Deactivated NJ Transit train that got stuck at flood gate, blamed for Bound Brook flooding

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Deactivated NJ Transit train that got stuck in flash floods and debris and blocked a set of anti-flood valves from shutting, is blamed by local authorities for the deluge of water in Bound Brook after that the remnants of Hurricane Ida flooded New Jersey with record rainfall.

The image of the Raritan Valley Line train surrounded by flood waters was captured in video and photos. But like the flash floods that surprised many drivers, the train was also stopped by the same type of debris and rising waters at this critical location, NJ Transit officials told NJ Advance Media.

At 9:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, train RVL 5451 found itself surrounded by rapid flash flood water and debris, due to the unprecedented amount of precipitation over a condensed period of time that far exceeded all expected projections. said Jim Smith, a spokesperson for NJ Transit.

After the train got stuck, a request was made by local authorities to allow the valves to close, however, the train was unable to move due to extreme flooding and debris, he said. declared.

We had to wait for the floodwaters to recede enough to clear the debris and perform the necessary safety inspections on the track infrastructure before sending equipment to the location of the broken down train to tow it from the scene. , said Smith.

Unfortunately, the damage was already done.

The western end of Bound Brook probably wouldn’t have been inundated without it, said Robert Fazen, mayor of Bound Brook. The county (of Somerset) has closed the door as far as it can go (to the edge of the wagon).

Ida’s precipitation by Thursday had pushed the Raritan River to levels above those seen during Hurricane Floyd, reaching 27.4 feet by 11:15 a.m. in Manville, according to the National Weather Service.

By dawn, the river level at Bound Brook had already reached 40.4 feet, according to the weather service. During Hurricane Floyd, it rose to 42.1 feet. It has a flood level of 28 feet.

The valve is one of three built as part of a $ 300 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project designed to prevent catastrophic flooding after Hurricane Floyd flooded downtown town of Bound Brook in 1999.

Somerset County Public Works is monitoring the opening and closing of flood gates and notify NJ Transit at least two hours before they intend to close the gate on the railroad tracks, said Nathan Rudy, a county spokesperson . However, he didn’t have time when the county informed NJ Transit on Wednesday.

Added to the difficulty of moving the train on Thursday was the damage caused by the rising water on the ground under the tracks which dislocated the track so that the train could not continue, Fazen said.

The national weather service released a forecast of excessive precipitation on Wednesday morning warning of the highest risk of flash flooding in the central and northern parts of the state.

County officials issued a press release at 5:21 p.m. on Wednesday, stating that two more flood gates on East Street in Bound Brook and the Queens Bridge over the Raritan River would be closed at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Thursday morning .

You revise your plans as you go, Rudy said, noting that the press release warned that the timing of the doors closing could change depending on conditions.

After Hurricane Floyd, Bound Brook and the County of Somerset worked with the Army Corps of Engineers during the 2000s to fortify the area with levees, holding tanks, pumping stations and bridge renovations.

The Bound Creek section of Green Brook’s largest flood control project was completed and opened on August 15, 2016 and included the NJ Transit and two other dump valves.

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Larry Higgs can be contacted at [email protected].

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