WARTRACE, Tenn. (AP) -- Officials with the city and CSX railroad have agreed to work together to limit train stoppages that block a major highway.
When trains stop on a side line in the Middle Tennessee town, they often are long enough to block a crossing for Tennessee Highway 64.
During a meeting last week, Wartrace Mayor Ron Stacy told CSX officials that the blocked crossing hinders ambulances, patrol cars and fire trucks.
The issue has been a problem for years, worsened because the length of trains has been growing. CSX attended a similar meeting about the Wartrace issues in 2008.
"Someone may have to die before they straighten all this out," Wartrace Mayor Ron Stacy said at the meeting.
Most blockages last 45 minutes to an hour but can go as long as 2-1/2 hours, the mayor said.
When emergency responders have to detour, as firefighters did in 2008 to respond to a call about a choking toddler, it can add 20 to 30 minutes to their trip, officials said. In that case, emergency bhelp arrived in time and the child survived.
CSX Trainmaster Don Grupa has proposed using side tracks to the east, toward Tullahoma, and west, toward Murfreesboro, more often for switching trains. CSX also has rerouted a train to get it off the line through Wartrace.
Railroad officials said the changes will reduce, but not eliminate, how often trains block Highway 64.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
