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== Investigation ==
== Investigation ==
[[File:NTSB 2015 Philadelphia train derailment 1.jpg|thumb|right|220px|NTSB Go Team arrives on the scene of the derailment]]
[[File:NTSB 2015 Philadelphia train derailment 1.jpg|thumb|right|220px|NTSB go-team arrives on the scene of the derailment]]
After initially investigating the scene, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) said there was no indication that the derailment was [[terrorism in the United States|terrorism]]-related.<ref name="guardian 20150513 0818am" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/05/13/ctn-bpr-perez-amtrak-derailment-fbi.cnn|title=FBI: No indication of terrorism in Amtrak train derailment|work=[[CNN]]|date=May 12, 2015|accessdate=May 12, 2015}}</ref> An NTSB team also investigated.<ref name="amtrakcrash" /> Preliminary information suggests that the derailment was accidental, according to informal statements made by both agencies, which continue to investigate.<ref name="wcau"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/amtrak-crash/philadelphia-train-crash-6-dead-dozens-hurt-aboard-amtrak-service-n358061 | title=Philadelphia Train Crash: Six Dead, Scores Hurt Aboard Amtrak Service | work=NBC News | date=May 13, 2015 | accessdate=May 13, 2015}}</ref>
After initially investigating the scene, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) said there was no indication that the derailment was [[terrorism in the United States|terrorism]]-related.<ref name="guardian 20150513 0818am" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/05/13/ctn-bpr-perez-amtrak-derailment-fbi.cnn|title=FBI: No indication of terrorism in Amtrak train derailment|work=[[CNN]]|date=May 12, 2015|accessdate=May 12, 2015}}</ref> An NTSB team also investigated.<ref name="amtrakcrash" /> Preliminary information suggests that the derailment was accidental, according to informal statements made by both agencies, which continue to investigate.<ref name="wcau"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/amtrak-crash/philadelphia-train-crash-6-dead-dozens-hurt-aboard-amtrak-service-n358061 | title=Philadelphia Train Crash: Six Dead, Scores Hurt Aboard Amtrak Service | work=NBC News | date=May 13, 2015 | accessdate=May 13, 2015}}</ref>


Revision as of 03:04, 18 May 2015

2015 Philadelphia train derailment
Four NTSB men look at one of the damaged train cars with Amtrak marked on the side
NTSB officials inspect the derailed locomotive
Details
DateMay 12, 2015
9:23 p.m. EDT (UTC−4)
LocationPort Richmond, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LineNortheast Corridor
OperatorAmtrak
Incident typeDerailment
CauseUnder investigation
Statistics
Trains1 (locomotive plus seven cars)
Crew5
Deaths8[1]
Injured200+[2]

On May 12, 2015, an Amtrak Northeast Regional train bound for New York City derailed and crashed on the Northeast Corridor in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of 238 passengers and five crew on board, eight were killed and over 200 injured, 11 critically. The train was traveling at 102 mph (164 km/h) in a 50 mph (80 km/h) zone of curved tracks when it derailed. It was the deadliest train crash on the Northeast Corridor since 1987, when 16 people died in a crash near Baltimore.[3][4]

Some of the passengers had to be rescued from the crashed cars. Five local hospitals treated the injured. The derailment disrupted rail service for several days.

Federal authorities believe that the derailment was most likely accidental, although the train may have been hit by a projectile just minutes before the crash. Officials said that the incident might have been prevented by a computerized speed-limiting system that was operational elsewhere on the Northeast Corridor but whose activation at the crash site had been delayed until later in 2015 by budget limitations.

Derailment

Map of the train's position following the accident

At about 9:10 p.m. (EDT) on May 12, 2015, Amtrak's northbound Northeast Regional No. 188 departed Philadelphia's 30th Street Station en route from Washington, D.C., to New York City and Boston.[2][5][6] The train consisted of seven cars hauled by a year-old Amtrak Cities Sprinter (ACS)-64 locomotive, No. 601.

