71 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

NJT press release:

PARTIAL RAIL SERVICE SCHEDULED TO RESUME MONDAY AT HOBOKEN TERMINAL
Main/Bergen County, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis Lines to return to Hoboken on weekday schedule with adjustments
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2016

NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT will reopen a portion of Hoboken Terminal to commuter rail service for the start of service on Monday, October 10, 2016.  
  
Cross-honoring will continue on Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, NJ TRANSIT bus and private carriers ONLY.
  
A section of the terminal suffered extensive damage following a train accident September 29.  Due to the ongoing National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation, debris removal and safety concerns, the entire Hoboken Terminal was placed out of service.
  
Beginning with the first train Monday morning, NJ TRANSIT will reopen Tracks 10-17 for rail service. Tracks 1-9 will remain out of service until further notice as repair work in that section of the terminal continues.
  
When the partial reopening occurs, Main/Bergen County, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis Line trains will return to a weekday schedule, with some adjustments, to and from Hoboken.  Select express trains will be eliminated and certain other trains will be combined. Customers are urged to go to njtransit.com for more specific information after 10 p.m. tonight.
  
On the Montclair-Boonton Line, trains originating west of Montclair State University (MSU), including from Denville will operate into Hoboken, with additional stops east of MSU.
 
Most Gladstone Branch trains to Hoboken will be restored.
  
North Jersey Coast Line and Raritan Valley Line trains scheduled to terminate in Hoboken will continue to terminate at Newark Penn Station. 
 
Because rail service will be modified in and out of the terminal, other NJ TRANSIT bus, rail and light rail services may experience crowding conditions and delays.
 
As repair work continues at the terminal, customers are advised to stay clear of all work areas.
  
The Hoboken Terminal waiting room, Customer Service office and restrooms will be open.  In addition, there will be limited Ticket Vending Machines located in the waiting room.  Customers are urged to download the NJ TRANSIT App and sign up for MyTix to purchase their tickets.
  
NJ TRANSIT bus, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, PATH and NY Waterway also continue to operate in and out of Hoboken on their regular routes and schedules.
  
NJ TRANSIT would like to thank its customers for their continued patience and support.
  
About NJ TRANSIT
 
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 938,500 weekday trips on 254 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

[CNJRoss]

NJ.com, 9/30:
 

NJ Transit got waiver from installing Positive Train Control in Hoboken

 

Federal officials said they gave NJ Transit a waiver from installing Positive Train Control by 2018 on the section of track in Hoboken terminal where a commuter train crashed on Thursday, killing one person and injuring more than 100 others.

 

That waiver, for one-tenth of a mile of track in the terminal, was granted on the requirement that NJ Transit have some other "system to prevent speeding" by the deadline to install PTC, Federal Railroad Administration officials said. Railroads face a 2018 deadline to install the system.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

New York Daily News, 10/9:
 

Sen. Schumer calls for NJ Transit to install inward facing cameras on commuter trains after fatal Hoboken crash

 

New Jersey Transit must install inward facing cameras in cabs as a first step to improve safety conditions, Sen. Schumer said Sunday.

 

The push for the boosted camera coverage comes after a NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line train crashed into Hoboken terminal killing a 34-year-old mother and injuring 114 commuters on Sept. 29.

 

The cameras can spot train engineers texting, goofing around or falling asleep.

 

“When it comes to preventing accidents and determining what might have wrong if they do occur, cameras are key,” Schumer said.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

ABC News, 10/10/16:

The Latest: Train Service Resumes After New Jersey Crash

Commuter rail service has resumed at a New Jersey transit station damaged after a train crash killed a woman on the platform and injured more than 100.

Here is the latest.

[CNJRoss]

Senator Charles E. Schumer (New York) press release 10/6:

 

SCHUMER DEMANDS NEW JERSEY TRANSIT IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH RIDERS DURING & AFTER EMERGENCIES; ORANGE COUNTY & ROCKLAND COUNTY COMMUTERS WERE LEFT STRANDED WITHOUT CLEAR DIRECTION ON HOW TO GET IN AND OUT OF NYC AFTER LAST WEEK’S TRAIN ACCIDENT
 

 

Schumer Pushes NJT & Metro-North To Make Commitment To Ensure Stations Are Adequately Staffed With Clearly Identified Employees to Provide Directions During Emergencies; Improve Alert & Public Address Systems; And Expand Use of New Technologies Including Mass Text Alerts and Social Media ‎via Facebook, Instagram and More

