BALTIMORE — CSX Transportation is suing the City of Baltimore and Maryland Transit Administration over a broken water main that flooded the Howard Street Tunnel in 2019, leading to a derailment.
The Maryland Daily Record reports the suit in federal court seeks $2.5 million in damages resulting from the water-main break, as well as court costs and interest. The railroad had submitted a claim for that amount, but it was denied by the city.
The July 8, 2019, incident near the Baltimore Ravens’ stadium was blamed for a three-car derailment [see “Broken water main floods CSX tunnel …,” Trains News Wire, July 9, 2019]. The suit says the city was negligent for never having replaced water mains dating to the 19th century. It also claims that the transit agency continued to operate a light rail line above the tunnel for seven hours after the flooding, leading to the collapse of an underground vault that caused further damage.
The suit also claims CSX had complained of increasing leaks into the tunnel prior to the flooding.
Share this article
