115 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Amtrak update, 12/19/17,  9:30 AM PST:

 

 

 

Service Disruption South of Seattle

Amtrak Cascades Services Impacted

9:30 a.m. PT

 

We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries to Amtrak passengers and employees as a result of the Amtrak Cascades Train 501 derailment south of Tacoma, Wash. on Monday morning.

 

As always, our primary concern is taking care of our customers and employees. We have established a Family Assistance Center in Tacoma to work closely with the family of passengers and crew on the train. Concerned family members are encouraged to call the Amtrak Incident Hotline (800-523-9101) with questions about individuals on the train. For our employees, the Amtrak Employee Assistance Program is staffed with trained counselors to support our employees and co-workers.   

 

We are cooperating fully with the NTSB and other agencies as part of the ongoing incident investigation. Due to the investigation, it would be inappropriate for us to comment or speculate about any information that is being investigated.   

 

Until further notice, all Cascades and Coast Starlight Service trains will detour between Olympia-Lacey -Tacoma, operating out of the original Tacoma Station located at 1001 Puyallup Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98421. In addition, Cascades Train 502 is cancelled for Tuesday, Dec. 19. Customers may choose other trains for alternate transportation.

 

Beginning Dec. 20, Cascades Service from Eugene to Portland, OR will be operating with substitute equipment and limited amenities, including no food service, checked baggage service, business class or bikes. Pets will still be allowed on board. Additionally, Trains 505 and 508, which were scheduled to operate as thru service between Eugene and Seattle, will now operate only between Seattle and Portland. New Trains 515 and 510 will be introduced on the segment between Portland and Eugene and will be a cross platform connection at Portland for passengers traveling north of Portland.  

 

Additional updates will be provided when available.

 

This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant.

Anyone can subscribe to automated email or text message notifications if Amtrak trains are behind schedule at specific stations. Notifications can be given for up to six trains and stations by either text or email and delivered when you choose - on a single day, every day, or just certain days of the week. Create a subscription at Amtrak.com/delayalerts.

Passengers with travel plans also can confirm their train's status, change their plans or review refund information using a range of tools – including Amtrak.com, smartphone apps or by calling 800-USA-RAIL. Service Alerts, Passenger Notices and other announcements are posted at Amtrak.com/alerts.

[KevinKorell]

New temporary Cascades schedule effective December 20 through January 2, which reverts to the slower schedule over the legacy route through the Tacoma-Olympia area, and allows Amtrak to make use of remaining Cascades equipment to maintain the increased schedule, while covering the Portland-Eugene segment solely with other equipment lacking some amenities like food & Business Class.  I am guessing they have borrowed commuter equipment.

 

This would tell us that they don't expect to get the wreck cleaned up, the tracks and bridge fixed, and revert to the December 18th schedule until at least January 3rd.   I would also think that the Cascades trainset involved is a permanent loss given the obvious damage to most of the cars.

[KevinKorell]

Eugene, OR Register-Guard, 12/19/17:

 

 

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Riders at Eugene Amtrak station shocked by derailment

 

 

Some regular rail passengers at Amtrak’s Eugene station Monday were saddened to hear about the derailment, but it did not change their travel plans.

 

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

KEZI-TV, Channel 9 in Eugene, OR, 12/19/17:

 

 

 

Expert weighs in on Amtrak train derailment

 

 

A high-speed rail expert said the Amtrak train derailment should have never happened and there were many ways it could have been prevented.

 

Full story

[KevinKorell]

KING-TV, Channel 5 in Seattle, WA, 12/19/17:

 

 

 

Bremerton woman survives Amtrak derailment

 

 

 

Jeff Trainer was at work Monday when he saw the incoming call from an unknown cell number. Something made him answer.

 

On the line was his wife, Eileen Trainer, telling him Amtrak Cascades train 501 had derailed. Trainer, an Amtrak employee, was working in the galley, training another employee. There were no others in the car as it jumped the track near DuPont.

 

Story here.

[KevinKorell]

Seattle, WA Times, 12/19/17:

 

 

 

It took authorities hours to search wreckage of the Amtrak train derailment. Here’s why

 

 

The precarious position of the Amtrak train cars that spilled onto Interstate 5 slowed first responders’ search for bodies and injured passengers, as large pieces of debris posed safety risks to them and to victims inside. 

 

This article

[KevinKorell]

Oregonian, Portland, OR, 12/19/17:

 

 

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Passenger on derailed Amtrak train hanging over I-5: 'It was just pure panic'

 

 

The first thing that 20-year-old dance student Emma Shafer noticed as she was jolted awake was the smell of burning rubber and steel. For the next 30 seconds, she felt as if she were in a shoebox that someone was shaking around.

 

Read this story, and also keep going to the one below it, as this woman after being home, returned to the scene the following day.

[KevinKorell]

New York, NY Times, 12/19/17:

 

 

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Amtrak Inquiry Will Focus on Driver Distraction and Excessive Speed

 

 

The investigation into the fatal Amtrak crash near Tacoma, Wash., is focusing on the possibility that the engineer was distracted by a cellphone, another person in his cab or something else when the train barreled into a curve 50 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.

 

More

[EvergreenRailfan]

It's probably too early to ask, but what are the condition of the two Wisconsin TALGO sets? The newer type seem to be safer than the Type 6. It was the newer type 8 involved in the derailment near Steilacoom, but the speed was not that high near Bridge 14.

[Lightning]

A "brief history" of the Point Defiance Bypass, courtesy of the Seattle Transit Blog.