An Amtrak train has derailed on an overpass in Washington state, with at least two train cars falling onto the highway below
Amtrak train 501, which departed shortly before 8 a.m. local time from Tacoma, was part of a new service that launched Monday morning. The train is able to carry up to 250 people, but officials said there were about 75 aboard at the time of the crash.
The Cascades service from Seattle to Portland was supposed to be rated for a maximum speed of 79 mph for the section where it derailed in DuPont, according to passenger Chris Karnes.
Karnes, who was on board the train when it derailed, said all but one cars derailed from the tracks. The emergency doors were not functioning correctly, which forced passengers to kick out train windows to exit.
https://twitter.com/KIRO7Seattle/status/942800233389420544/photo/1
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amtrak-train-derailment-tacoma-washington-traffic-today-live-updates/
update 12 hours later,
at this time, we know that 3 dead, 77 injured, of the 78 passengers and 5 crew onboard.
The engineer in control had a trainee with him, and that may have been a distraction
It happened at 740 am
and so far, there is not a single damn photo from the other side of the interstate 5 overpass, showing what this situation looks like from the North side of the bridge.
https://twitter.com/i/moments/942796483082051584
Policy should be to run a test train comprised of a locomotive and one passenger car. Mandatory passengers would include the highest ranking executive from the railroad and all contracting companies. Also All inspectors on the job. Also the heads of all union locals involved with the project.
ReplyDeleteDamn, that is genius. And I'd vote anyone into office who said, look... I'm fed up with the bullshit going on in this country, I'm running on preventing more... we'll start with Gregg's idea. Boom! he gets my vote!
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