Human Error Blamed for Fairbanks Rail Crash

The Alaska Railroad says human error led to a rail car accident last month in Fairbanks.

Nine cars carrying pipe disconnected from a train and rolled down a spur that led to Spenard Builders Supply building.

The cars smashed into two delivery trucks parked on the tracks. The building was not damaged.

Alaska Railroad spokesman Tim Sullivan tells the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner that operator error caused the cars to disconnect.

He says he can’t release more details because it’s a confidential personnel matter.

No one was hurt. Sullivan says damage was less than $100,000.