The train entered a four-degree left curve on the four-track line [7] at the railroad's Frankford Junction in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, near the intersection of Frankford Avenue and Wheatsheaf Lane. The train derailed at 9:21 p.m.(EDT),[8] which caused it to crash. Passengers reported that the front of the train shook at first, then came to a sudden stop.[9] The entire train went off the track, with three cars rolling onto their sides.[10][11][12]

The train was traveling at 106 mph (171 km/h) when its engineer, Brandon Bostian, applied the emergency brake and 102 mph (164 km/h) when it derailed, according to Robert L. Sumwalt, the National Transportation Safety Board's lead onscene accident investigator, who cited the train's onboard event recorder recovered from the wreckage. The speed limit was 80 mph (130 km/h) approaching the curve and 50 mph (80 km/h) within it.[2][11][13][14] The windshield of the train's locomotive may have been hit by a projectile shortly before the derailment.[15]

Although all of the locomotives' controls could only be manipulated manually by the engineer when it derailed, it had been equipped with positive train control (PTC), which can automatically stop a train or slow it to a safe speed regardless of engineer input. Amtrak officials said PTC had been installed on the tracks ahead of a Congress-mandated December 2015 deadline, but had yet to be operational due to "budgetary shortfalls, technical hurdles and bureaucratic rules". For four years, the railroad struggled with the FCC to purchase the rights of airwaves in the Northeast Corridor required for PTC,[16] which might have limited the train's speed and thereby prevented the crash. During a press conference, NTSB member Robert Sumwalt told reporters, "Based on what we know right now, we feel that had such a system been installed in this section of track, this accident would not have occurred."[17][18][19]

This fatal derailment was the second at Frankford Junction. On September 6, 1943, on the same tracks and within two blocks of the 2015 crash site, an extra section of the Congressional Limited, then the Pennsylvania Railroad's premier Washington-to-New York service, derailed approaching the same curve en route to New York, killing 79 people and injuring 117 others.[20]

Immediate aftermath

ACS-64 locomotive 601 led the train that derailed.

Some of the passengers were able to walk off the train, while others needed to be rescued with cutting tools.[21] Eventually, a crane was brought to the site to lift the overturned train cars, in part to search for trapped victims.[2][5]

More than 200 passengers were treated at area hospitals, including Temple University Hospital, Aria Health, Hahnemann University Hospital, Jefferson University Hospital, and Einstein Medical Center. Most of the injured passengers sustained minor lacerations and contusions, while some also had fractured bones; 11 were critically injured.[2][22] Bostian, the engineer, survived the crash with leg injuries, a concussion, and a head wound.[22][23][24]

Eight passengers died, including one at Temple University Hospital.[1][12] Among the dead were Jim Gaines, a software architect;[2] Abid Gilani, a Wells Fargo executive; Derrick Griffith, a dean for student affairs at City University of New York Medgar Evers College; Rachel Jacobs, CEO of a small technology business; and Justin Zemser, a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy.[25]

Another passenger, former Congressman Patrick Murphy, said, "There was a lot of mayhem. A lot of blood, a lot of bleeding. I pulled myself up. The guy who I kind of landed on was OK. The guy next to him was completely passed out, knocked unconscious. People were pretty banged up." He said that after the train derailed, there were loud banging sounds and the train was shaking. Murphy, who sustained minor injuries in the crash, helped other passengers to leave the train.[5] The man seated next to Murphy eventually regained consciousness, walked off the train, and helped other passengers.[22] Delaware senator Tom Carper had been on the same train, but got off at the previous stop in Wilmington, Delaware.[26]

Paul Cheung, an Associated Press manager, was also on the train. He said that before the train derailed, it "started to decelerate, like someone had slammed the brake. Then suddenly you could see everything starting to shake. You could see people’s stuff flying over me."[5] Passenger Daniel Wetrin was taken to a nearby school after the crash. He said, "I walked off as if, like, I was in a movie. There were people standing around, people with bloody faces … power cables all buckled down as you stepped off the train."[5] Another man took a cell phone video of the crash's aftermath, in which rescuers are telling trapped passengers to crawl to safety, while other passengers cry and moan.[5] One Port Richmond resident said the crash felt like "a mild earthquake"; another said it "sounded like a bomb."[27]

Mass transit adjustments

Amtrak service was suspended along the Northeast Corridor between New York City and Washington.[28][29]

New Jersey Transit suspended service along the Atlantic City Line between Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, with shuttle buses substituting between the two points.

