Judge Rules against CSX over Ban; Railroad Can't Transport Hazardous Materials through Washington, D.C

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Byline: TIMOTHY J. GIBBONS, The Times-Union

Saying that Washington, D.C., is filling a gap in federal safety regulations, a district court judge refused Monday to strike down the city's law banning CSX Transportation trains from carrying hazardous materials through the city.

CSX might prevail as the case moves forward, District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan said, but the Jacksonville-based railroad has not proved that it would be unduly harmed by the ban.

The Washington, D.C., city council passed the ban in February, seeking to regulate the transport of "ultrahazardous materials" within 2.2 miles of the U.S. Capitol, according to Council member Kathy …