 

Schumer Says Riders Were Only Given Limited Information About What to Do and How to Get In & Out of NYC During Service Outage

 

Schumer: NJT Communication Breakdowns Could Make Bad Situations Worse For Orange and Rockland County Commuters 

 

 

During a visit to the Tuxedo New Jersey Transit Train Station, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today demanded New Jersey Transit (NJT) and Metro-North immediately make every effort to improve communication with Orange and Rockland County commuters during emergencies and service outages. Schumer said NJT’s effort to communicate with riders during the emergency was inadequate, unavailable or confusing. Schumer said this was unacceptable, and NJT should make a public commitment to dramatically improve communication with travelers during emergencies. Schumer also said the major service delays reaffirms the desperate need to complete the long-sought one-seat ride to Penn Station for long-suffering Orange and Rockland train commuters.

 

“New Jersey Transit and Metro North emergency communication systems were not up to snuff during last week’s emergency. With nary an orange jacket to be found at smaller stations in Orange and Rockland Counties, a sluggish website that made it hard to access information, and alternate travel information that was not posted until hours after the accident – commuters were stranded and they deserve better. ‎Far too many commuters were frustrated and flummoxed by poor communication and left no guidance on alternate routes – or even worse, no way to get to work or get home later that day. That is why I’m strongly urging NJT and Metro-North step up to the plate so it is better prepared during future emergences, so these gaps can be identified and improved so we can better ensure passenger safety, efficient travel and peace of mind going forward,” said Senator Schumer. “The bottom line is that, following disasters and emergencies, NJT – and other transportation agencies – must do a better job at both old school boots on the ground communication and new ‎high-tech electronic communication to smart phones and more.”

 

Schumer said that, while both railroads are making long-term plans to improve safety on the rails, there are short-term communications issues that can and must be dealt with on the heels of the NJT train crash in Hoboken just last week, which injured more than 100 and killed one person. Following the horrific crash, commuters across Orange and Rockland Counties that rely on NJT to bring them to transfer points in Secaucus Junction and Hoboken in New Jersey, and then into New York City, were left stranded without clear direction on how to get into the city or home later that day following the accident.

 

Schumer said riders throughout the Hudson Valley were left without adequate information about the nature of the accident, the duration of the expected service outages, and the potential alternative travel options. Schumer highlighted three specific instances of communications breakdowns on NJT’s part that negatively impacted Orange and Rockland commuters. First, Schumer said updated information on alternate routes and travel delays was not posted to NJT's Facebook page until after 5:00 pm, despite the accident occurring during the early morning commute. Second, given the high traffic volume, NJT's website was running slower than usual, which could have made it more difficult for travelers to access the information they needed in their time of desperation. Lastly, a number of commuters raised concerns about the lack of available staff members at stations, including those in the Hudson Valley.

 

Schumer said this is not the first time commuters traveling via train were left in the dark following an accident or outage of some kind. For example, earlier this year in May, a fire that occurred under Metro-North tracks in East Harlem left commuters confused, frustrated and, more importantly, stranded for hours on end with no way to get home. Riders reported that Metro-North did not have an adequate number of clearly identified staff members available in Grand Central Station providing clear instructions on alternative travel options. On top of this, several travelers reported that it was also difficult to clearly identify Metro-North staff in Grand Central during the chaos to ask for additional information, and public address system announcements were difficult to hear and understand.

 

Schumer argued that it is incumbent on both NJT and Metro-North to improve communication with riders following accidents and outages like this. As a result of these situations where poor communication impacted commuters, Schumer called on these two agencies to take immediate steps to begin addressing this issue. Schumer said there are many ways NJT and Metro-North can work to improve communication, including the following:

 

-          First, Schumer said these agencies should expand efforts to sign-up commuters for e-mail and text message alert systems. Schumer said these text alerts should be sent to smartphones, with multi-media and hyperlinks included, so riders can quickly access information when time is of the essence.

-          Second, Schumer said these two entities must get serious about expanding the use of social media tools, so they can improve real time communication with riders during emergencies. Schumer said social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and more should be used as a tool during emergencies to keep the commuting public informed.

-          Third, Schumer said these two agencies should work to better ensure that Public Address systems and loud speakers at stations are audible and working properly. Schumer said many riders report garbled announcements during emergencies can leave riders further confused and frustrated.

