The CSX train tracks on Marine Corps Base Quantico during a winter sunset. Photo by: KJ Mushung

By: KJ Mushung

The U.S. Marines of Marine Corps Base Quantico will be conducting a full-scale exercise Wednesday, March 14 from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., to test their readiness and response should a train derailment take place. Train tracks run through the base, and a derailment or other train accident could happen anywhere along those tracks. The concern is not just of a derailment but of a hazmat spill should one occur.

“If a train derails, who knows what those cars are carrying?” said 1st Lt. Brian Villiard of the public affairs office. He added that the base is partnering with CSX for the event.

“The base doesn’t know how to handle train derailments the way that CSX does. We can certainly put out fires, and we can certainly provide first responders for injuries and all that good stuff. But those guys are the resident experts when it comes to managing a train derailment,” said Villiard. “A big point of the exercise is to understand how each works and how we can work together.”

The military team involved in the exercise doesn’t know what to expect, like what sort of hazardous spill may take place. They just know it will involve a train derailment.

“We don’t have all the details for the exercise because if we had all the details… it really wouldn’t be an exercise,” Villiard explained. “We want to react the way we would react if an actual train were to derail.”

Marine Corps Base Quantico fire and police along with emergency responders from the surrounding communities will be participating in the exercise. Anyone on the base should expect parking restrictions, increased traffic and temporary road closures during the drill.

“We want this to be as realistic as possible so that… we recognize where we have gaps in our understanding, in our capabilities and… to understand how the other side works. We don’t work with CSX on a daily basis,” said Villiard. “But if a train were to derail [in our vicinity] we have to work together.”

The primary location for the exercise is along Zeilin Road and portions of Henderson Road that are adjacent to Barnett Field. Portions of those roads will be closed to non-exercise vehicle traffic from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. A shuttle will provide transportation to and from Zeilin Road facilities during the exercise.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to work together to understand how we would react if something like that were to occur on this base,” noted Villiard.

By: KJ Mushung

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