Railroad Pays $285K for Damaged Ohio Bus Depot

The owner of a bus depot damaged in a fiery 2012 train derailment will receive about $285,000 from Norfolk Southern to settle a bill for damage to the central Ohio facility.

Federal investigators said a broken rail caused the derailment that spilled ethanol and caused an explosion near the state fairgrounds in Columbus. Total damage was estimated at $1.2 million.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority last year billed Norfolk Southern over $600,000 for lost business and depot repairs.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that transit authority trustees agreed last year to spend nearly $275,000 on repairs that included replacing concrete at a bus turnaround and installing a new fence.

An authority spokesman said Monday that the repairs have been completed.

A message seeking comment was left at Norfolk Southern offices.