MAHONING VALLEY After 2nd derailment, railroad will reopen

The cause is unclear, though recent heavy rains may have been a factor.
COLUMBIANA -- A railroad running through Mahoning and Columbiana counties is expected to reopen sometime today after crews clear a weekend derailment, the second to affect the line since March.
Four tarped train cars, apparently bearing construction and demolition debris, derailed on the city's south side but remained upright and didn't spill late Saturday or early Sunday, Tracy Drake, Columbiana County Port Authority director, said Monday.
The port authority owns the Central Columbiana & amp; Pennsylvania Railroad on which the derailment occurred. The line is operated by a similarly named company based in Russellville, Ark.
Uncertain of cause
The accident didn't cause any injuries or block streets. Its cause is uncertain, Drake said.
He added, though, that the four cars in the nearly nine-car southbound train may have slid off the rails because recent storms have washed away the stone railroad bedding in places along the 36.7-mile-long track.
In early March, a Central Columbiana & amp; Pennsylvania train derailed in Elkrun Township in Columbiana County, causing cars to topple and spill their construction and demolition debris contents.
It took weeks to clean up the mess.
Drake insisted that, though the tracks are being upgraded, they are in good condition and the two wrecks don't warrant closing the railroad until the upgrades are completed.
"Derailments aren't unusual," Drake said. He added, however, that two of them within so close a period is unsatisfactory. "I can't say I'm pleased with it," Drake added.