-          Finally, Schumer urged the two agencies to expand the immediate presence of well-informed staff to provide real-time information to customers at platforms, including smaller stations like those in Orange and Rockland Counties. Schumer said that NJT and Metro-North should work together to better prepare and plan for these situations so that commuters aren’t left uninformed, confused or stranded.

 

Separately, Schumer said these major service delays reaffirm the desperate need to complete the long-sought one-seat ride to Penn Station for long-suffering Orange and Rockland train commuters. Schumer said these commuters would not have been so drastically and negatively impacted by service delays and outages if they had a way to travel directly into New York City’s Penn Station, without having to stop and transfer in New Jersey. Schumer said this long-sought-after project would go a long way for increasing convenience and decreasing travel time for West-of-the-Hudson commuters in Orange and Rockland Counties.

 

Schumer was joined Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, Tuxedo Supervisor Michael Rost, and Tuxedo Mayor Mary Jo Guinchard.

 

“Thousands of hard-working Orange County residents rely on New Jersey Transit to get to work and back home to their families every day. Any time there are delays or emergencies, commuters should be provided with timely information. I hope that full services are restored by New Jersey Transit as soon as possible because Orange County residents are dependent on this transportation to get to work,” said Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus.

 

“Based upon my background in law enforcement, I’m keenly aware that the lack of communication makes crashes worse and in this case New Jersey Transit has to learn from this experience and improve in any and all ways it possibly can. I would like to thank Senator Schumer for standing with all commuters and especially Rockland County residents to address this essential issue,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

 

“Many residents in the Town of Tuxedo and across our area travel into the city and New Jersey each day,” said Michael Rost, Town of Tuxedo Supervisor. “Improved communication from transit officials during and after an emergency is vitally important to the meeting the safety and needs of travelers. I thank Senator Schumer for bringing attention to this critical issue.”

 

“We deeply appreciate Senator Schumer coming to Tuxedo to talk about this incredibly important issue that impacts many residents daily, my family included. On that tragic day last week, my husband and two daughters were using NJT as they always do. However, as chaos was ensuing around them, I was the one to let them know what was happening from the news. Next, the nightmare continued as they each tried to come home. My husband's commute home was long and difficult, as well as my daughters. The next day the commute wasn't any better, consisting of waits, crowds, and needed communication. One of my daughters waited for a bus for almost two hours before even starting her difficult ride home. New Jersey Transit improving communication with their riders is nothing less than absolutely necessary and I am immensely grateful to Senator Schumer for standing with all commuters in demanding it,” said Mary Jo Guinchard, Village of Tuxedo Park Mayor.

 

A copy of Schumer’s letter to New Jersey Transit and Metro-North appears below:

 

Dear Mr. Dennis Martin and Mr. Joe Giulietti -

 

I write concerning a number of recent incidents involving communication with Hudson Valley riders following service disruptions and accidents, like the one that occurred in Hoboken at the end of last week. I am aware of both of your railroads efforts to improve safety, and appreciate steps you've taken to address a number of issues but more can and should be done. While there are a number of long-term systemic rail safety and cultural issues that ‎need to be addressed there are also short-term steps that can be taken to help improve safety and dramatically improve response time in the event of emergencies. More specifically, far too frequently we have seen lacking or poor communication with riders following accidents.

 

Most recently this issue manifested itself following the crash in Hoboken on September 29th. Riders throughout the Hudson Valley were left without adequate information about the nature of the accident, the duration of the expected service outages, and the potential alternative travel options. It is incumbent on both of your agencies to improve communication with riders following accidents and outages and I respectfully request your help in addressing this issue.

 

Communication breakdowns following accidents is not a new issue - we've seen similar problems following other accidents - like the fire that occurred under Metro-North tracks in East Harlem earlier this year. In situations like the East Harlem fire and Hoboken accident fast, accurate, and robust communication is critical to ensuring that a bad situation is not bad worse by a lack of adequate information. There are a number of ways both of your agencies can work to improve communication, including: (1) expending efforts to sign-up commuters for e-mail and text message alert systems; (2) expanding the use of social media tools to improve real time communication with riders; (3) ensuring that Public Address systems at stations are audible and working properly; (4) expanding the immediate presence of well-informed staff to provide real-time information to customers at platforms, including smaller stations like those in Orange and Rockland Counties.

