NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Cecile Auten would like to get to her East Nashville home the quickest way possible. But she says she's been railroaded.
Thursday, a CSX train blocked Porter Road near Greenwood Avenue for hours, and Auten says it's been like this for a while.
"Since yesterday at 4:44 p.m., because that's when it stopped over at Huntleigh," Auten said.
The train blocked at least two intersections along Riverside Drive Thursday. While not completely blocking off access, the parked train prompted people shopping at nearby businesses or driving home to nearby neighborhoods to take a detour.
But aside from just a minor inconvenience, Auten is worried about the impact to people who need help fast.
"Every minute counts in a medical emergency, if someone's house is on fire, everything just gets worse, when you can't get to a place directly," Auten said.
In response to the situation, CSX issued a statement saying:
“CSX works hard to limit the impact of our rail operations on the communities we serve and understand that stopped trains can be an inconvenience for our neighbors. We are aware that there are occasions when stopped trains block crossings in East Nashville. Radnor Yard is one of the busiest terminals on the CSX network and we will continue evaluating our operational plan to minimize impacts on the surrounding community. CSX strives to be a good neighbor in the communities where we operate and we appreciate the patience of motorists waiting for our trains to safely pass through the area as we serve customers throughout central Tennessee.”