SEPTA Regional Rail service on the Trenton Line and Chestnut Hill West Line was also suspended.[28][29] As a result of Trenton Line service being suspended, SEPTA ran extra trains along the parallel West Trenton Line.[28] A special shuttle operated by New Jersey Transit connected West Trenton to the Trenton Transit Center and SEPTA operated a free shuttle between Cornwells Heights and the Frankford Transportation Center.[30]

Investigation

NTSB go-team arrives on the scene of the derailment

After initially investigating the scene, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said there was no indication that the derailment was terrorism-related.[5][31] An NTSB team also investigated.[9] Preliminary information suggests that the derailment was accidental, according to informal statements made by both agencies, which continue to investigate.[29][32]

During a May 15 news conference, NTSB officials said that the train may have been hit before it derailed. The officials said an assistant conductor said she heard a radio conversation between the engineers of the Amtrak train and a SEPTA train, each saying that his train had been struck by a projectile on a front window.[33] Investigators found "a fist-size circular area of impact" on the Amtrak train's windshield, which they sent to the FBI for analysis.[33] Another Amtrak train may have also been hit by projectiles a few minutes before Amtrak 188 crashed.[34] Alfred Price, a passenger aboard the SEPTA train, reported that the train immediately came to a stop and the engineer emerged from the operator's compartment "dazed" by the impact, which had smashed the train's windshield. “He didn’t really know what was going on. He was in shock," Price said.[35]

Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian's lawyer said that his client does not recall much about the accident because of a concussion he sustained in the crash. The NTSB interviewed Bostian on May 15, who said he had "no recollection" of events after the train passed North Philadelphia station. Lead NTSB investigator Robert Sumwalt said Bostian was "extremely cooperative".[36] Earlier, Sumwalt had said, "for somebody who's been through a traumatic event, this is not at all unusual for human behavior to have the mind blank out things like that, at least for the short term."[23][24][37]

Political responses

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said of the crash, "It is an absolute disastrous mess."[5] Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said, "Anything that the state can do, we stand ready to do that."[5] Amtrak was "deeply saddened by the loss of life from Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188," according to a statement released on May 13.[5] Vice President Joe Biden said "Amtrak is like a second family to me, as it is for so many other passengers." He said he had taken about 8,000 Amtrak trips to and from Washington during his career.

President Barack Obama, in his press release following the accident, said:

Along with Americans across our country, Michelle and I were shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the derailment aboard Amtrak Train 188. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those we lost last night, and to the many passengers who today begin their long road to recovery. Along the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak is a way of life for many. From Washington, DC and Philadelphia to New York City and Boston, this is a tragedy that touches us all. As we work to determine exactly what happened, I commend the fire, police and medical personnel working tirelessly and professionally to save lives. Philadelphia is known as the city of brotherly love – a city of neighborhoods and neighbors – and that spirit of loving-kindness was reaffirmed last night, as hundreds of first responders and passengers lent a hand to their fellow human beings in need.[38]

