GREENVILLE — Federal authorities on Thursday reassured Greenville area residents that the Bangor and Aroostook System railroad tracks in the region are safe, even though five derailments have occurred within the past two years.

Residents were told during an informational meeting Thursday that last Friday’s train derailment near Kelly’s Landing was caused by the spreading of a rail. The derailment occurred on a section of track called a shoofly, a detour that was used to avoid track that was damaged in an earlier derailment.

A derailment in February in the same location was attributed to a split rail. Federal officials have not released a cause for an October derailment during which butane-filled tankers careened down an embankment onto cemetery land, but B&A representatives attributed it to a tie condition on a siding. That siding has now been abandoned.

Two earlier train derailments in the region were caused by improper loading by independent companies. Weight requirements have since been imposed by B&A to prevent this problem from recurring.

About 70 people on Thursday attended an informational meeting to air their concerns on the derailments to representatives of B&A, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Maine Department of Transportation, Greenville municipal officials and local representatives.

Earlier in the day, Greenville selectmen met with the Federal officials to officials to discuss the situation. “This has gotten to be a pretty hot issue, believe me,” Greenville Town Manager David Cota told authorities during that session.

Mark McKeon, regional administrator for the Federal Railroad Administration, said during both meetings that his office had met with management and labor of the railroad to discuss the derailments and have conducted eight inspections of the line in the past year. In addition, a special rail car will travel the section of rail in the spring to help identify defects in the system, he said.

According to McKeon, the B&A Railroad, a subsidiary of Iron Road Railways, has provided a “rather comprehensive” action plan to prevent further derailments. These include a 10 mph speed limit through the community. “We think that currently with the restrictions the track is safe,” he said in his meeting with selectmen. The likelihood of another derailment on the track is minimal, he said.

Residents questioned railroad officials about the safety of the trains, the potential for a hazardous-waste spill, the track conditions and the company’s planned improvements.

Dan Sabin, vice president and chief operating officer for Iron Road Railroads, assured the crowd that the railroad had heard their concerns. “Our company is not an unsafe company. Our company is doing everything we can to ensure the safety of the trains, communities and our employees,” he said. Sabin said the company has been quick to react when there’s a problem on the track.

Sabin said several miles of track will be replaced this summer and that other improvements will be made over time.