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SEPTA train vs man at Fern Rock TC -- 1 fatality


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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 19 October 2017 - 10:53 PM

WPVI-TV, 6-ABC in Philadelphia, PA, 10/19/17:

 


 

SEPTA resumes service on all rail lines following fatal accident

 

Police said someone was struck and killed by a commuter train around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

 

 

Full story



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#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 October 2017 - 05:02 PM

SEPTA.org:

 
A Message for Regional Rail Customers
 
PM Service Disruption - Thursday, October 19, 2017

 

 

At 3:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon, Warminster Train #440 struck a trespasser walking in the track area between Fern Rock Transportation Center and Melrose Park. As soon as the incident was reported, all trains were held away from the area and the Philadelphia Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Responders were called to the scene. At 3:42 p.m. it was confirmed this was a fatality and at the direction of the Philadelphia Police, we suspended service for all Lansdale/Doylestown, Warminster, and West Trenton Line trains scheduled to depart Center City to ensure the safety of the individuals out in the track area completing their investigation.

 

The approximately 240 customers on Train #440 transferred to another train to complete their trips to their home stations.

 

This portion of our Regional Rail service network - the Main Line trunk - operates with only 2 tracks directly serving the Lansdale/Doylestown, Warminster, and West Trenton Lines. But because we run a through service operation, when there is an incident in this area, it has the potential to create delays for all the other Lines - Airport, Chestnut Hill East and West, Cynwyd, Fox Chase, Manayunk/Norristown, Paoli/Thorndale, Trenton, and Wilmington/Newark Lines, as happened yesterday.

 

When the Philadelphia Police began their investigation they assumed control over our track and right of way. Track #2 was blocked by the Warminster Train involved in the incident and they directed the closure of Track #1 until 5:13 p.m. when they gave the OK to resume reduced speed train service on this track with the caveat that it would again need to close when the Medical Examiner arrived.

 

Service on the Lansdale/Doylestown and West Trenton Lines then resumed with delays of 60+ minutes being reported. Although one track remained open, attempting to run a single track operation for all 3 lines would only have created further delays and frustration for customers, so the decision was made to continue the suspension of the Warminster Line. This was a difficult call to make but it was done knowing that these customers could at least get close to home by taking a Lansdale train to Glenside. At 7:03 p.m., the Police reported to the Control Center that the Medical Examiner was on scene and they again requested the closure of Track #2. At 7:15 p.m. the Police cleared the scene and gave the OK for normal train service to resume in both directions.

 

Last night when we began experiencing train delays and service suspension, the reason provided was simply Police Activity. This is a common practice due to the lack of confirmed information at the outset of an incident, the initial uncertainty as to how the Local Police and the Investigation Teams will want to handle the situation, and how quickly their personnel can respond. This is also done out of respect for the individual and their family and loved ones if, as was the case here, the accident is a fatality.

 

These are very difficult situations and each one evolves in a different way, but we recognize that we left many customers flat last night by not providing a little more information, which would have given a better idea of how long the situation might last and assist your decision making whether to wait for the train or find alternate travel arrangements.

 

It may not be enough to say Police Activity but we just don't know yet if Police Activity due to Trespasser Fatality is the right message either. We will be looking at different ways to communicate with customers when tragic incidents such as these happen and work to ensure full coordination with all of our information outlets.

 

 






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