Amtrak Cascade Derailment at Dupont, WA

[Bill Anderson]

My wife is listening to the radio and just told me that an Amtrak train left the tracks near Dupont and went on to adjacent I-5. This is the line that runs past Ft. Lewis and was recently upgraded to 70mph Sounder and Amtrak service. Passenger service on the line just started this morning (12/18).
http://www.king5.com/article/news/local/new-amtrak-cascades-route-starts-monday/281-500155673

I'll provide updates as they roll in. It looks as though this was the very first regularly scheduled Amtrak train to use the upgraded line. For those of us who live in the area, the train jumped the tracks at an overpass to I-5 near Mounts Rd.

http://www.king5.com/article/traffic/amtrak-train-derails-onto-i-5-near-lacey/281-500303305

 

[Bill Anderson]

Injuries and casualties confirmed by King 5 News.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Confirmation: Amtrak train 501, 70 passengers on board. It was the inaugural train on the upgraded line.

 

[LinkagePeg]

Thanks for the updates. Tragic story and event. Was rolling about 75-80 MPH?


Twitter - Amtrak‏ Verified account @Amtrak

Individuals with questions about their friends and family on train 501 should call 800-523-9101

 

[LinkagePeg]

Live now -

 

[LinkagePeg]

 

[LinkagePeg]

 

[LinkagePeg]

Twitter - Amtrak‏ Verified account @Amtrak

Individuals with questions about their friends and family on train 501 should call 800-523-9101

 

[Bob]

Confirmation: Amtrak train 501, 70 passengers on board. It was the inaugural train on the upgraded line.

Only 70 passengers? I'd have thought more, but fortunate for them it had a light load.

 

[Bob]

Wanted to clarify something about the Amtrak train. The news says stuff like "An Amtrak passenger train on its inaugural trip on a new service route"... They forgot one important word "first PUBLIC trip" They've been running test trains on this route for months. They've spent the last month or so qualifying the engineers on the line. They go out and are trained and tested before they're allowed to operate a revenue trip. It's not like they say "Here's a map Bill, head south along 5 and turn left" and put you on a train full of passengers.
Yes, indeed, it was the first REVENUE run. (Meaning with paying customers). But it was far from the first train over the track. This wasn't the railroad version of a test flight. It was an experienced crew on a track that was inspected and tested thoroughly before opening. The engineer, who is a friend, but who's name I'm intentionally not mentioning, posted comments on his FB page about qualifying on this line in previous weeks. This was NOT his first time over the track. They don't do things that way.

 

[LinkagePeg]

As Per The NTSB spokesperson at today's most recent press conference - It was stated that this disaster does meet the criteria of the Rail Disaster Family Assistance Act.

 

[LinkagePeg]

Wanted to clarify something about the Amtrak train. The news says stuff like "An Amtrak passenger train on its inaugural trip on a new service route"... They forgot one important word "first PUBLIC trip" They've been running test trains on this route for months. They've spent the last month or so qualifying the engineers on the line. They go out and are trained and tested before they're allowed to operate a revenue trip. It's not like they say "Here's a map Bill, head south along 5 and turn left" and put you on a train full of passengers.
Yes, indeed, it was the first REVENUE run. (Meaning with paying customers). But it was far from the first train over the track. This wasn't the railroad version of a test flight. It was an experienced crew on a track that was inspected and tested thoroughly before opening. The engineer, who is a friend, but who's name I'm intentionally not mentioning, posted comments on his FB page about qualifying on this line in previous weeks. This was NOT his first time over the track. They don't do things that way.

Very good point.

 

[Bill Anderson]

From the aerial photos, one of the new Siemens Charger engines was leading the train on its south end.

Thanks for the clarification, Bob. I was making that same point to my wife as we were discussing the accident.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Thanks for the updates. Tragic story and event. Was rolling about 75-80 MPH?

The figure of 81 mph was put out by King5 News citing an Amtrak train tracking website. I would hesitate to rely on the reliability of that figure.

 

[Bill Anderson]

The media has been commenting that Positive Train Control was not in use at the time of the accident. Is this section of track equipped with PTC?

 

[Bill Anderson]

Updated story from the Seattle Times. Several photos of the wreck.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/train-derails-from-bridge-onto-interstate-5-near-olympia/

 

[roee]

Amtrak isn't running PTC anywhere outside of the NEC.

 

[LinkagePeg]

Thank's for the update Bill - Good photos.

 

[LinkagePeg]

The current update from the FRA

https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L19257

 

[Bob]

Amtrak isn't running PTC anywhere outside of the NEC.

I suspect that today will be remembered as the day that changed.