Letter To The Editor: CSX Morning Train Procedure Is Routine

The following is a letter to the editor from residents Donald DiMauro and Todd Hassett. Letters can be submitted to Foxborough Patch Editor Dan Libon at Dan.Libon@patch.com.

Ah, spring has arrived and now’s time to open the windows, enjoy the fresh air, and take in the sounds and fragrances of the new season. Not so if you live in our area or within walking distance of the railroad tracks that stretch from the Mansfield train yard and slice directly through the center of Foxborough.

Here, in South Foxboro or Foxvale, the CSX Freight Line, working in conjunction with the Mansfield train yard, has confiscated our neighborhood and operates without care or restriction. And why should they care? The state purchased this Framingham Secondary Line, arranged by a quiet and shady backroom deal between outgoing Governor Deval Patrick and the Kraft Group, as an essential piece of track needed to connect the Gillette to Boston commuter rail. Now, through an easement agreement with the state, CSX runs freight behind our yards and blocks our roads on behalf of their sweetheart deal with the MBTA after they purchased and renovated the track for $58 million. CSX pays nothing.

Currently, we deal with 70-car trains running through town and before long freight will share this track with a new commuter train traveling the Mansfield route to Gillette. Think it won’t happen? Think again. Officials say no, however, the track renovations mandate construction equipped to handle the 45 mph speed of a commuter line. This freight train moves at the sustained torturous rate of 10 mph.

So here in our area the fresh scent and sounds of springtime are the stench of diesel, the blast furnace roar that locomotives bellow as they sit and idle for hour long intervals, the high decibel horns and the banging and the screeching of colliding rail cars connecting to the long train line, and these disturbances sound not like the sweet melody of the bluebird’s song. Around here we cannot open our windows.

On the other hand, if the sound of trains resemble the sound of music to your ears, take heart for we are in the right place and we will have more of it.

Please view the attached link to our YouTube video. This 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. CSX procedure is now routine and the frustration builds. The poor planning and behavior and blatant disregard of this operation that is impacting our lives is mind boggling. If you think this situation cannot get worse, it can. Look for yourself.

If you are concerned and would like to help to mitigate the effects of the damage this enterprise unleashes on our health and environment as well as affecting our sinking property values, please contact us to receive news and updates at e-mail: ddimauro_012@msn.com.

Donald DiMauro
Todd Hassett