ORLANDO, Fla. -- Frustrated drivers are breaking the law just so they can get by a train. The train has been routinely blocking cars and emergency vehicles in downtown Orlando. Drivers are furious and so are emergency workers.

At issue is a railroad crossing at the intersection of South Street and Boone Avenue, just south of Church Street station. Eyewitness News discovered a CSX train often blocks the road for 30 minutes at a time.

Firefighters say it is a major safety problem. When the arms are down and a train blocks the road, fire trucks can't get to people who need help. It also causes problems for commuters, because it is one of the major routes to I-4 for people leaving town at the end of the day

On the way to emergencies, downtown Orlando firefighters are often stopped by a train. It happened Wednesday morning at the intersection of Division and Columbia when crews were trying to get to a car accident.

When firefighters can't get through, a crew on the other side of the tracks is dispatched immediately to back them up.

"People are needing our help and depending on us to be there. It does get frustrating," said District Chief Dawn Sumter, Orlando Fire Department.

Tuesday, Eyewitness News timed the CSX train sitting on the tracks along South Street. It didn't move for 30 minutes. Traffic was so backed up that drivers started getting out of their cars. Some even lifted up the crossing arms so they could make an illegal u-turn and go around the train.

Eyewitness News confronted a CSX employee, asking what the legal limit is that they can block the road.

"All day," was the response.

CSX's arrogance creates a major inconvenience for drivers and a bigger safety issue for emergency crews trying to get to Orlando Regional Medical Center on the other side of the tracks.

CSX officials from Jacksonville finally got back with Eyewitness News late Wednesday afternoon and said they were doing maintenance work on the tracks Tuesday and it took longer than expected. They could not explain the other previous times their trains blocked the road.

Eyewitness News asked Orlando police if they could ticket CSX for sitting on the tracks too long. Some cities have ordinances that limit how long a train can block the tracks, but Orlando does not. So CSX can sit on the tracks as long as they want.

When Orlando gets commuter rail in 2010, downtown trains will be diverted to Lake County.