Foxborough Says CSX Trains Block Intersections; Plans Suit

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Town officials have announced they are planning to take legal action against CSX, a freight train company, following problems the town said have gone unresolved for more than a year. At a community meeting last Monday, Town Manager William Keegan told residents the town hopes to get some relief through the courts.

CSX operates freight trains on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) rails that go through Foxborough. Keegan said the trains have sat idle and blocked intersections in town 36 times over the last year. The blocked intersections delay school buses, disrupt traffic and increase response times for emergency responders, Keegan said.

Residents in the County Street area have also complained about trains sitting idle for long periods of time in the morning. They said those trains make a lot of noise.

According to town officials, no one from CSX or MassDOT attended Monday's community meeting even though they were invited by State Rep. Jay Barrows. But Keegan told the Sun Chronicle he had a productive conversation with a representative at MassDot earlier that day. Keegan said the town plans to file its case by Christmas. Barrows said he will contact MassDot to schedule another community meeting.

For more on this story, check out the Sun Chronicle

Photo credit: Luke Sharrett / Stringer