A CSX freight train carrying no passengers derailed near Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen at approximately 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, sending 13 rail cars off the tracks and causing considerable damage to the freight equipment.
A spokesperson for CSX placed the time at 3:16 p.m. The cause was not immediately known, and officials said an investigation was underway.
North Bergen Police and Fire Department personnel arrived within minutes. They observed a substance leaking from one of the downed rail cars and detected a strong odor that caused irritation, including burning eyes.
Cranes were later brought in to remove the derailed cars and clear the area.
- Thirteen CSX freight cars derailed near Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen at approximately 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. No passengers were aboard, no injuries were reported, and NJ Transit rail service was not affected.
- First responders detected a strong, eye-irritating odor and initially identified the spilled material as ethyl acetate. CSX later corrected the record, stating the substance was polyethylene, which poses no imminent public safety hazard.
- Route 3 was closed in both directions near Tonnelle Avenue and reopened before the Wednesday morning commute. The NJ DEP, EPA, and hazmat teams from Jersey City all responded. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
Ethyl Acetate Reported, Then Corrected to PolyethyleneÂ
Mayor Nick Sacco publicly identified the leaking material as ethyl acetate, a volatile liquid found in products such as paint and nail polish remover, which the New Jersey Department of Health classifies as non-toxic but hazardous.
Hazmat teams from Jersey City were brought in alongside local police and firefighters to contain and dilute the presumed spill with large quantities of water.
CSX’s own hazmat team investigated and found no hazardous material leaks or spills at the scene, telling officials the substance was polyethylene.
Sacco confirmed the correction in a statement, saying emergency personnel had responded within minutes and that every action taken on scene was guided by resident and first responder safety.
“We have since been advised by CSX that the material that spilled was in fact polyethylene, which does not present as an imminent public safety hazard,” he said.
Road Closures, Agency Response, and the All-Clear for Commuters
Route 3 was closed in both directions near Tonnelle Avenue while Tonnelle Avenue itself remained open throughout the response.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection had personnel at the scene. Sacco described the event as a “complex incident” involving both fire and hazmat units.
The Environmental Protection Agency said it was notified and was coordinating with state and local agencies but did not deploy its own personnel.
All roads reopened before the Wednesday morning commute. NJ Transit confirmed its rail service was not affected at any point.
How Officials Assessed the Outcome
North Bergen Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual told reporters that the absence of a passenger train was the most important factor in how the outcome was assessed. “It’s an absolute relief that it’s not a transit train,” Pascual said. “There’s no casualty, there’s no injuries. There’s no impact, there’s no crash that we can see.”
Sacco echoed that relief, saying the Board of Commissioners was grateful the incident resulted in no injuries or significant property damage and that the township would continue working with CSX and all involved authorities on community safety.
Rail Safety Law A-4460 and CSX’s Legal Challenge
Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese (D-36), chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, connected the derailment to national concern over hazardous materials transport by rail through densely populated communities. He pointed to Assembly Bill A-4460, signed into law by the Governor in January 2026, which establishes safety requirements for trains carrying hazardous materials through New Jersey.
“Yesterday’s CSX freight train derailment in Hudson County is a stark reminder that vigilance in rail safety is essential,” Calabrese said. “In response, this past January, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law, my rail safety legislation, A-4460.”
A trade association representing freight rail carriers, including CSX, has since filed a legal challenge against the law. The cause of the derailment has not been determined, and authorities said further information will be released as it becomes available.
