Train derails on Northern Florida Railroad line in Ocala; no injuries reported

A train derailment blocks the railroad crossing in the 1300 block of North Magnolia Avenue in Ocala on Jan. 5, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

A train derailment on the Northern Florida Railroad line late Monday afternoon, Jan. 5, did not result in injuries or require a hazardous materials cleanup, officials said.

The incident occurred near the intersection of the rail line and 1130 N. Magnolia Avenue, where it appeared two tanker cars derailed.

As of 8 a.m., Jan. 6, one tanker remained on the tracks.

The derailment is the latest in a series of incidents on the same rail corridor. In July 2025, at least five train cars derailed around 11 a.m. near the 2200 block of Southeast 14th Avenue, behind the Cypress side apartment complex. No injuries were reported in that incident or in a separate derailment on June 19, 2025 when at least four cars carrying rock derailed near Evergreen Cemetery, disrupting traffic on Northwest 10th Street.

The rail line, which runs from Lowell to Candler and cuts through multiple residential neighborhoods in Ocala, is operated by Northern Florida Railroad. In past incidents, officials did not immediately release details on the cause of the derailments or the materials being transported. The railroad operator does not respond to requests for comment.

Safety concerns related to the corridor have been raised publicly. During a Sept. 17, 2024, Marion County Commission hearing, residents and local officials opposed increased rail traffic tied to a proposed manufacturing facility that would ship materials by rail that they claimed was not maintained in good working order. Officials from the City of Ocala and the Marion County School Board supported an alternative proposal to convert the corridor into a multi-use trail, an idea rejected by CSX and Northern Florida Railroad representatives.

Train Derailment On North Magnolia Ave.

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