Four Union Pacific/Ferromex Railroad Freight Cars Derail in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico Carrying Coal from Dos Republicas Coal Partnership Mine
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2018
Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico authorities reported four Union Pacific/Ferromex Railroad freight cars derailed at approximately 6:30 P.M. on Thursday, January 11, 2018, spilling coal being imported from the controversial open surface Eagle Pass Mine owned by Dos Republicas Coal Partnership in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Mexican authorities report that no injuries to individuals were sustained as a result of the four car freight train derailment in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. However, damage to the four Union Pacific/Ferromex freight cars was extensive with the wheels falling off and spread all over the derailment site as well as coal being spilled at the accident site. The railroad tracks also sustained damages as a consequence of the accident.
Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico Mayor Sonia Villarreal Perez stated that the citizens of her city were fortunate that the accident did not occur a few minutes later as the daily commute traffic usually began at 7 A.M.
Mayor Villarreal Perez stated that she has requested the Mexico City executives of Ferromex provide her a detailed report on what caused the derailment accident and what steps was Ferromex going to undertake to avoid a future derailment that might possibly affect her constituents.
Two large cranes were brought from Torreon, Coahuila and Frontera, Coahuila, Mexico to assist with the lifting of the four derailed freight cars.
The derailment caused for railroad traffic at the Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico Port of Entry be stalled until the derailment accident is cleared and cleaned up by Union Pacific and Ferromex personnel.
The loaded freight cars that derailed were carrying coal being imported from the controversial open pit coal mine named Eagle Pass Mine owned by Dos Republicas Coal Partnership, a Texas Limited Partnership owned by a subsidiary of Mexican steel and coal giant Grupo Acerero del Norte, S.A., headquartered in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico.
Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico’s sister city on the United States-Mexico border, Eagle Pass, Texas, expressed concerns regarding the four freight car derailment because these same cars pass through the center of the community near several public schools with thousands of students while traveling from the Dos Republicas Coal Partnership coal mine site in Eagle Pass to Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. One concerned Eagle Pass resident questioned what if this derailment had occurred in Eagle Pass, Texas or what if the railroad freight cars had been carrying hazardous and/or toxic chemicals instead of coal.
A retired Eagle Pass, Texas firefighter who requested anonymity stated that both the cities of Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico emergency responders are not appropriately equipped to handle a large toxic or hazardous train derailment accident should one ever occur on one of these U.S.-Mexico border sister cities.
Mexican authorities estimate it will take two to three days to clear and clean up the four freight car derailment in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.
