There were 588 passengers and crew aboard the train that was headed to Peninsula. No injuries were reported.
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PENINSULA, Ohio — An investigation is underway after the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's (CVSR) North Pole Adventure train derailed on Saturday evening.
According to a spokesperson from the CVSR, the derailment occurred at approximately 8:53 p.m. as the train was heading southbound to Peninsula. Four train cars came off the tracks but "remained in an upright position."
No injuries were reported among the 588 passengers and crew onboard. A spokesperson for the National Park Service (NPS) told 3News that passengers were returned from the scene of the derailment to their vehicles via a coach bus. The last passengers arrived at their cars at 1 a.m. on Sunday.
The following statement was released by the CVSR shortly after the derailment:
"Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad operates on tracks owned and maintained by the National Park Service (NPS) in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP). Safety remains the top priority for both organizations, and the incident is under investigation."
The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating the derailment and will determine the cause.
As of Sunday evening, all train cars were returned to the rail yard. The NPS says "multiple cranes were used to place the derailed cars back on the tracks."
The NPS also noted that the derailment occurred on the siding, instead of the main track. "The train had been operating on the siding (parallel to the main track) in Peninsula during the riverbank stabilization project, in which a contractor constructed a retaining wall in Peninsula, which is now complete," an NPS spokesperson told 3News.
In addition, the NPS stated that the track is "regularly inspected and was cleared for use last week." Damage to the track is still being assessed.
According to CVSR spokesperson Lynn Bixler, trains used for the North Pole Adventure are inspected for at least 90 days. Known to many in Northeast Ohio as the "Polar Express" up until 2021, this year’s excursion included 13 train cars used interchangeably for the over 40 nights the season usually lasts.
Saturday's train was the final run of the season for the North Pole Adventure.
On average, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad welcomes more than 40,000 visitors each year for the North Pole Adventure ride, but there are other programs CVSR hosts on the train throughout the year.
While CVSR owns the locomotives, Cuyahoga Valley National Park owns and maintains the rails.
It remains unclear if the weather was a problem Saturday night. Bixler said it’s too early in the investigation to confirm if previous flooding in the area impacted the rails.
Earlier this year, trains were shut down from early march through early may for what the company described as “a comprehensive initiative to upgrade operational tools and refine procedures.” The construction was aimed to reinforce safety and service standards.
Bixler is praising CVSR staff for its role in keeping people safe.
"Incidents happen but they responded promptly and with full safety protocol,” she tells 3News. “They did a tremendous job providing added entertainment and comfort to those that were on the train until buses arrived in order to take everyone home warm and safely.”
At this time, Bixler also confirms that Saturday’s incident should not impact other programs in 2025.