Judge Reinstates Charges Against Engineer in Philadelphia Train Wreck That Killed 8

[Bob]

Judge Reinstates Charges Against Engineer in Philadelphia Train Wreck That Killed 8

The ruling revived the state’s case against Brandon Bostian, a former Amtrak engineer, who has been charged with more than 200 crimes, including eight counts of involuntary manslaughter.

A judge on Thursday reinstated charges against a former Amtrak engineer who was driving a speeding train that derailed in Philadelphia in 2015, killing eight people.


Full story:

Judge Reinstates Charges Against Engineer in Philadelphia Train Wreck That Killed 8 (Published 2020)

The ruling revived the state’s case against Brandon Bostian, a former Amtrak engineer, who has been charged with more than 200 crimes, including eight counts of involuntary manslaughter.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Bill Anderson]

Speaking of derailments, does anyone know the status of the investigation of the derailment of the Cascades near Dupont a few years ago?

 

[Bob]

The final report came out about a year ago. They found so many problems and issues that I don’t even know where I’d start.

Final Report on DuPont, Washington, Amtrak Train Derailment Published

www.ntsb.gov

Final Report on DuPont, Washington, Amtrak Train Derailment Published
6/24/2019

WASHINGTON (June 24, 2019) — The National Transportation Safety Board published its final report Monday for the agency’s investigation of the Dec. 18, 2017, fatal, Amtrak train derailment in DuPont, Washington. The report details the NTSB’s investigation of the accident and its safety recommendations made based upon the results of that investigation. Following the May 21, 2019, board meeting during which the probable cause was determined, the NTSB issued 26 new safety recommendations and reiterated three existing safety recommendations. Among the reiterated safety recommendations is recommendation R-17-17, issued to the Federal Railroad Administration, seeking the enactment of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 270, “System Safety Program,” without further delay. The recommendation was reiterated because while the FRA published the final rule Aug. 12, 2016, the implementation of the rule was stayed six times, with implementation deferred to Sept. 4, 2019. Yet despite evidence in the report further demonstrating the need for the timely implementation of this safety recommendation, the FRA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking June 12, 2019, seeking to further delay regulations requiring commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement a system safety program to improve the safety of their operations. “The Federal Railroad Administration’s notice of proposed rulemaking once again delays the implementation of regulations that will make passenger rail operations safer,” said National Transportation Safety Board Member Jennifer Homendy. “The absence of a sense of urgency to implement this safety recommendation and the willingness to continue to jeopardize the safety of train crews and their passengers is unacceptable. The railroads should not wait one more day on the FRA to implement a final rule. It is the responsibility of each railroad to take swift action to ensure system safety,” said Homendy. The NTSB’s final report for the Amtrak 501, DuPont, Washington, derailment is available online at https://go.usa.gov/xyCxg.