect at the same ground level.)
According to the Ayer Fire Department’s press release which was posted on Facebook around noon, representatives from the railroad company indicated that the crossing was expected to be cleared in about an hour. However, the remainder of the derailed cars in the yard would take longer to clear, with work expected to begin approximately five hours later, once all necessary equipment arrived on site.
The Ayer Police Department posted an update around 10 a.m. informing residents that the train derailment had caused traffic disruptions, blocking access to the train tracks at Groton Harvard Road, Central Avenue, and East Main Street. The affected area has since reopened to traffic.
The MBTA Commuter Rail reported delays on the Fitchburg Line, with Train 410 departing from Wachusett operating 20-30 minutes behind schedule due to the disabled freight train near Ayer.
Update: Fitchburg Line Train 410 (9:25 am from Wachusett) has departed Wachusett and is operating 20-30 minutes behind schedule due to a disabled freight train near Ayer.
— MBTA Commuter Rail Alerts (@MBTA_CR_Alerts) September 5, 2024
In its press release, the Ayer Fire Department stated that all fire units had cleared the scene, but would continue to monitor the situation until it is fully resolved.
This incident follows another derailment in Ayer in March 2023, when five freight train cars loaded with trash overturned near Sculley Road. No injuries were reported in that incident as well.
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