 

While I am sure your agencies made every effort to respond to the accident as efficiently as possible, problems persisted. For example, the updated alternative travel information was not posted to NJT's Facebook page until after 5:00PM, despite the accident occurring during the early morning commute. Additionally, given the high traffic volume, NJT's website was running slower than usual which could have made it more difficult for travelers to access the information they needed. Lastly, a number of commuters raised concerns about the lack of available staff members at stations, including those in the Hudson Valley. While I understand that accidents are rare and often unpredictable – more should be done to prepare and plan for these situations so that commuters aren’t left uninformed, confused, or stranded.

 

Thank you in advance for your attention to this issue, should you need further information please do not hesitate to contact my office.

 

Sincerely,

 

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Comment:  The Tuxedo, NY station is a NY MTA station on the MNRR Port Jervis line, not a NJT station.  The Port Jervis line extemds from the terminus of the NJT Main/Bergen lines in Suffern, NY to Port Jervis and is operated by NJT under contract from the NY MTA.

 

-Ross

[KevinKorell]

WABC-TV, ABC-7 in New York, NY, 10/11/16:

NJ Transit passenger who lost end of finger in Hoboken train crash to sue

 

A man who lost part of a finger and suffered other injuries in a deadly train crash has filed notice of his intent to sue.

Story

[CNJRoss]

NTSB Preliminary Report:

 

 

 10/13/16

 

PRELIMINARY REPORT: RAILROAD DCA16MR011

 

Executive Summary

​The information in this report is preliminary and will be supplemented or corrected during the course of the investigation.

 

On Thursday, September 29, 2016, about 8:38 a.m. eastern daylight time, New Jersey Transit (NJT) train 1614 failed to stop, overrode a bumping post at the end of track 5, and struck a wall of the NJT Hoboken Terminal. Train 1614 was about 400 feet in length and consisted of one controlling passenger car (cab car), three passenger cars, and one locomotive at the rear of the train. The accident resulted in one fatality—a person on the passenger platform―and about 110 injuries to passengers and crewmembers. The weather at the time of the accident was reported to be 63˚F, northeast wind of 18 mph, and overcast sky.

 

There were significant challenges in accessing the accident area due to severe structural damage and environmental safety concerns in the area of the accident.

 

Figure 1. Damaged controlling cab car.

 

On October 4, 2016, investigators gained access to the cab car of the accident train, and removed an event data recorder memory board and the video data recorder hard drive. They were taken to the NTSB recorder laboratory in Washington, DC, where investigators found them to be undamaged and in good condition.

 

After downloading data from these devices on October 6, 2016, investigators learned:

• Both recorders captured the accident sequence. Forward-facing color video from the cab car is of good quality, and the video recording also includes audio from an exterior microphone. The event recorder also appears to have been working as designed.
• The forward-facing video showed the cab car colliding with and overriding the bumping post at the end of the track 5 platform at Hoboken Terminal. A large flash was visible as the car collided with the panel at the end of the track and the video ended.
• About 1 minute before the collision, the forward-facing video recorder captured the sound of one blast of the train’s horn while it was in the yard leading up to the terminal. Shortly afterward, the train’s bell began sounding and continued until the end of the recording.
• The event recorder indicated that about 38 seconds before the collision, throttle increased from idle to the #4 position while the train was traveling about 8 mph. Train speed began to increase and reached a maximum of about 21 mph while the brake pipe pressure remained unchanged.
• Just prior to the collision, the event recorder indicated that the throttle position went from #4 to idle. Engineer-induced emergency braking occured less than 1 second before the collision with the bumping post.
• The event recorder showed the train speed was about 21 mph at the time of collision with the bumping post. Event recorder speeds during the final seconds were consistent with train speed estimates obtained from the NTSB’s preliminary analysis of images from the forward-facing video camera.

Investigators inspected the track structure, signal system, and mechanical equipment; collected and are examining records for operations, signal systems, mechanical equipment, and track and engineering; and interviewed train crewmembers, train dispatchers, and other NJT personnel. In addition, investigators are reviewing the emergency response to the accident and assembling information obtained through interviews with passengers and other eyewitnesses to the accident.

 

The NTSB formed the following technical investigative working groups:

• Operations
• Human Performance
• Survival Factors
• Signal Systems
• Track and Engineering
• Mechanical/Equipment
• Event/Video Data Recorders

Documentation regarding crewmember qualifications, training, scheduling, health, and any activities at the time and up to 72 hours prior to this accident has been collected. Blood and urine samples were obtained from all crewmembers for toxicology examination.