The day following the derailment, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee coincidentally passed a measure to cut $260 million from Amtrak's $1.36 billion budget for the next fiscal year. Democrat Nita Lowey said: “While we don’t know the cause of this accident, we do know that starving rail of funding will not enable safer train travel." In the same meeting, some Republicans criticized Democrats for linking the budget to the crash.[39][40][41]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Eighth Body Pulled From Wreckage of Amtrak Train". New York Times. May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "7 killed in Philadelphia Amtrak crash; engineer ID'd". 6abc.com. Philadelphia, PA: WPVI-TV. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  3. ^ Joseph A. Gambardello (May 13, 2015). "Investigators Headed to Port Richmond to Probe Deadly Derailment". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  4. ^ "Eighth Body Pulled From Wreckage of Amtrak Train". The New York Times. May 14, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Amtrak Philadelphia train crash: mayor describes 'disastrous mess'". The Guardian. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  6. ^ "'Heartbroken': 6 dead, hundreds injured after Amtrak train derails in Philadelphia". CNN.com. CNN. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  7. ^ Brotzman, Chris. "Shore tower". Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  8. ^ Keneally, Meghan (May 13, 2015). "Amtrak Derailment: Video Shows the Harrowing Moments Before the Crash". ABC News. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "Amtrak train derails, killing 5 people; cars ripped apart". Associated Press. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  10. ^ "Amtrak train derails in Philadelphia". CNN. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  11. ^ a b Mann, Ted; Tangel, Andrew; Maher, Kris (May 13, 2015). "Amtrak Crash: Train Appears to Have Hit Curve Going Over 100 MPH". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "US Amtrak New York-bound train derails in Philadelphia". BBC. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  13. ^ "NTSB: Engineer Hit Emergency Brake as Train Traveled 100+ MPH Moments Before Deadly Derailment". nbcphiladelphia.com. nbcphiladelphia.com. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  14. ^ "Northeast Corridor Employee Timetable #3" (PDF). National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). January 18, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  15. ^ Renshaw, Jarrett (May 16, 2015). "Philadelphia train may have been hit by projectile before wreck". Reuters. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  16. ^ Michael D. Shear; Jad Mouawad (May 14, 2015). "Amtrak Says Shortfalls and Rules Delayed Its Safety System". nytimes.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  17. ^ Shoichet, Catherine E. (May 13, 2015). "Amtrak derailment: Could technology have stopped the crash?". CNN.com. CNN. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  18. ^ Rucker, Patrick; Renshaw, Jarrett (May 13, 2015). "Derailed Amtrak train lacked latest U.S. safety controls". Reuters. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  19. ^ "As Train Crash Death Toll Reaches 7, GOP Votes to Cut Amtrak Budget by $250M & Delay Safety Upgrades". Democracy Now!. May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  20. ^ Ferruccio Barletta. "INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION INVESTIGATION NO. 2726 THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY REPORT IN RE ACCIDENT AT SHORE PA., ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1943". dot.gov. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  21. ^ "5 dead, at least 50 injured after Amtrak train derails in Philadelphia". CNN. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  22. ^ a b c "Amtrak Crash: Investigators Recover Train's Black Box, Probe Continues". ABC News via Good Morning America. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  23. ^ a b Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Matt Flegenheimer, and Richard Pérez-Peña (May 14, 2015). "Brandon Bostian Agrees to Talk About Amtrak Derailment But May Recall Little". New York Times. Retrieved May 14, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ a b Dave Philipps and Emma G. Fitzsimmons (May 14, 2015). "For Amtrak Engineer Brandon Bostian, Childhood Passion Became A Career". New York Times. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  25. ^ "Who were the victims of the Amtrak derailment?". CNN. May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  26. ^ "Amtrak train derails killing 6 people; investigation begins". msn.com. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  27. ^ "At least seven killed in Amtrak train crash in Philadelphia; over 200 treated at hospitals". PhillyVoice. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  28. ^ a b c "Amtrak derailment impacts SEPTA, other transit". Philadelphia, PA: WPVI-TV. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  29. ^ a b c "At Least 7 Dead, Over 200 Hurt After Amtrak Train Derails, Rolls on Side in Philadelphia". nbcphiladelphia.com. Philadelphia, PA: WCAU-TV. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  30. ^ "Enhanced Weekday West Trenton Service". SEPTA. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  31. ^ "FBI: No indication of terrorism in Amtrak train derailment". CNN. May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  32. ^ "Philadelphia Train Crash: Six Dead, Scores Hurt Aboard Amtrak Service". NBC News. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  33. ^ a b Phillips, Dave; Fitzsimmons, Emma G. "Amtrak Train Possibly Hit Before Wreck". New York Times. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  34. ^ Lattanzio, Vince (May 15, 2015). "2 Trains Hit by Projectiles Minutes Before Amtrak Derailment]". NBCPhiladelphia.com. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  35. ^ Philipps, Dave; Harris, Elizabeth A. (May 16, 2015). "Rock Hurling Is Old Nemesis of Train Crews]". The New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |website= (help)
  36. ^ Smith, Paul (May 15, 2015). "NTSB talks with engineer of derailed Amtrak train". WPMT. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  37. ^ Badia, Erik; Marcus, Chelsia Rose; McShane, Larry (May 15, 2015). "Engineers discuss train hit by object before derailment". NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  38. ^ "Statement by the President". whitehouse.gov. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  39. ^ Heather Caygle (May 13, 2015). "House panel votes to cut Amtrak budget hours after deadly crash". politico.com. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  40. ^ Andrew Taylor (May 13, 2015). "House GOP Blocks Hike in Amtrak Budget Hours After Crash". NBC Philadelphia. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  41. ^ May 13, 2015. "House committee passes bill that cuts Amtrak funding after crash". CNN. Retrieved May 13, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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