WASHINGTON — The location where a Canadian National train derailed in Glendora, Miss., was under a 30-mph speed restriction following work to address track defects found by an autonomous track inspection vehicle, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the July 5, 2025, incident issued today (Aug. 5, 2025).
A tank car of benzene, among 22 cars that derailed, caught fire, forcing the evacuation of about 160 residents in a 1-mile radius [see “CN derailment in Mississippi …,” Trains.com, July 5, 2025]. The derailment occurred about 2:26 p.m.; the evacuation order was lifted shortly after the fire was extinguished about 11:30 p.m. No injuries or fatalities were reported; CN estimated damages at about $1.5 million.
The train involved was en route from Memphis, Tenn., to Baton Rouge when it derailed at milepost 97.63 of CN’s Yazoo Subdivision. Twenty-three of its 139 cars carried hazardous materials. The train was traveling about 29 mph at the time of the derailment, which involved cars 29 through 50.
The CN track inspection device had recorded two superelevation defects in the derailment area on July 2. The track was resurfaced on July 3, with the next two trains operating under a 10-mph speed restriction through the site, after which the restriction was increased to 30 mph. That restriction was still in place.
On-scene investigation by the NTSB included reviewing data from the lead locomotive’s event recorder and inward- and outward-facing cameras, interviews, reviews of CN engineering standards and procedures, and inspection of train equipment. The ongoing investigation will focus on CN procedures relating to track inspections, mitigation of defects, employee training and testing, and emergency response.