 

Investigators interviewed the engineer and conductor of the accident train. The engineer was originally hired by NJT in 1987 and became a qualified engineer in 2000. On the day of the accident, he went on duty at 6:46 a.m. He said he felt fully rested upon arriving at work. He stated that his cell phone was stored and turned off in his personal backpack; he conducted the required brake tests on the train prior to departure; and that the train operated normally throughout the trip approaching the accident site. He said the cab alerter was operating properly and that there was clear visibility approaching the terminal.[1]

 

He arrived on track 5, which was the normal arrival track for the 1614 train at Hoboken. He stated that as the train approached the end of the terminal platform, he blew the horn, checked his speedometer, and starting ringing the bell. He said he looked at his watch and noticed his train was about 6 minutes late arriving at Hoboken. He stated that when he checked the speedometer, he was operating at 10 mph upon entering the terminal track. He said he remembers waking up in the cab laying on the floor after the accident, but has no memory of the accident.

 

The conductor said he went on duty at 6:30 a.m. at Spring Valley, New Jersey. He had worked with the accident engineer on other occasions, and said that he spoke with the engineer on the morning of the accident, but did not notice anything unusual about his behavior. He said that he and the engineer had a job briefing with the crew, and that the preparation for departure was normal. On the day of the accident, the train consist had four cars when it normally has five cars. The cars were very crowded, with people standing in the vestibules and crowding the cars. It was so crowded the conductor was unable to collect fares. The conductor did not notice anything unusual about the speed of the train as it approached the terminal, but said that he was focused on the crowds of passengers at that time. After the accident, the conductor helped evacuate the train and walked through it to ensure all passengers had exited.

 

Investigators tested the signal and train control system; the accident route was duplicated with signal alignment and functioned as designed. The signal system has been restored to service with exception of the signal that was damaged at the end of track 5.

 

Investigators completed an examination of the controlling cab car to determine if the brake control system, throttle, and other systems could be repaired to complete testing. They found that the cab car’s electrical communication network necessary for brake, signal, and propulsion control was destroyed in the accident, and that functional testing of key controlling components would be necessary to assess the mechanical condition of the train prior to the accident. Accident damage to the cab car’s air brake system was minor and repaired for testing. A friction brake test was completed using the rear locomotive to apply the brakes. The brakes functioned as designed. Follow-up testing of several key controlling components has been scheduled.

 

An NTSB drone was used to capture 109 aerial images of the accident scene, especially documenting the collapsed roof of the terminal. The NTSB Transportation Disaster Assistance Division assisted NJT in their support of the accident victims.

 

Parties to the investigation include the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), New Jersey Transit (NJT), Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART), and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS).

 

[1] An alerter is a safety device required by Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 229.140 and is a device or system installed in the locomotive cab to promote continuous and active locomotive engineer attentiveness by monitoring select locomotive engineer-induced control activities. If fluctuation of a monitored locomotive engineer-induced control activity is not detected within a predetermined time, a sequence of audible and visual alarms is activated so as to progressively prompt a response by the locomotive engineer. Failure by the locomotive engineer to institute a change of state in a monitored control, or acknowledge the alerter alarm activity through a manual reset provision, results in a penalty brake application that brings the locomotive or train to a stop.

Probable Cause

​​The information in this report is preliminary and will be supplemented or corrected during the course of the investigation.

 

 

[KevinKorell]

 

He stated that when he checked the speedometer, he was operating at 10 mph upon entering the terminal track. He said he remembers waking up in the cab laying on the floor after the accident, but has no memory of the accident."

I wonder if he somehow fainted or blacked out just during the moments the train was arriving into the station.  I am sure he underwent thorough medical examination, but my gut feeling is a mini-stroke, which one recovers from but doesn't remember.

[KevinKorell]

From MSN via AP, 10/15/16:

Additional tracks opening Monday morning at Hoboken Terminal

Rail service is about to be fully restored at a transit station damaged last month when a train traveling more than twice the speed limit crashed, killing a woman on the platform and injuring more than 100 other people.

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

HOBOKEN, N.J. — Beginning Monday, all but two tracks at New Jersey Transit’s Hoboken train station are now open and full rail service has been restored following last month's fatal train crash, NJ Advance Media reports.

Related: NTSB releases preliminary report on NJ Transit crash

NJ Transit opened six more tracks at 4 a.m. Monday. The agency also noted that the station's ticket office has resumed operations and all regularly scheduled trains are running, however, tracks 5 and 6 will remain closed as the transit agency continues repairs. For the full story, click here.

Keywords

crash   full service   Hoboken station   NJ Transit   NTSB   

 

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