The last car of a northbound TRAX train leaving West Valley City derailed Thursday night, hitting a power pole and an oncoming train, according to Utah Transit Authority.
The derailment happened about 7:30 p.m. as the northbound train turned a corner leaving West Valley Central station, 2750 W. 3590 South. The last car fishtailed into a power pole, which fell on top of the train car, and then it hit the southbound train, UTA spokesman Carl Arky said. The southbound train was also derailed in the collision.
“It’s amazing how it happened just as another train was passing it,” Arky said.
No one was riding the northbound train, which completely derailed onto the opposite tracks. Nineteen people were aboard the southbound train. No one was injured, though passengers had to wait about an hour to exit because officials wanted to make sure the broken electricity pole and been powered down, Arky said.
Arky said UTA will investigate the cause of the derailment. He expects the review to take a few weeks.
The derailments caused delays in the area, and UTA officials set up a bus bridge to carry passengers between Redwood Junction and West Valley Central while the train system was down. Arky said passengers would likely need to use the bus bridge through at least Friday morning.
UTA tweeted that riders should prepare for a longer commute.