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Resident reports repeated blocked downtown rail crossings, urges logging and STB complaints
Summary
A resident told council that Norfolk Southern trains have been parking on downtown tracks and blocking crossings; they reported contacting the Surface Transportation Board and encouraged community logging of incidents while noting limited federal remedies.
A member of the public told the City of Easley City Council that two sets of downtown tracks—used for eastbound and westbound passing—have increasingly been sites where trains park for extended periods and block crossings.
The speaker said they contacted the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and discussed the issue with a transportation industry analyst, who suggested keeping a log of blocked crossings and reporting them. The speaker recounted Norfolk Southern’s responses as including a mechanical failure explanation, a generic operations‑investigation reply, and an assertion that "Easley is a hard place to avoid with large and heavy trains." The speaker said federal jurisdiction over interstate commerce limits local authority and that citizen reporting is one practical avenue.
Why it matters: Regularly blocked crossings can disrupt emergency response, local traffic, and commerce. Residents and officials seeking relief may need to coordinate with federal regulators, the railroad and state transportation agencies.
Council reaction: Councilmembers said they too had contacted Norfolk Southern and were advised to log incidents; one member said the more residents call, the better the chance of change.
Next steps: Residents were urged to document incidents and report them to the STB and other dedicated reporting resources; council did not record a formal motion on this item during the meeting.
