Amtrak train derails in Philadelphia

One of the passengers who has passed away is local to us. I live between Philly and NYC. I see those Amtrack trains daily when I drop dd off at the train to head into NYC. Both the Philly and NYC local stations have been covering it heavily.

Thought it was a little odd to hear the NJ Transit would be cross honoring Amtrack tickets. An Amtrack ticket from here to NYC is quite expensive but an NJ Transit ticket can be had for $10-15, depending on the station.

It is now clear that the train was going too quickly through the curve. Was traveling over 100 miles per hour in a 50 mile per hour zone.

Yes mobile.nytimes.com/2013/12/03/nyregion/metro-north-train-accident-bronx.html?pagewanted=all&referrer=&_r=0

And there were plenty of incorrect speculated reasons on the news last night. Not one of which was the right one.

One article I read stated the train engineer has now lawyered up and not talking. I haven't taken a train in years but have to wonder if passengers would notice that fast of a speed or is 100mph normal?

hop2 I wasn't doubting
I literally had not read -or heard-any suspected causes.

I believe you there was lots of speculation!

Every time this happens I read they are going to install positive train controls that limit the speed trains can travel on certain sections. I don't understand why it isn't done everywhere.

Oh I didn't think you were doubting. I was specifically not specific on that thread,because I didn't want to continue the guesswork. And your right, print media didn't seem to play the speculation game, at least not that I saw.

Sadly, I think the missing CEO was likely in the very mangled front car.

I saw an interview on TV with someone from the NTSB that said normally they would not be talking to the conductor yet. They give them a few days to get their thoughts collected. Having representation in a tragic situation like this is never a bad idea, fault or no fault.

What is unreal to me is that just hours after this tragedy, the House voted to cut Amtrack spending yet again. There was a story on the national news today (ABC I think) that mentioned how little we spend on the railways in this country. It also talked about where the tax dollars go and where they come from. This area- NY/NJ is on the list of the top 10 contributors of federal tax dollars but is also on the list of the bottom 10 for receiving federal money. If I am recalling this correctly, the point was the federal transportation dollars are mainly going to states without a major rail presence. The northeast corridor from DC up to Boston is the busiest railway in the US. Amtrack ridership has actually increased in the last decade as the funds continue to be cut. These safety upgrades are still a dream on the most heavily used section of the rails. That's a shame.

Yes, Amtrack trains can travel up to 150 mph in certain segments. 100mph is not outrageously fast in certain areas of the tracks. Unfortunately, not this section of track. The speed limit just before the curve is 80 mph.

DH told me about the train going too fast this afternoon. My first reaction was "he killed people and it was preventable". I'm so sorry for the families of these people..

Soo sad! I watched the updates this morning about the 8the person died that found this morning. But that they have now accounted for everyone on board.

Thank you. I was going to say the same thing but didn't want to come across as nitpicking. My brother is an Engineer for the LIRR (Long Island Railroad into Penn Station) i.e. he drives the trains.. The Conductor is the person who walks the train and takes your ticket (at least on the LIRR).

Such a sad story. I feel terrible for the victims and their families.

Yea I didn't want put that part about the Engineer either cause I wasn't sure I kept thinking how did he walk away from that. I don't want speculate like the media. It's got to be hard for those families!

My brother (Engineer) does the tracks. Like I said, my experience is based on the LIRR, nothing else.