Freight Train Derails Near Irvine
A Santa Fe Railroad freight train derailed near Irvine on Sunday, damaging the track in south Orange County and forcing holiday Amtrak passengers to be rerouted onto buses, an Amtrak spokeswoman said.
The accident happened about 2:30 p.m. when about eight freight cars jumped off the track between Irvine and San Juan Capistrano.
No injuries were reported. Police in Irvine and sheriff’s officials in San Juan Capistrano said Sunday evening that the accident was not reported to authorities.
“We have nine trains a day in each direction over that stretch of track,” said Patricia Kelly, a spokeswoman for Amtrak. “Until the track is restored, we’ll be busing (passengers) between Santa Ana and San Juan Capistrano.”
Kelly said Santa Fe Railroad officials have estimated that the track will be cleared by 10 a.m. today. Santa Fe officials were unavailable for comment Sunday night on how the accident occurred or to identify the cargo stored in the cars that derailed.
Kelly said the passenger detour onto buses did not delay travel between San Diego and Los Angeles because the buses were able to maintain the train’s regular schedule.
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