Train Derails In Texas Town

Early Tuesday morning, a freight train carrying gravel gave Austin residents a rude awakening, as seven of its cars derailed in East Austin, nearly smashing into the E6 Apartments. This unexpected event has left locals both rattled and relieved, considering just how close the crash came to a serious disaster.

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"Is That a Dumpster, or a Train?"

Nick Moreau, a resident at the E6 Apartments, was shaken awake by the sound of what he initially thought was every dumpster in Austin being emptied at once. "I actually felt it when I heard it, and that's what woke me up. Around 3:45 a.m., the whole apartment shook, and there was this massive bang," he recalled. Imagine waking up to what you think is a garbage truck, only to find out it's a freight train tipping over right outside your door.

“That Train is Turned Over”

Kay Tapia, another resident, didn’t need her morning coffee after stepping onto her balcony to see a freight train leaning a little too close for comfort. "My partner looked out the window and said, ‘That train is turned over.’" Tapia, used to the nightly screeching of the trains, knew this was something different. She had just moved into the building a few months ago and already got a front-row seat to her first derailment.

Gravel, Not Gas – This Time

Thankfully, the train was only hauling gravel, sparing everyone from the nightmare of a more hazardous spill. Resident Shaun Jordan has seen his fair share of train derailments—this being the third time since he moved in—and noted, “I’m just happy they spilled rocks this time.”

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No one was injured in the accident, but residents aren’t thrilled about the regular train troubles. The weight limit on this stretch of track is 286,000 pounds, but what led to the derailment is still under investigation.

Power Outages and School Cancellations

The derailment caused more than just shaking apartments. A utility pole was knocked down, cutting power to 82 customers. While the lights came back on around 10 a.m., the damage had already been done to the UT Elementary Charter School’s schedule—it was picture day, and classes were canceled.

Even young Joseph Delgado, a student at the school, was left feeling deflated. His sister Avalia summed up the mood: "I think it's actually kind of sad that it flipped."

CapMetro Disruption

Commuters weren’t spared from the chaos, either. With trains disrupted, CapMetro scrambled to provide buses to fill the gap. Rail services are set to return to normal by today, October 24, but if this pattern of derailments continues, Austin might want to start offering gravel tours along the tracks.

For now, residents and commuters can breathe a sigh of relief—but keep an eye on those rails. You never know when your apartment’s morning alarm will be a freight train off the tracks.