Raritan Valley train service resumes

NEW JERSEY (FOX5NY) - NJ Transit said regular rail service will resume on Monday on the Raritan Valley line on Monday Dec. 11th after being suspended since Friday after a freight train with 141 cars stretching about a mile derailed.  It happened near Kean University in Union, which is south of Newark.

Rail officials warned that there could be delays of 15 minutes in both directions on the line.

At least a dozen of the cars lost their wheels and the cars tumbled over around 2 p.m. on Friday.  Parts of train cars were scattered on and around the tracks.   It was unclear what caused the derailment but it appeared to be near a track switch.  Sections of the track also were severely damaged after the incident.

There were three engines pulling the long train.  Only one car remained attached to the engines after the crash.  The track is owned by Conrail but is used by NJ Transit to transport thousands of commuters towards Newark and New York City.

NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line service was suspended in both directions between Newark Penn Station and Cranford and also between Raritan and High Bridge due to the derailment near Union Station.   NJ Transit busses and private carriers were cross-honoring tickets.  The line has 20 train stations along its route.

Crews at the scene said all of the cars were empty.  There were no reports of injuries.

There were concerns about an underground pipeline that carries refined fuel that is next to the tracks but it appeared that it did not suffer any damage.