People living on Lambro Lane in Green Township, in Scioto County, said a stopped train blocked their only way in or out for four hours on Thursday, according to WSAZ.
The street holds more than a dozen homes, and its single entrance and exit crosses railroad tracks. Neighbors told the station that trains halt there roughly two to three times weekly at unpredictable hours, sometimes for about 30 minutes and sometimes for hours.
WSAZ reported the same complaint from the same street in January 2024. Residents said conditions improved for a time before stalled trains became routine again.
Some residents are elderly and said they worry a blocked crossing would keep ambulances or firefighters away. Green Township Fire Chief George Moore told WSAZ the situation strips away safety for people on the far side of Lambro and that crews can only wait. Karen Jones said she fears for her husband Bob, who has health problems and is a fall risk, and that the couple cannot afford to relocate.
In August 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down a state law that barred rail companies from blocking a crossing longer than five minutes, the station reported. State Rep. Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto), who represents the area and previously worked in rail, said he introduced H.B. 973 in July so carriers could coordinate with emergency services on critical routes.
A Norfolk Southern spokesperson told WSAZ that Thursday's stop resulted from a mechanical issue, that the railroad tries to limit how long crossings are blocked, and that it notifies residents ahead of scheduled track work.