Council member warns: ‘That train is going to fall the wrong way one day’

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]

For the third time in recent months, Florida Northern has had a derailment within the Ocala city limits. The latest incident, on Jan. 5, involved at least two tanker cars within a rail yard area near the 1300 block of North Magnolia Avenue, according to city officials.

No injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were reported spilled, according to officials, but the derailment — following others on June 19 and July 25, 2025, on the same corridor — has raised concerns among city leaders about the potential for a more serious incident on the rail line.

“There was another train derailment last night, as some of you are aware, on Magnolia. The car didn’t turn over,” City Manager Pete Lee told Ocala City Council members during their Jan. 6 meeting.

“At this point, I’m concerned that three derailments in 12 months or less raises safety issues for me and concerns that if a car rolls the wrong way, the other way, someone may be injured or killed,” Lee said.

“I’m going to ask council’s permission to write a letter to the (Florida) Department of Transportation, because this line does cross a DOT facility. It crosses (State Road) 464,” he continued, adding that he will also reach out to the area’s state representatives and possibly State Sen. Stan McLain to discuss his concerns.

Florida Northern Railroad has not issued public comments about the Jan. 5 derailment.

Council member Jay Musleh emphasized the urgency for the city to act.

“I think it’s time that we get our U.S. senators involved and our congresswoman involved and the state Senate and state representatives. They need to hear that this is not acceptable. It’s a public service, public health issue,” Musleh said.

“That train is going to fall the wrong way one day, and it’s going to severely injure or kill somebody or do a lot of property damage,” he continued. “I still don’t think they’ve cleaned up their mess out there on the previous derailment from three or four months ago. That’s a public hazard right there, because, you know, young boys love to climb on trains and those train cars have a lot of sharp edges that will be totally unforgiving should a child fall on them. So, enough is enough. … They obviously don’t care about the safety of the citizens of Ocala.”

Council President Ire Bethea the consensus of sending a communication to the Department of Transportation.

Lee agreed to copy each member of the city council on the letter.