Passenger rail service is slated to return to Roanoke for the first time in 35 years. 2017 is the target goal for completion of track and signal improvements for Amtrak and Norfolk Southern Corporation. As Roanokers patiently wait for this long overdue service to begin and to be once again connected to the bustling Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. business districts, we also hope that Amtrak is putting passenger safety ahead of all else.
As we slept, 8 people were killed and nearly two hundred people were injured when Amtrak Northeast Regional 188, derailed near Philadelphia, PA. The train departed Washington, DC and was en route to New York. It was carrying 238 passengers and 5 crew members.
Passengers have reported that the train seemed to be going “fast enough for them to be concerned” when it approached a big curve in an area known as Frankfort Junction. Early reports indicate that the train was traveling at about 106 mph, twice that of the posted speed for the area.
The passengers then reported that the cars came to a sudden stop and that people and seats were thrown about the cabin. Many suffered fractures and burns in the accident. Several people reported climbing to safety through emergency exit windows and being told to get away from the train as quickly as possible because a second train was scheduled to come through.
Investigators from The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration have been sent to the area.
Train derailments have many causes that include:
- poor train handling
- incorrectly set track switches
- unsecured rail cars on a hill
- shifted loads
- vandalism
- obstructions on the track
- flash floods
- avalanches
- rock slides
- high winds
- equipment failures
- rails in disrepair (broken, settled, spread, shifted, or overturned rails)
In the case of the North Carolina derailment that occurred in March, a semi tractor trailer was stuck on the tracks while trying to make a left turn. The train was unable to stop in time and struck the truck and derailed. Fifty-five people were injured in that accident.
Amtrak has seen a rise in derailments over recent years, in 2012, there were just 2 derailments, in 2013, just 3. But in 2014 that number rose to 6, and worse yet, so far in 2015 there have been 9 recorded Amtrak derailments.
Passenger rail service through Philadelphia has been suspended through the end of the week.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and families that have lost a loved one in this tragic event. If you have a loved one who has been injured or killed in a train accident, call The Thomson Law Firm today for a free consultation. (877) 471-3353
