Litigation over last year’s Conrail freight-train derailment that spewed toxic gas in a southern New Jersey town is moving ahead, despite dismissal of many of the plaintiffs’ claims.

On Oct. 4, the federal judge overseeing 17 lawsuits by more than 100 plaintiffs allowed negligence claims to go forward while granting motions to dismiss counts of strict liability, public nuisance, assault and battery, trespass, attorney fees and negligent infliction of emotional distress.